Colleen founded Calaveras Montessori School in 2002 and opened South Bay Teachers College in 2000. She has an extensive background in early childhood education (15 years), Montessori training and teacher education. Colleen is an active member of the Milpitas community and is the president of the Milpitas Rotary Club. Her amount of dedication to the community has afforded her the title of 2007 Business Person of the Year.

Calaveras Montessori School is expanding. The Jericho's Steak House on Calaveras Boulevard which has been closed for some time now, has been leased by Calaveras Montessori School. The school is currently in the construction phase and plans to open for enrollment this spring. Infant and Toddler Care will still be available at the Calaveras Montessori School located at the Samuel Ayer site on Calaveras Boulevard. Primary Education (ages 3-6) will be offered at the new location. We will also offer an after school program this fall for children who are attending the local schools including Fremont and North San Jose. Please visit our Web site for more information: www.calaverasmontessori.com

Why is Montessori a great choice for your child?

Dr. Montessori believed that the goal of early childhood education should not be to fill the child with facts from a pre-selected course of studies, but rather to cultivate his own natural desire to learn!

At the center of the Montessori method is your child! Your child's individual interests motivate his choice of materials. The experienced, certified teacher will demonstrate the appropriate use and method for each material and/or lesson and individually assist each child in the classroom.

In the Montessori classroom this objective is approached in two ways: first, by allowing each child to experience the excitement of learning by his own choice rather than by being forced; and second, by helping him to perfect all his natural tools for learning, so that his ability will be at a maximum in future learning situations. The Montessori materials have this dual long-range purpose in addition to their immediate purpose of giving specific information to the child. The child is then free to use the materials until the desired skill or concept has been mastered. Consequently, he may then choose to "teach" that material to another child or to move on to a new and/or higher level of interest.

The Montessori classroom offers a wide variety of child-sized, developmentally appropriate, self-correcting materials that allow your child to teach himself about language, mathematics and the varieties of cultures: music, art, geography, botany, and the physical sciences.

The Montessori method embraces the development of the whole child: intellectual, social, emotional, physical and spiritual. Freedom is a positive component for growth. The child's ability to choose his own lessons and work at his own pace provides each and every child the opportunity for his own self-directed future success. With the freedom to choose among this broad range of manipulative materials, the child is presented the opportunity to develop his own independence, grow in competence, gain confidence in himself and achieve positive work habits. That will lead to an everlasting appreciation for learning.