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View our school calendar for important dates, events, and holidays at Elderflower Montessori for the current academic year in Houston. Download our calendar 2025-2026

Elderflower is a child-led Montessori elementary school in Houston, TX for ages 6-12. We foster a love for learning in a small, community-focused school. An authentic Montessori school for our changing world Serving elementary aged children ages 6-12. Elderflower Montessori is a member of the Wildflower Network of schools, in Houston, Texas. Wildflower is an ecosystem of decentralized Montessori micro-schools that support children, teachers, and parents. Wildflower aspires to give all children and families the opportunity to choose high-quality, beautiful learning environments as they follow life’s unfolding journey. Our Programs The needs of mankind are universal. Our means of meeting them create the richness and diversity of the planet. The Montessori child should come to relish the texture of that diversity. - Dr. Maria Montessori An Authentic Montessori School The Montessori Method emerges from the belief that children are naturally good, peaceful and curious and that in the context of a supportive environment, all children engage instinctively in the work of self-construction. With appropriate freedoms and the right support, children follow their interests to create rich learning experiences, form peaceful communities, and support and learn from one another. We are dedicated to the preparation of environments and ourselves to support the development of children. An Intentionally Small Community As an intentionally-small, community embedded learning environment, our school allows us to serve every child and family in deep and meaningful partnership with their teacher leaders. A Place for All Elderflower Montessori admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Learn about our mission, vision, and the story behind Elderflower Montessori. We are a proud member of the Wildflower Network in Houston. About Our School Elderflower is an authentic Montessori program. Students choose what they work on, follow their interests, move at their own pace, and stick with topics until they’ve mastered them, with teachers as guides through a structured curriculum that ensures children cover core concepts. Montessori integrates academic and socio-emotional objectives, and research demonstrates long-term positive impacts on both from even a few years of early exposure to a high-fidelity Montessori environment. Elderflower Montessori is a community based school centered on sustainable practices. We care for the environment by minimizing waste, learning about growing and preparing food, and spending time in nature. We foster social sustainability by emphasizing equity, social justice and quality of life for students, families and teachers. And finally, we prioritize economic sustainability, offering tiered tuition to allow families from different socio-economic backgrounds to be part of our school community. We make space for fostering individual interests, creativity, and artistic appreciation and expression. Our Teacher Leaders Melina Hebert Teacher Leader Founding Teacher Leader and Lower Elementary Guide Born in Seattle Washington, Melina moved to Texas almost thirty years ago and considers Houston her second home. She has been working as a public Montessori Lower Elementary Guide for the past 14 years. Prior to working as a teacher, Melina worked in the non-profit sector in resource development for local organizations like the Community Doula Program and the Houston Symphony. Melina holds a bachelor's degree in English and a master’s in public administration. She is also American Montessori Society credentialed for the Elementary I level, and has been a teacher trainer and field consultant for the Houston Montessori Center. Melina is passionate about Montessori education, sustainability, and helping students discover the joys of artistic expression. When she is not teaching, Melina enjoys being outdoors, cooking, reading, creating and spending time with her husband and four adult sons. Add a short bio for each team member. Make it brief and informative to keep visitors engaged. Ikuko Qano Teacher Leader Founding Teacher Leader and Lower Elementary Guide Originally from Japan, Ikuko moved to the United States at age 15 to study harp, flute and piano at Interlochen Arts Academy, and later earned bachelor’s degrees in harp and flute performance from Oberlin Conservatory of Music. After graduation, Ikuko moved to Houston to perform music and give private lessons. Ikuko’s three children attended Montessori school and she fell in love with the peaceful and mindful environment. In 2014, Ikuko began a journey of teaching in a Montessori school. Ikuko has been teaching with Melina, co-founder of Elderflower Montessori, for the last 6 years. She looks forward to providing students with an authentic Montessori education, and sharing her knowledge of sustainability, music, and the arts. When Ikuko is not teaching or playing music, she enjoys gardening, cooking, traveling and hiking with her husband and their children. Add a short bio for each team member. Make it brief and informative to keep visitors engaged. Our Board Board Member Board Role Email Board Member Board Role Email Board Member Board Role Email Faith Davis President Faith is a dedicated Montessori educator, recently retired from the classroom. Now in a tapered phase of a forty-year career leading early childhood communities, working in teacher education programs, guiding lower elementary students while mentoring public school colleagues, and tutoring, she brings that experience and a still-beating Montessori Loving heart to the Wildflower community as president of Elderflower Montessori’s board. Faith speaks Spanish fluently as a second language and has excellent communication skills in English. A fine art major in college, her time at home is spent making art and connecting with Houston’s art scene. Cynthia Lopez Campbell Secretary Cindy Campbell brings a dynamic background in education, sales, and entrepreneurship to the Elderflower Montessori board. With a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry, she began her career as a science educator before transitioning into a successful decade in healthcare sales, where she built strong relationships and spearheaded educational initiatives. She also runs her own land real estate business, leveraging her strategic mindset and passion for helping others invest in their future. Cindy’s connection to Montessori education is deeply personal—her own daughter began her schooling in a Montessori environment, where she witnessed firsthand the profound impact of a child-centered, holistic approach to learning. This experience reinforced her belief in fostering independence, curiosity, and well-being in education. She is honored to support the Montessori community and its mission. Outside of her professional endeavors, Cynthia enjoys traveling, supporting her community, and spending time with her family. Jake Cohen Board Member Jake Cohen (he/him) is a co-founder of Clover Montessori School, an early childhood program in Philadelphia, PA. Jake first fell in love with Montessori education in Chicago in 2012. He then moved to Oakland, CA for a graduate program in Montessori Early Childhood Education, earning his American Montessori Society credential and writing his Master’s thesis on obstacles to Montessori in Head Start programs. After five years in the Bay Area, Jake and his partner, Jessie, moved to Philadelphia to be closer to family on the East Coast. Since co-founding Clover with his colleague Eileen Fell in 2021, Jake has been thrilled to see the school grow to serve 30 children per year through a tiered tuition model in which families pay according to household income. He's very happy to continue learning and growing in this work alongside Melina and Ikuko as they embark on their journey with Elderflower.

