⚭ Our Shared Values

  • By employing the philosophy and materials of Dr. Maria Montessori, we prepare environments that inspire children to develop inner discipline, self-assurance, and a love of learning. Each element in the environment is purposeful and thoughtful, fostering curiosity, independence, and peace.

  • We encourage strong moral principles and responsibility. We lead by example, hold one another accountable, and expect others to do the same.

  • We believe that by active sharing and active listening, different perspectives and experiences drive holistic advancement. Through collaboration we multiply our contribution to the immediate and greater community.

  • We respect the individuals before us, providing grace and guidance to help all develop to their potential. We engage with intention to fulfill the most basic human need of belonging.

  • As intrinsically motivated individuals, we are continuously seeking knowledge and growth through material resources, collaboration, and opportunity.

 

🔭 Our Vision

We are the leader in Montessori-based education in Northwest Arkansas. We promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and equality. Our belief in the authentic self encourages diversity of thought and experiences.

  • 👧🏾Our students reach their full potential as collaborative and independent learners. They are well-prepared for their next steps in education, lifelong learning, and social responsibility.

  • 👩🏼‍🏫Our guides and staff members are passionate, highly trained, and effective.

  • 🏠Our families and parents are informed, equipped, and involved. They are devoted to student success inside and outside the classroom.

  • 👩‍💼Our administrators are committed to the highest educational standards, financial stability, effective communication, and growth.

  • 🏫Our campus includes beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces that support the Montessori methodology.

 

🎯 Our Mission

The mission of ANH is to cultivate our students' natural desire to learn by offering individualized guidance in practical skills, holistic academics, and grace and courtesy.

 

♖ Our Strategies

We embrace the Montessori methodology of a well-prepared environment that focuses on practical skills, holistic academics, peacekeeping, and grace and courtesy.

  • We focus on practical life skills, which provide the basis to concentration, independence and stamina.

    • Responsible: Guides

    • Started: Yes

    • Status: ✅

  • We maintain a peace area and curriculum that includes grace and courtesy.

    • Responsible: Guides

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: 🟡

  • We take extra time to ensure that the environment is well prepared. Guides have quiet time in the room to center and plan.

    • Responsible: Guides

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: 🟡

We foster an individualized discovery of unique interests and talents and cultivate in the child a love and affection for lifelong learning.

  • We allow the child to choose their own lessons. We introduce lessons to increase interest and intrinsic motivation.

    • Responsible: Guides

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

  • We educate parents on natural child development to encourage lifelong learning.

    • Responsible: Guides

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

We pique non-academic interests early.

  • We provide opportunities for extra-curricular activities (soccer, dance, bike club, etc.).

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

  • We invite a wide range of guest speakers with various skills and ambitions to share with students.

    • Responsible: Guides

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: Yellow

  • We secure more “external materials” to foster growth in unique interests (baking, sewing, musical instruments, bikes, etc.).

    • Responsible: Guides

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: Green

We encourage rigor within the classroom by nurturing intrinsic motivation,  leading to strong educational outcomes.

  • We ensure that there is a clear connection between the classroom and the child’s next educational journey and life skills.

    • Responsible: Guides

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: Green

  • We track and share progress (academic and life skills) of students after they leave ANH.

    • Responsible: Admin/Guides

    • Started: No

    • Progress: 🛑

 

We foster a collaborative and unified team.

  • We have a consistent staff meeting time and structure.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

  • We host events where all staff are involved in the outcome (ie. spring concert, art show, welcome back night, family picnic, etc.).

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: Green

  • We have regular team building activities (ie. yearly staff retreat, end of year bonfire, bowling, etc.)

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

We encourage opportunities for professional growth, development, and advancement.

  • We offer off campus professional development opportunities (refresher courses).

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

  • We host in school professional development days.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

  • Staff have regular discussions with their supervisor about how things are going and opportunities for career growth and advancement.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

  • Our guides mentor and work to grow their assistants.

    • Responsible: Guides

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: 🟡

We offer an equitable compensation and benefits plan.

  • • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: No

    • Progress: 🛑

  • We conduct market research on salaries and adjust compensation accordingly.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

  • We survey employees on the types of employee benefits that are valued.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

We have staff members who are passionate about and effective in achieving our mission.

  • We clearly define staff roles. New staff members know what is expected. (job descriptions)

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: 🟡

  • We find ways for staff to share their passion.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

 

We have ongoing parent education programs that seek to equip and inspire parents in the Montessori way of life.

  • We have ongoing parent education programs (LTC Presentations, FamilyWorks, Tomorrow’s Child Discussion Board, Book Study, etc.)

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

  • We have ongoing parent immersion opportunities (Open house, observations, showcase, conferences, silent journey, etc.)

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: Green

We have a community-service program that connects parents with school needs.

  • We have community service opportunities (ad hoc needs)

    • Responsible: Guides & Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

We have a communication plan that encourages information flow between guides and parents.

  • We have a communication plan that encourages information flow between guides and parents and is streamlined through a single technology tool (one tool to send email, remind text, etc.).

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: 🟡

We facilitate opportunities for parents to connect with one another.

  • We provide a space for community-building (social gatherings, parent education, communication platform etc.).

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

  • We provide a digital parent directory with opt in/out preferences.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

 

We have developed policies, procedures, and practices to ensure that we deliver a true Montessori education in all classrooms.

  • We have clear guidelines and expectations published for each classroom (curriculum including academics, behavioral, and life skills).

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

  • We have written classroom procedures for each level, down to the basics of what we do and why we do it.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: No

    • Progress: 🛑

  • We find ways to connect to the pedagogical base and spread the word to our guides and assistants.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

We have a sustainable long-term financial plan.

  • We create an annual budget.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

  • We have identified legal entity structure options to optimize our financial model.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

We have administrators who provide clear and concise communication to our staff and family communities on a regular basis.

  • We use a digital project management tool to increase inter-staff communication.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: Green

We have a detailed plan for retaining and growing our student population.

  • We have defined optimal growth for each classroom, including the ideal number of students, classes, and age groups.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

  • We have a marketing plan to attract new students/families.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: No

    • Progress: 🛑

  • We have a student/family retention plan.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: 🟡

We have a physical space that promotes a sense of peace and order.

  • We have a prioritized list of softscape landscaping projects (plants, trees, flowers, shrubs, etc.).

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: 🟡

  • We have a prioritized list of structural (hardscape) landscaping projects.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

We have a well-prepared environment with true Montessori materials that inspire both current and prospective students.

  • Our classroom space encourages calm and concentration through colors, furniture, light, textures and sound.

    • Responsible: Guides

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

  • We have a material purchasing rotation to secure new lessons.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: No

    • Progress: ✅

We have facilities that are maintained to high standards, enhancing the classroom experience.

  • We have a furniture replacement plan.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: 🟡

  • We have a comprehensive plan for general cleanliness and organization.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: No

    • Progress: ✅

We have outdoor spaces that facilitate discovery, exploration, growth, and social development.

  • We have an improvement plan which outlines defined areas for purposeful outdoor works.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: 🟡

  • Outdoor spaces are clearly identified, organized, and functional.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

 

We promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in our policies, procedures, and practices.

  • We promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in our enrollment process, including enrollment policies, marketing, and outreach.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

  • We post job openings on diversity job websites.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

We encourage participation in the understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

  • We provide training and development opportunities for staff in relation to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: 🟡

  • We offer a diversity, equity, and inclusion reading series for parents as part of LTC program.

    • Responsible: Admin

    • Started: No

    • Progress: 🛑

We incorporate culturally and socially relevant learning in our school community.

  • We create culturally and socially relevant learning in each of the classrooms - brining learning opportunities to the students (i.e lessons, virtual and in person partners).

    • Responsible: Guides

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: 🟡

  • We develop field trips that promote culturally and socially relevant learning opportunities.

    • Responsible: Guides

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅

We nurture civil discourse that is aligned with the Montessori principles of grace and courtesy.

  • We encourage diversity of thought and experience through Habits of Mind, practicing moral dilemmas, social stories, etc.

    • Responsible: Guides

    • Started: Yes

    • Progress: ✅