San Tan Charter School's Montessori program celebrates 18 years

Eighteen years ago, the Montessori preschool program was launched at San Tan Charter School.

As Kami Kerby, San Tan Montessori’s new school director noted, the preschool program was so successful, it has expanded over the years to include more grade levels.

Today, the San Tan Montessori School offers an experience where children can begin as young as 1 year old in the Montessori preschool, and then continue their education with the program through eighth grade.

“The inspiration behind extending the Montessori approach beyond preschool was to meet the needs of families who wanted a seamless educational journey rooted in Montessori principles, combined with the flexibility of offering Gifted and Mainstream programs,” Kerby said, adding that the expanded Montessori program allows students to experience a consistent, nurturing, and community-focused environment for up to 14 years.

“The community-driven nature of our school and the strong connections our families build with our teachers have been central to this growth.”

At the completion of eighth grade, students who are in the San Tan Montessori School are welcome to stay at San Tan Charter School for high school — either in the school’s traditional academic program or, starting next school year, in the Montessori program, which is scheduled to expand once again.

As Kerby explained, the San Tan Montessori program will go through ninth grade for the 2025-2026 school year. It will then expand to 10th grade for 2026-2027, 11th grade for 2027-2028 and then 12th grade for 2028-2029.

Kerby, who has taught in San Tan’s Montessori Program for years, is excited about her new role as school director, and her goal to expand upon the school's sense of community.

“One of the key things I’m looking forward to is deepening our Montessori practices while also integrating opportunities for creativity and collaboration across different age groups,” she said.

“We are also focused on fostering strong connections with our families through communication, events, and meaningful engagement in our students’ learning experiences. Ultimately, my goal is to ensure every child feels supported, challenged, and valued as they grow with us.”

The rest of the teachers and staff that work at the San Tan Montessori School share Kerby’s passion for the program, and working with children.

Britnie Thrift, San Tan Montessori’s new school assistant director, is thrilled with her new role at the school.

“I am dedicated to supporting the growth of each student, the hard work of our dedicated teachers, and building positive relationships with the parents,” Thrift said.

“My aspiration is to be a positive influence in children’s lives, hoping to impact them as much as they impact me.”

In addition, Darling Hall was recently hired as the San Tan Montessori School administrative assistant.

“For the past 10 years, I have been in Montessori, and I genuinely believe in Maria Montessori's philosophy of respecting the child as a unique individual who is beautiful and capable,” Hall said.