About
Midtown Montessori includes garden explorations, bread Fridays, and seasonal field trips. Children visit Live Earth Farm in the fall and the Seymour Marine Discovery Center in the spring as part of the program’s activities. The classroom is described as beautiful and thoughtfully designed by staff and cared for by the children.
• Ages: 3–5 years old
Midtown Montessori opened in 2008. The leadership and staff team includes Head Teacher Joachim (Joe) Williams, founder Donna Cherie, Montessori teacher Kalai, assistant teachers Vanessa, Cynthia, and Kellie, and enrollment staff member Sarah Evatt. Staff are ECE credentialed and have Montessori training.
Joachim (Joe) is a certified Montessori Primary teacher through CGMS and was credentialed by AMS in 2014 as a primary level guide. His education includes 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 program’s stated mission is to let the child lead by presenting children with lessons, then standing back, observing, and repeating this approach. Midtown Montessori was the first Green Business Certified preschool in California. The program serves organic food and continues its garden explorations and bread Fridays as regular features.
Midtown Montessori uses brightwheel to share photos and lesson updates with parents and sends a weekly newsletter from the head teacher with a summary of the week and information about upcoming activities and events. Parent participation is encouraged at circle time to share cultural celebrations, interests, hobbies, and work specialisms. Open Houses are held throughout the year so parents can experience life in the classroom through the child’s eyes.
The program has a close partnership with the neighboring Chrysalis Center Autism Program and provides inclusion opportunities for their preschoolers. Midtown Montessori also provides scholarships and participates in a voucher program to widen its reach in the community.
Parent testimonials describe Midtown Montessori as a place where feedback is listened to and valued, and where children learn boundaries and gain confidence. One parent notes that their child is calm and happy at pickup and eager to help with tasks at home, and that they have learned more about respecting their child and treating him like a whole person. Other parents describe the environment as stimulating and peaceful, with beauty and thought in each lesson, care for Earth and its creatures, and empathy and compassion modeled by staff. Families mention organic food, bread Fridays, and garden explorations as part of their experience, and some children speak fondly and wistfully about their time at Midtown Montessori.
Last updated June 26, 2026.
• Ages: 3–5 years old
Midtown Montessori opened in 2008. The leadership and staff team includes Head Teacher Joachim (Joe) Williams, founder Donna Cherie, Montessori teacher Kalai, assistant teachers Vanessa, Cynthia, and Kellie, and enrollment staff member Sarah Evatt. Staff are ECE credentialed and have Montessori training.
Joachim (Joe) is a certified Montessori Primary teacher through CGMS and was credentialed by AMS in 2014 as a primary level guide. His education includes 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 program’s stated mission is to let the child lead by presenting children with lessons, then standing back, observing, and repeating this approach. Midtown Montessori was the first Green Business Certified preschool in California. The program serves organic food and continues its garden explorations and bread Fridays as regular features.
Midtown Montessori uses brightwheel to share photos and lesson updates with parents and sends a weekly newsletter from the head teacher with a summary of the week and information about upcoming activities and events. Parent participation is encouraged at circle time to share cultural celebrations, interests, hobbies, and work specialisms. Open Houses are held throughout the year so parents can experience life in the classroom through the child’s eyes.
The program has a close partnership with the neighboring Chrysalis Center Autism Program and provides inclusion opportunities for their preschoolers. Midtown Montessori also provides scholarships and participates in a voucher program to widen its reach in the community.
Parent testimonials describe Midtown Montessori as a place where feedback is listened to and valued, and where children learn boundaries and gain confidence. One parent notes that their child is calm and happy at pickup and eager to help with tasks at home, and that they have learned more about respecting their child and treating him like a whole person. Other parents describe the environment as stimulating and peaceful, with beauty and thought in each lesson, care for Earth and its creatures, and empathy and compassion modeled by staff. Families mention organic food, bread Fridays, and garden explorations as part of their experience, and some children speak fondly and wistfully about their time at Midtown Montessori.
Last updated June 26, 2026.
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