Monarch Bay Montessori Academy was founded in 2003 with two Early Childhood classrooms and one Elementary classroom, housing a total of forty children. A school that has now grown to serve 127 students and offers credentialing for adult learners, Monarch Bay began from humble beginnings with a passion for Montessori and a dream to create an ideal environment perfect for children and families.

Monarch Bay’s founder, Paloma Johnston, first learned about Montesssori through a brief introduction to alternative education methods in her college studies. As she began working in psychology, she visited a Montessori school in her hometown of Madrid. In 1983, she married her husband, Carlos, and moved to the United States. The couple had a short stay in New York on their way to Spartan, TN, where her father-in-law lived. They quickly realized that Sparta was too small of a town for them, and only three short months later, with all of their belongings packed in two small bags, they ventured west on a week-long motorcycle journey to California.

While exploring the area, Johnston got lost and happened to drive past a Montessori school. She found herself compelled to stop and entered the school without a second thought. A single conversation with the director inspired her to enroll in their teacher education program (TEP) which started in just a few short weeks and just like that, her Montessori journey officially began.

Paloma interned at a local Montessori school and quickly moved into a leadership position after obtaining her certification. Continuing her Montessori education, Johnston enrolled in an Elementary course the very next year. The closing of the school where she was teaching led her to a school with only an Early Childhood program. Working closely with the director, Paloma helped expand the school, opening five new Elementary classes. Over time, the school grew to house 450 students from infancy through eighth grade.

After working for several years as an Elementary guide and curriculum director, Johnston stumbled upon another amazing opportunity. A bit by chance, she connected with an enterprise interested in developing an Early Childhood program in a local shopping plaza and worked with a friend to embark on this project. Having no business experience, Paloma taught herself how to write a business plan, develop and maintain a budget, manage city permits, partner with architects on the building’s design, and more, all while working her full-time job as a Montessori guide and raising a family. She was able to source funding through a bank offering loans to women entrepreneurs. With the loan application not yet approved, Johnson and her friend (and business partner) crossed their fingers and signed a lease agreement.

While the school was being built, Johnston set up a small Montessori environment in a commercial space in the same plaza, using the business strategies and techniques she’d developed through her involvement in the Early Childhood venture. Construction was complete in only seventy-six days, bringing Paloma’s dream to life with two Early Childhood classrooms and one Elementary classroom housing forty children.

Twenty years later, with three Early Childhood classrooms, one Lower Elementary classroom, and one Upper Elementary classroom, “Monarch Bay Montessori Academy is a happy place full of happy children” that provides a Montessori education of the highest standards.

The school is known for its dedication not only to educating the whole child, but to inspiring the whole family. They provide parent education and many opportunities for families to engage with the community through volunteer opportunities in the classroom, an adult-child reading program, and more. The school also hopes to soon reestablish monthly chats with parents and families, known as “Montessori Matters,” where candid conversations about topics of interest within the school community were held. Social events are also organized, providing families opportunities to connect with one another and develop life-long friendships. Johnston firmly believes in the importance of family and community involvement, sharing, “Parents are welcome anytime and are an intricate part of who we are. We believe in creating a village to raise a happy and well-centered child.”

Paloma’s dream was to create a school she would have wanted to attend and the happiness and belonging that abound at Monarch Bay Montessori Academy make it clear that she has done just that and more!

In alliance with Monarch Bay Montessori Academy, Paloma has added a teacher education program, the Montessori Teacher Academy. The Academy helps Montessori continue to flourish in the area, offering credentialing to Montessori educators at the Early Childhood level.

Along with her new co-director, Emma Johnston León, this mother and daughter team are committed to advancing the Montessori movement by providing guides with the tools and support they need to implement the Montessori philosophy and pedagogy. Together, they are creating a brighter future, by providing children with opportunities to develop into the change makers they are.

And to think, it all started with just a dream!

About the Author

Heather White, EdS, is a Montessori coach and consultant, content creator, and educator for adult learners, as well as a moderator and manager for the Montessori at Home (0 – 3 years) Facebook group. Formerly, she was a Montessori teacher, in-home caregiver, Lower Elementary coordinator, and associate head of school. She also has experience as a school psychologist intern. She is AMS-credentialed (Early Childhood, Elementary I) and is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). Contact her at hpratt@stetson.edu.

The opinions expressed in Montessori Life are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of AMS.