Sunrise Montessori School

Sunrise Montessori School was started in the home of Mary Ellen Marion in 1979. The first year there were eight children in the class and fifteen on a waiting list. A search was made for a church with space available to rent to our school. Larkspur Christian Church on 33rd Avenue north of Cactus. Their Fellowship Hall was used for our school from September 1980 through June 1988. In 1981, one of the first Montessori toddler programs in the valley was added.

Mary Ellen and Ray Marion are the owners. Mary Ellen is the Director. Mary Ellen received her B.A. in Elementary Education from Arizona State University and she received a Master’s Degree in Counseling. She taught in public schools for four years: 1 year in the Washington School District teaching 2nd grade and 3 years in the Mesa Unified School District teaching 1st grade. Mary Ellen found an interest in Montessori when her oldest daughter was ready for preschool. In 1983, she spent the summer in Oakland, California and received her Montessori certification for children ages birth to 3. Ray has computerized the office and does the accounting for the school. They have six children, ranging in age from 19 to 30. The youngest completed the Montessori elementary program here at Sunrise Montessori Academy in 1997.

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Child Ages:

1.5 years - 6 years

Rates:

$

Licenses & Accreditations:

Arizona Department of Health Services Division of Licensing Services

Preschool:

Yes

Children per Teacher:

Infant: -/-, Toddler: -/-, Pre k: 18/2, Afterschool: -/-

Hours of Operation:

Monday - Friday 8:30AM - 3:00PM