What is Montessori, and Why is It a Great Option for Parents?

Special Blog Post by Director of School and Public Relations, Eric Jones

A Personal Awakening in Education

I was in third grade around the time the movie Jurassic Park came out, and I became obsessed with dinosaurs. I asked my teacher when we were going to learn about dinosaurs in class. Her response: “What do you mean? We already went over that.” I was stunned. I certainly didn’t remember any dinosaur unit. “You must’ve missed it,” she said. And just like that, my dreams of becoming a paleontologist were dashed. If only there had been a system of education that would have rewarded my desire to learn, rather than sending me other way. I'm proud to say that Baldwin County School District is one of only four public districts in Georgia where there is!

In a traditional classroom, if you blink (or daydream about T. rex) at the wrong time, you miss the boat. Fast forward to 2017, while I was the Special Projects Coordinator for Georgia College's Office of Strategic Communications, we entered into a partnership with the Baldwin County School District to create the Early Learning Center's Montessori Academy.

That's where I learned there was an approach to education where my third-grade self would have been handed the tools to pursue that dino passion rather than having the door closed. That approach had actually been around for over a century. It was created in the early 1900s by an Italian physician-turned-educator named Maria Montessori.

Montessori in Baldwin County

Our journey began in Fall 2017 as a pilot program when the Baldwin County School District partnered with Georgia College to launch a Montessori program at our Early Learning Center. It was so successful that it quickly expanded to Lakeview Primary.

Today, Montessori education is available in Baldwin County from 6-week-old babies through 5th grade—a rare offering in public education.

According to Montessori Lead Teacher Megan Shuman, Baldwin is one of only four public school districts in Georgia with a Montessori program. And it’s growing right here in our school district. “We’re creating lifelong learners from a very young age,” she says. “It’s just fantastic to see them excited to come to school and wanting to challenge themselves.”

So, What is Montessori?

Montessori is a student-centered approach to education founded by Dr. Maria Montessori in the early 1900s. It's designed around how children naturally learn—through exploration, movement, and self-direction.

Classrooms are multi-age, lessons are individualized, and the teacher is more of a "guide" than a lecturer. Students use hands-on materials to grasp concepts at their own pace, which means they’re never held back or left behind. The focus isn’t just academics. Montessori classrooms emphasize independence, practical life skills, emotional growth, and social development. As Lakeview Primary Montessori Teacher Judith Blount says, “I can literally be working on letter sounds with one kid and, five minutes later, doing multiplication with another.”

Why It Works

Montessori thrives on what students are naturally curious about. That means the learning is real, personal, and lasting. Whitney Hinton, a Montessori teacher, said it best: "I’ve found the joy in teaching again." Her students, like many across the district, are showing that when you trust kids to guide their own learning, they rise to the occasion.

And yes, it still aligns with state standards. Teachers like Shuman and Hinton are masters of balancing Montessori’s methods with Georgia’s academic standards and benchmarks. And that's why Montessori requires specially trained tacticians in teaching. “It’s not always easy,” Shuman says, “but the benefits far outweigh the challenges.”

Teachers regularly observe, assess, and support students to ensure they’re progressing. In many cases, students exceed expectations. Hinton explains, "Because we meet them where they are, they can move farther in their learning than they might in a traditional classroom."

Not Just for "Gifted" Kids

There’s a persistent myth that Montessori is only for advanced learners. That’s not true. What it does require is a willingness to be independent, to explore, and to engage. And those are skills we teach. As Blount puts it, “We just need kids willing to learn. It’s not about being the smartest—it’s about being curious.”

A Hidden Gem in Public Education

In many places, Montessori is a private school luxury. In Baldwin County, it’s a free public option—and one we’re incredibly proud of. But not everyone knows it exists. As Hinton says, “I want the community to understand the resource that they have.”

If you’re a parent wondering if Montessori is right for your child, reach out to your school. Ask about it. Come visit a classroom. You might find, like I did, that this approach to education doesn’t just teach kids. It ignites them.