Apóyanos para abrir nuestra escuela Micro-Montessori en el East End de Houston. Sea parte de llevar a Montessori a nuevas comunidades WAYS TO GIVE As a 501c3 non-profit, Elderflower Montessori puts donations toward start-up costs such as furniture, materials, and living wages for our guides as we build our enrollment. As part of our community, our generous donors directly help students succeed intellectually, emotionally and socially. If you’re interested in contributing, get in touch today. Volunteer We welcome the donated gift of time. Email us using our email in the footer below to let us know how you would like to volunteer with our school program. Donate In-Kind We welcome donated gifts in good quality such as classroom materials, books, and furniture. Please email us to let us know what you have to share. Donate Money Click the button below to donate online through Givebutter. Donate

Have questions or comments? Contact Elderflower Montessori for more information—we’re here to support your journey every step of the way. Contact Us We'd love to hear from you. Please reach out with any questions or comments. Elderflower Montessori 3719 Navigation Blvd. Houston, TX 77003 info@elderflowermontessori.org First Name Last Name Email Message Submit Thanks for for reaching out!

Learn about our admissions process, tuition, and how to apply. Take the first step to enrolling your child at our Houston Montessori school. Primary Admissions We are now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. We look forward to getting to know you and your family! Apply Now Application Process Attend one of our in-person or online information sessions. We are also happy to answer questions over email. Submit your application. Meet with us in person or on Zoom. Receive admissions decision. Affording Elderflower Montessori Elderflower Montessori is committed to equity and inclusion. We utilize a tiered tuition model for our school because we believe educational opportunities should be available to all families in our community regardless of financial means. In order to maintain an economically diverse student body, we enroll a certain number of students at each tier. Use your gross income and family size to determine your tuition level. Please reach out to us at info@elderflowermontessori.org if the chart does not accurately represent your finances or if you have other questions. After care will be available from 3:00 to 4:30 pm at the following rates per year on top of the annual tuition: Tier 1 - $2025 per year Tier 2 - $1950 per year Tier 3 - $1875 per year Tier 4 - $1725 per year Tier 5 - $750 per year The child who has felt a strong love for his surroundings and for all living creatures, who has discovered joy and enthusiasm in work, gives us reason to hope that humanity can develop in a new direction. - Dr. Maria Montessori

