| As a mother and advocate of the Montessori | | | | continuing education support for teachers and |
| way, Castle Montessori Schools founder and Head | | | | their assistants by providing training in new |
| of School, Varsha Patel and her team of | | | | courses as well as refresher courses. Patel |
| dedicated teachers and administrators have set | | | | believes the school’s teachers are free not |
| the bar when it comes to providing a top-notch | | | | only to teach, but to learn as well. The position |
| education for the young. | | | | also serves to help with all areas of classroom |
| In a day and time where many schools are | | | | management and acts as part of a unique |
| cutting their staff members and faculty to save | | | | teaching team which is focused on ensuring quality |
| money in a tough economy, Patel’s approach | | | | education for each and every child. |
| runs counterintuitive to the trend. | | | | “I really believe in a team-based learning |
| The addition of two outstanding AMS/AMI | | | | environment for our schools when it comes to |
| Certified Montessori education experts on staff, | | | | our staff,” Patel said. “In this way, |
| each with over 15 years of experience, has | | | | everyone feels supported and staff members |
| catapulted Castle Montessori Schools of Carrollton, | | | | know they always have somewhere to turn to |
| Flower Mound and McKinney into the position as | | | | gain or share new ideas for improving our |
| the premier choice of North Texas parents | | | | educational processes. “The Montessori way |
| seeking a high-quality Montessori education for | | | | is certainly not just for children. It’s also a |
| their children. | | | | philosophy that transcends into all human |
| Patel has recently made a substantial investment | | | | interaction, if we allow it to do so,” Patel said. |
| in the forward development of each school’s | | | | “Dr. Maria Montessori dedicated her life’s |
| program through the addition of the schools’ | | | | work to helping children discover and nurture their |
| first Education Program Directors. The Primary | | | | potential, and through my schools I hope children |
| Education Program Director specializes in children | | | | gain a sense of community, a culture of respect, |
| ages 3 to 6 years of age while the Toddler | | | | choice, and independence. I love the fact that in |
| Education Program Director specializes in younger | | | | each of my schools we have created a place |
| children ages 18 months to 3 years of age. | | | | where children feel successful, at peace, and are |
| As part of the management team, the Education | | | | actively engaged in purposeful and focused |
| Program Directors work in concert with Patel to | | | | learning,” Patel said. |
| ensure that the quality of the education being | | | | Each Castle Montessori School campus is built |
| delivered is consistent not only from | | | | featuring state-of-the-art computer labs, indoor |
| classroom-to-classroom but also from | | | | gymnasiums, outdoor playgrounds with upgraded |
| school-to-school. | | | | play structures, music rooms with baby-grand |
| When it comes to the sometimes challenging | | | | pianos and closed-circuit monitoring security |
| aspect of toddler life, the Education Program | | | | systems. A distinct sense of order and beauty is |
| Directors have many answers. A deep love for | | | | seen throughout each classroom. |
| children in this age range is a must, and the | | | | All lead teachers (Directresses) are certified by |
| Toddler Education Program Director serves as a | | | | the American Montessori Society (AMS), |
| direct resource for parents who oftentimes are | | | | Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), or the |
| at a loss when it comes to the behavior and | | | | Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher |
| emotions of their little ones. | | | | Education (MACTE). Teachers holding |
| “It’s exciting that we are able to not just | | | | certifications from these organizations have |
| provide for the care and education of the very | | | | undergone a rigorous two to three year |
| young child, but we have now put in place more | | | | Montessori training program and have achieved |
| ways for parents to learn important things about | | | | their teaching certificates only after having passed |
| their child. When I was a young mother, I would | | | | their exams and internship requirements. |
| have loved to visit with an expert on toddlers | | | | Castle Montessori schools offer year-round |
| about so many things,” Patel said. | | | | programs for children ages 18 months to nine |
| “I know it can be very stressful to have a | | | | years, before and after-school care, nature study, |
| toddler, and parents can sometimes feel very | | | | music programs, computer programs, two foreign |
| isolated and alone. We want to make sure our | | | | language programs (Spanish and Mandarin Chinese) |
| families know we are here to support them,” | | | | as well as extra-curricular programs such as |
| Patel added. | | | | dance, martial arts, indoor soccer, golf, and more. |
| Castle Montessori Education Program Directors | | | | New students have a unique opportunity to spend |
| are also available to help families set up a home | | | | time (free of charge) to ensure the transition |
| environment which meets the developmental | | | | period into Castle Montessori schools is an |
| needs of their child, and also works with teachers | | | | enjoyable and stress-free time. Parents may |
| to deepen their understanding of the needs of | | | | bring their child into the school for as little as a |
| children. This, in turn, maximizes the ability of the | | | | few minutes or as long as several hours so that |
| child to receive the full benefits of a Montessori | | | | both parent and child can gradually adjust to the |
| education. | | | | new school environment. |
| Both directors also work daily to provide | | | | |