Director's Message

This year we are Mapping the Americas together with a year-long study of the Americas and the Indigenous people who inhabited these continents.

We invite you to join us on a joyful journey of learning through your child’s formative years. You are following in the footsteps of untold millions of brave sojourners who have courageously ventured out to discover “real life” education through Montessori schooling and not a one has regretted their course. As one former parent said, “I cannot think of a school more deserving of support. My son learned so much about creating community, solving problems, becoming independent, and living in harmony with nature. Thank you, thank you, to all of the wonderful teachers and administrators who make this such a special place!”  We are deeply honored by this wonderful sentiment and it illustrated exactly in real time, how our mission and vision are manifested throughout the organization.

We look forward to working with our families to map out a brilliant future for their child as we blaze new trails across North, Central and South America. We will make many new discoveries about our world that will amaze and inspire your child! We will awaken their curiosity, critical thinking skills, conscientious sportsmanship, independent learning, cultural intelligence, global values and collaborative creativity! Together we will encourage your child’s full potential using content that is based on cognitive science and human development. We look forward to many adventures with you and your family in the days, months, and years ahead, so keep your compass heading set on Cottonwood School!

Please SAVE THE DATE and head our way on Sunday, August 16th, 2026 at 1PM as we roll out our first map of the year…a campus-wide Candyland Game! That’s right! Our family orientation will be a board game adventure that will start us out following a map of our campus, as we visit each classroom, library, playground and specialist lab. The game is a special event designed to launch us into our 31st year, while also celebrating 30 years of JOYFUL LEARNING, and SERVICE to our community through high quality childcare, preschool and elementary education! And since this orientation is also a birthday party…yes, THERE WILL BE CAKE!

Dr. Montessori emphasized that "The secret of good teaching is to regard the child's intelligence as a fertile field in which seeds may be sown to grow under the flaming heat of imagination” so let the imaginings begin! The game is afoot!

With gratitude and appreciation,

Ms. Trish Nickerson, Founder/Executive Director
and the talented Faculty of Cottonwood Montessori School