Explore our Montessori programs for elementary-aged children, including hours and location details tailored to support each child’s growth and independence. Our Program Elementary The Elementary curriculum uses "The Great Stories" as a springboard for interdisciplinary learning. There are five Great Lessons that are introduced: The Coming of the Universe, The Timeline of Life, The Timeline of Humans, The Story of Math, and The Story of Language. In this way, children learn about their place in the universe. Each of these lessons initiates curiosity or interests connected to other academic areas. These stories spark the imagination of Elementary students and give them a context for deeper engagement and learning. Instead of approaching schoolwork as discrete subjects, Montessori Elementary students discover the interrelationship between subject areas and understand how math, language, science and history are connected. Hours Full Day 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM After Care 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Location We are excited to start our journey at Holy Family Church, a beautiful community and space in Houston's East End neighborhood.* *Elderflower Montessori is not a mission or ministry of Holy Family HTX Episcopal Church. Elementary The child who has felt a strong love for his surroundings and for all living creatures, who has discovered joy and enthusiasm in work, gives us reason to hope that humanity can develop in a new direction.

Apply to work at Elderflower Montessori—complete the form to join our team of dedicated teachers nurturing lifelong learners through Montessori education. Job Openings is a community of entrepreneurs, visionaries and nurturers from all walks of life. To apply for any of our available positions, please fill out the form below, or email us using the email address in the footer. Please include the name of the position(s) as well as your resume and cover letter. 1 Teacher Leader In collaboration with a fellow teacher leader, the responsibilities of Teacher Leader include, but are not limited to co-teaching, family engagement and support, and school operations. 2 Assistant Teacher As an Assistant Teacher, you will be a critical member of our school community, supporting the maintenance of the Montessori prepared environment and reinforcing Montessori’s philosophy of whole child education. Apply First Name Email Last Name Phone Position Interest and Experience Link to Resume Link to Cover Letter Send Thanks for submitting!

