Our Story

The launch of the satellite Sputnick in 1957 by the USSR shocked the United States, caused reporting on the USSR education system, and led to a surge of interest in early education in the US. Educators from US visited European Montessori schools and the Association Montessori Internationale (Amsterdam), founded by Dr. Maria Montessori, was asked to open a school and teacher training center in Connecticut which it did.

This parent initiative set a pattern for the second wave of Montessori schools in the US. (The first initiative followed Dr. Montessori’s fame after her initial work with children in 1907) Parents formed groups, hired Montessori directresses from abroad, and opened schools. Like these groups, Flossmoor Montessori School (FMS) began in 1966. Differences of opinion in the initial parent group developed when it came to build a school building with the result that one couple, Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Joyce Bathalter, built the Flossmoor building and Mrs. Bathalter served as an administrator until 1980. **

Mr. Lawrence Lewis joined FMS in 1980 and became administrator. Interior space was changed to accommodate a kitchen and a class of two-year children. In 1997 FMS built an addition to provide more parking, accessible washrooms, offices, staff room, foyer and elementary classroom thereby providing environments for children of ages two-years, 3-6 years, and 6-12 years.

January 2014 FMS had change of leadership to Mrs. Bansari Modi as an administrator. Our Pre-Primary program completed state  licensing requirements to continue working  with children under age 3 years. We made an addition to our Pre-Primary program by getting DCFS license to work with children 15-24 months from 2016-2017 school year.

Since our beginning in 1966 till 2018, FMS had been recognized as a true Montessori school by the Association Montessori International (AMI), the non-governmental Montessori organization that accredits schools, trains teachers throughout the world, and promotes the social and educational welfare of the child. Our teachers are trained by the AMI or AMS, hold degrees, and meet continuing education requirements. The faculty consists of directresses (teachers), assistants, a Montessori administrator, and support staff. We are professional about the joy of helping children develop and learn.

Flossmoor Montessori School has been following The American Montessori Society's Pathway of Continuous School Improvement that supports Montessori schools in their ongoing commitment to providing and sustaining quality Montessori programs. The five components as essential to quality programs are: properly trained Montessori teachers, multi-age classrooms, use of specially designed Montessori learning materials, child-directed work, and uninterrupted work periods.

Flossmoor Montessori School is a member school of Association of Illinois Montessori Schools - AIMS