Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School Opens in Station North

Baltimore City school serves 170 city students; stimulates neighborhood revitalization

Baltimore, MD (September 17, 2008) – Mayor Sheila Dixon, CEO of the Baltimore City Public School System Andres Alonso, and more than 200 civic and business leaders celebrated the opening of the city’s first public Montessori school with a ribbon-cutting at Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School in the Station North neighborhood.

The students held the ribbon around their newly constructed playground as they sang a song about “Peace.” Several students spoke about the meaning of peace and the impact this school is having on their lives.

The school, at 1600 Guilford Avenue, is located in the former Mildred Monroe Elementary School building. The building sat vacant for nearly 10 years until it was reopened last winter as a Code Blue temporary homeless shelter. For the past five months, hundreds of parents and volunteers committed over 3,500 hours to prepare the school for its transformation. Improvements to the building include the installation of new floors, doors and bathroom fixtures; repainting classrooms and all public spaces; and building and installing cubbies for the children. Nearly all the work was done by parents. Extensive upgrades to the electrical services were also made to accommodate a new security system and wireless computer network.

Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School was created to provide an enriching, interactive education to children throughout Baltimore City. Its present student body, composed of 170 children ages three through nine, is a diverse community of students from across the City. The student population is 45 percent African American, Latino, Asian or other minority and 55 percent Caucasian. The school plans to expand annually, eventually serving 200 children up to age 11 by 2010.

The rehabilitation of the building and the creation of Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School is part of the ongoing revitalization of the burgeoning Station North arts district.

“Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School provides a unique educational opportunity for children and families in Baltimore City,” said School Founder and Director, Allison Shecter. “As the school continues to grow and enrich the lives of students, it will also embrace the community to encourage collaboration and enrichment, and will be an anchor for learning and rebirth in Station North and beyond.”

Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School uses the Montessori educational program, which focuses on respecting and embracing a student’s natural curiosity by promoting a joyful, hands-on learning environment focused on mixed age groups, individualized instruction, open-ended curriculum and the integration of art, music, and movement into daily activities. The school is developing a partnership with Loyola University to focus on accountability and to carry out its Montessori mission. In addition, MICA students are already teaching enrichment classes at the school. Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School is the first public Montessori program offered to Baltimore City students and families. There are approximately 300 public Montessori schools in the United States.

About the Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School

Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School is Baltimore City’s first free public Montessori education program. The school provides a self-paced, child-centered education founded on nurturing creativity, embracing differences, and sharing knowledge in a diverse and respectful learning community. For more information about Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School please contact the school at 410-528-5393 or baltimoremontessoricharter@gmail.com.