Discover the Montessori philosophy at Elderflower Montessori—rooted in core beliefs that guide our educational approach and daily practices. Our Principles As a member of the Wildflower network of schools , we are committed to the liberation of every human being, every community, and the human spirit, so that we may all live in harmony with our individual purpose and the world around us, free from oppression and able to follow life’s unfolding journey. The Wildflower Schools Nine Principles describe critical ways that our schools bring our purpose, values and norms to life. They are not the only way a community could seek to pursue our purpose and live into these values and norms, but they articulate the choices we’ve made about what to collectively uphold and by extension the aspirations that define what it means to be a Wildflower school. Network Advancing an ecosystem of independent schools We seek to make Wildflower schools an option for children and families everywhere. As we grow, we benefit from an expanding community of learners and professionals working together, and the economic efficiencies that can arise from sharing resources. At the same time, we protect the autonomy of every teacher-leader and we resist the expansion of central-administration and authority. Each school sees itself as a node in a network, with substantial freedom in school-level decision-making and access to the resources of the network when those resources are useful and compelling to the school. Reciprocally, each school also sees itself as accountable to its neighbor schools and the broader Wildflower community, and responsible for supporting existing and future Wildflower schools. Finally, wherever possible, we make our materials, software and learnings available publicly, so that all schools can benefit from them, whether or not they are affiliated with Wildflower. Innovation A Laboratory for Innovation Wildflower schools are committed to providing authentic Montessori environments for our students and at the same time keeping Dr. Montessori’s commitment to scientific pedagogy alive. In our work to continuously improve, we try new things, rigorously evaluate our efforts, learn from colleagues within and outside of Wildflower, and make adjustments as necessary. Because scientific observation is the foundation of the Montessori method, we seek to use modern technologies to extend and expand our teachers’ capacity for observation and documentation – without changing the concrete, experiential nature of the prepared environment. Home A Seamless Learning Community Wildflower schools look for ways in which children’s home, school, and community environments can offer more seamless experiences, reflecting consistent perspectives on children’s development and engaging them as authentic contributors in each setting. We see our work as a partnership with parents and families: we value their wisdom, invite their engagement, and enthusiastically share with them our Montessori methods. Similarly, parents at Wildflower schools see their roles as active supporters of the schools and teacher-leaders, rather than its customers. Equity A Commitment to Equity Wildflower schools exist within the context of the segregation and inequity of our communities and society, and where there is no justice, there can be no lasting peace. As Montessorians, we believe children’s unique capacity to adapt to their environment makes childhood the key to the long-term improvement of society and our greatest hope for a more peaceful world. We cultivate that capacity in schools that include people of different racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds and seek out ways to make our schools more accessible to all families; we celebrate diversity and foster inclusivity; and, we consider the unique opportunities and challenges facing every child and commit to giving each student what they need to find their purpose and fulfill their potential. We recognize the significance of this undertaking, and we work to transform ourselves, our school communities and our broader society to bring about our vision for justice and peace. Beauty Cultivating a deep beauty in all things Dr. Montessori wrote that schools should be aesthetically engulfing and culturally enriching for children. Wildflower schools live into this through the choices we make about materials and fine art, interior designs that burst with beauty and communicate to children, teachers and families that they are valued, and by welcoming working artists as a part of the prepared environment. All of us – adults and children – explore and cultivate the beauty of our inner landscapes through mindfulness practices, and seek to carry that beauty into our relationships with each other. Nature Emphasizing the nonseparation between nature and humans At Wildflower schools, we cultivate each child’s direct relationship with the natural world, by attending to and going out into the nature that surrounds us and by bringing abundant plant life into our schools so that children learn to care for their living environment. We limit each school’s physical footprint and minimize its impact on the environment, including through the choice of sustainable, nontoxic and earth-friendly materials whenever possible. We maintain nutritional standards that are earth-conscious and protect natural, healthful diets for children. Montessori An Authentic Montessori Environment The Montessori Method emerges from the belief that children are naturally good, peaceful and curious and that in the context of a supportive environment, all children engage instinctively in the work of self-construction. With appropriate freedoms and the right support, children follow their interests to create rich learning experiences, form peaceful communities, and support and learn from one another. We are dedicated to the preparation of environments and ourselves to support the development of children. Teacher-Led Small and Non-hierarchical Wildflower schools are 1-2 room schools with the faculty both teaching and administering the school. Wildflower teachers-leaders are partners and social entrepreneurs, responsible primarily to themselves and each other for every aspect of their school and its overall success. By preserving a small scale, teacher-leaders are able to make day-to-day decisions that respond to the needs of the children and school-wide decisions that express their own vision in the context of the needs of children, families and themselves. Shopfront Neighborhood-nested in partnership with the community Wildflower schools sit in street-facing and accessible, light-filled spaces on walkable streets and invite community members visually into the daily work of children. They increase the presence of children and families in the community, as more narrow geographic focus supports walking to and from school, and by relying on public playgrounds, gardens and other civic spaces that would otherwise be on-site in larger institutions. We expand our definition of “stakeholders” beyond the families we serve directly, and we work to make our surrounding communities stronger and healthier for children.

< Back Teacher-Led Small and Non-hierarchical Wildflower schools are 1-2 room schools with the faculty both teaching and administering the school. Wildflower teachers-leaders are partners and social entrepreneurs, responsible primarily to themselves and each other for every aspect of their school and its overall success. By preserving a small scale, teacher-leaders are able to make day-to-day decisions that respond to the needs of the children and school-wide decisions that express their own vision in the context of the needs of children, families and themselves. Previous Next

< Back Shopfront Neighborhood-nested in partnership with the community Wildflower schools sit in street-facing and accessible, light-filled spaces on walkable streets and invite community members visually into the daily work of children. They increase the presence of children and families in the community, as more narrow geographic focus supports walking to and from school, and by relying on public playgrounds, gardens and other civic spaces that would otherwise be on-site in larger institutions. We expand our definition of “stakeholders” beyond the families we serve directly, and we work to make our surrounding communities stronger and healthier for children. Previous Next

< Back Montessori An Authentic Montessori Environment The Montessori Method emerges from the belief that children are naturally good, peaceful and curious and that in the context of a supportive environment, all children engage instinctively in the work of self-construction. With appropriate freedoms and the right support, children follow their interests to create rich learning experiences, form peaceful communities, and support and learn from one another. We are dedicated to the preparation of environments and ourselves to support the development of children. Previous Next