About
Midtown Montessori includes hands-on activities such as working in gardens, using essential oils in the classroom, and taking part in bread Fridays. Children go on field trips to Live Earth Farm in the fall and to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center in the spring, and they take part in regular garden explorations.
• Ages: 3–5 years old
Midtown Montessori opened in 2008. The program uses organic food and has a beautiful classroom that is designed thoughtfully by staff and cared for by the children. Midtown Montessori was the first Green Business Certified preschool in California.
The mission of Midtown Montessori is: “We let the child lead. We present children with opportunities (the lesson), stand back, observe, believe in their possibility, over and over again.” The program uses the brightwheel app to share photos and lesson updates with parents and sends a weekly newsletter from head teacher Joe with a summary of the week and upcoming activities and events. Parent participation is encouraged for sharing cultural celebrations, interests, hobbies, and work specialisms at circle time, with participation welcome but not mandatory. Open Houses are held throughout the year for families to experience life in the classroom.
Staff are ECE credentialed and have Montessori training. Head Teacher Joachim (Joe) Williams is a certified Montessori Primary teacher through CGMS, credentialed by AMS in 2014 as a primary level guide, and holds a BA in Biology from UC Berkeley, an AA in Psychology, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from LSBU, and a BA in American and Canadian Studies from the University of Birmingham and UC Berkeley. The leadership team includes Head Teacher Joachim (Joe) Williams, founder Donna Cherie, Montessori teacher Kalai, assistant teachers Vanessa, Cynthia, and Kellie, and enrollment lead Sarah Evatt.
Midtown Montessori goes on field trips around the county, including visits to Live Earth Farm in the fall and the Seymour Marine Discovery Center in the spring. The program has a close partnership with the neighboring Chrysalis Center Autism Program and provides inclusion opportunities for their preschoolers. Midtown Montessori provides scholarships and is enrolled in a voucher program to widen its reach in the community.
Parent feedback includes comments that Midtown Montessori is “the kind of school you hope every kid gets a chance to experience” and that “the kids feel valued at school and they bring those feelings of self-worth home,” from M. Jackson. Another parent, Kelli Preston, notes that the use of essential oils and gardens first drew her interest and that her family experiences “so much more at Midtown,” including her child’s eagerness to help at home. Martita Emde describes Midtown Montessori as a place where her two daughters “grow, explore, learn, and thrive” and mentions appreciation for the “community feel,” “care for Earth and all her creatures,” and the empathy and compassion modeled there. Annette Olson highlights “a loving staff, beautiful Montessori learning materials, organic food, bread Fridays, and garden explorations” and shares that both of her children still speak fondly of their experience at Midtown.
Last updated March 28, 2026.
• Ages: 3–5 years old
Midtown Montessori opened in 2008. The program uses organic food and has a beautiful classroom that is designed thoughtfully by staff and cared for by the children. Midtown Montessori was the first Green Business Certified preschool in California.
The mission of Midtown Montessori is: “We let the child lead. We present children with opportunities (the lesson), stand back, observe, believe in their possibility, over and over again.” The program uses the brightwheel app to share photos and lesson updates with parents and sends a weekly newsletter from head teacher Joe with a summary of the week and upcoming activities and events. Parent participation is encouraged for sharing cultural celebrations, interests, hobbies, and work specialisms at circle time, with participation welcome but not mandatory. Open Houses are held throughout the year for families to experience life in the classroom.
Staff are ECE credentialed and have Montessori training. Head Teacher Joachim (Joe) Williams is a certified Montessori Primary teacher through CGMS, credentialed by AMS in 2014 as a primary level guide, and holds a BA in Biology from UC Berkeley, an AA in Psychology, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from LSBU, and a BA in American and Canadian Studies from the University of Birmingham and UC Berkeley. The leadership team includes Head Teacher Joachim (Joe) Williams, founder Donna Cherie, Montessori teacher Kalai, assistant teachers Vanessa, Cynthia, and Kellie, and enrollment lead Sarah Evatt.
Midtown Montessori goes on field trips around the county, including visits to Live Earth Farm in the fall and the Seymour Marine Discovery Center in the spring. The program has a close partnership with the neighboring Chrysalis Center Autism Program and provides inclusion opportunities for their preschoolers. Midtown Montessori provides scholarships and is enrolled in a voucher program to widen its reach in the community.
Parent feedback includes comments that Midtown Montessori is “the kind of school you hope every kid gets a chance to experience” and that “the kids feel valued at school and they bring those feelings of self-worth home,” from M. Jackson. Another parent, Kelli Preston, notes that the use of essential oils and gardens first drew her interest and that her family experiences “so much more at Midtown,” including her child’s eagerness to help at home. Martita Emde describes Midtown Montessori as a place where her two daughters “grow, explore, learn, and thrive” and mentions appreciation for the “community feel,” “care for Earth and all her creatures,” and the empathy and compassion modeled there. Annette Olson highlights “a loving staff, beautiful Montessori learning materials, organic food, bread Fridays, and garden explorations” and shares that both of her children still speak fondly of their experience at Midtown.
Last updated March 28, 2026.
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