El Paso Montessori Schools

The Journey Begins by Marti Filley

 


            In 1973 I was a first grade teacher at a private school in central El Paso, and the busy mother of two young children.  I loved my work and my kids, but at times it was overwhelming to try to keep up with it all.  I started dreaming of doing something creative that would give me more time with my two boys and still allow me to pursue my love of teaching.
            One day I received a call from my college roommate (also a teacher), who excitedly started telling me that she had found the answer for early childhood education. She had been introduced to the Montessori Method by another friend, and had already researched everything she could find out about this new idea that was sweeping the country at that time.  Her enthusiasm was contagious, and before long I had done my own research and made the decision to get my Montessori training and open my own Montessori school.

            It was a huge undertaking, but almost seemed pre-ordained because of several fortuitous facts that soon became evident.  First, at that time there were no Montessori schools in El Paso, and many parents who had learned about the value of Montessori education were sending their children to a Montessori school in Juarez.  They were so committed that each morning they put their children in vans that drove them across the border to go to school.  When I was able to talk with some of them, they were very excited that I was starting a Montessori school on this side of the border.  Some of those children became my first students. 


            Also, the previous year my husband and I had bought a home on an acre in the Upper Valley. At the time, we had no plans for the land other than to give our children lots of space to run and play in a healthy, beautiful country environment.  We planned to have horses in the pasture and chickens in the barnyard.  Little did we know in 1972 that the land we bought on Sunset Road would not only eventually grow horses and chickens as well as sheep, goats, rabbits, and guinea hens, but would also be a place where children, including my own, would continue to flourish for forty years.  We took our original name, Escuela Montessori del Valle, from our unique location in the upper valley of the Rio Grande.
 

            We were also very fortunate that there was an existing “mother-in-law apartment” on our property which, after much renovation, eventually became our first classroom. That original building continues to be utilized as our Toddler Classroom.     
            The final ingredient that enabled me to take on the challenge of starting a school from scratch, was the support and help of my husband who really had more entrepreneurial skills than I did.  His encouragement and support made it all possible.  We were a great team (most of the time) as we worked together for almost a year to get everything ready to open our doors in early 1974. 
            Over a period of several months, I resigned from my teaching position, went to Dallas to get my Montessori training, took out a $4,000 loan at El Paso National Bank, and ordered the special Montessori materials from Holland, the only place they were available at that time.  We spent weekends cleaning, painting, making child-sized furniture, and shopping at garage sales for practical life materials.  It was an exhilarating, exhausting, and rewarding time! 

            At the same time, I was trying to market the school by talking to as many people as I could.  It was a lucky day for me when I met with Vita Mora Loewenstein.  She was so enthusiastic about my plans for the school that she promptly enrolled her oldest child, Mary Alice, as my first official student.  Vita became a cheerleader for the fledgling school, and brought many of her friends who also enrolled.  By the time we officially opened on March 15, 1974, we had fifteen children!  Despite the risk and hard work, my dream had come true.



                People often ask me what it is like to live and work at the same place,    and I always tell them that it has its pros and cons. But recently, one of my teachers told me something that really touched my heart.    She said that she admires my life, because I have been able to raise my children and also work in the same place, one that is dedicated to children and families. As I have reflected while writing this blog, I realized that she was right.    While it has been a non-traditional lifestyle for me and my family, it has provided many blessings and unique opportunities.     I have so much gratitude for every child and family that has attended this school, and for everything that it has given me and my family.

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