Montessori Academy of Decatur, Decatur | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

I take writing reviews seriously, and I like to do a fair assessment from my experience. Overall, I think this school has a dedicated owner who wants to see not only his business do well, but the kids who attend this school do well also. The school has had a rocky journey over the last several years; yes, with a lot of turnover both in teachers and in directors and staff. But, so have a lot of other schools – Covid threw a wrench into the childcare industry just like it did into the service and healthcare industries. There were times where it seemed a promising new face would show up at the school, and then be gone the next day for another position. There were also some hirings that were probably made more out of necessity than really good choices, and while those people were at the school things weren’t great.

However, the owner continued to make efforts to find qualified leadership and teachers to join the school, and to weed out staff that weren’t a good fit for the school. He invested in a special air filtration system; he maintained a masking and testing policy far longer than any other preschool I was aware of, and that resulted in literal years before there was ever a Covid case transmitted at the school, while other schools were shutting down for a week or more once a month in some cases. I find that kind of stability incredibly valuable; after all, if the students can’t attend school, parents can’t go to work reliably, and everything gets harder for everyone.

At this point, the school has settled out with a trusted and dedicated director, lead teachers in most of the classrooms who have been at the school for years, an excellent onsite chef who prepares daily vegetarian (not vegan anymore) meals, and multiple extracurricular activities for the students throughout the week – Play Ball, Mandarin and Spanish lessons, Dance and Music. Plus, of course, a Montessori based learning environment. I’ve watched kids who attend this school come in not knowing how to put on their own shoes, and within a couple weeks are independently following an entire morning start routine from putting on “inside” shoes, to hanging up jackets and bookbags, to washing hands before starting activities in the class.

None of that is to say absolutely everything is perfect, and if a parent is looking for a school that’s got all its “ducks in a row” (as it were), this school may not feel satisfying. It’s more of a work in good progress. There are still some challenges with communication about changes, making sure teachers and parents both feel thoroughly supported and heard in their concerns and interests, and that when there is discontent, that it is handled with care and transparency. These kinds of issues can be present at any school; at a school that has struggled to find its identity and become stable in its staffing, the persistence of those kinds of issues can rub wrong on sensitive nerves. But this school has remained dedicated to bringing in experts in multiple areas, from administration to Montessori training, to get help, guidance, and correction. A place that doesn’t care, won’t keep consulting with people to help them or challenge their vulnerabilities to do better.

At this point, MAoD, to me, feels the most comfortable as it ever has. It’s not a sterile, industry school – it has personality, it has good days and bad days, it has happy teachers and assistants, it has students who I know to have grown developmentally in leaps and bounds, specifically because they were cared for by these invested and loving teachers. All of that comes from an owner’s dedication to a child development philosophy, and I’m happy to see that vision coming into very clear view.

Wanted to take a moment and share our incredible experience with MAOD (Montessori Academy of Decatur). We sent our then 4 year old son there this year and were immediately welcomed into this wonderful community. From administration to the classroom teachers, each person involved with out child’s education and growth was amazing. They fostered kindness, respect, personal accountability, and growth in our son and did so in a safe, caring environment. Facilities were clean and well taken care of and secure. Classrooms were filled with tons of educational opportunities for the kids to discover and lessons were shared as much as they were taught. Outdoor play was a big part of our son’s day and he loved the enclosed playground. Our son made some amazing friends while at MAOD which speaks volumes about the type of children that attend the school. We saw subtle positive behavioral changes almost immediately after starting the program and were very pleased with the good habits our son picked up during the day – things like independence, cleaning up after himself, and mindfulness. We were very pleased with MAOD and couldn’t recommend this school more highly. Great place to start your child’s educational journey.

We had the absolute pleasure of having Ms. Karen and Ms. Valerie as our childcare providers for our daughter in Infant 2, and we cannot express how truly amazing they were. From the very first day, it was clear that they would make our daughter feel incredibly special.

Every morning, Ms. Karen welcomed our family with warmth and love. This made us feel comfortable and grateful knowing that our child was in such loving hands. Our daughter adored them, and we could see the genuine bond they shared.

We are forever grateful for the love, care, and dedication they showed to our family. If you are looking for someone who will treat your child with love, and a genuine commitment to their development, Ms. Karen and Ms. Valerie are the teachers you need!