History of Denali School
A BRIEF HISTORY
Every society must somehow solve the problem of transforming children into adults, for its very survival depends on that solution.
-Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was educated in Italy as a doctor, but discovered her role as an educator while working with institutionalized and disadvantaged children. A gifted observer of children, a prolific writer, and a charismatic educational leader, she spread her educational methods throughout Europe, the United States and India in the early 1900s.
In this country, interest in Montessori re-emerged in the 1960s and has been building since. The majority of Montessori preschools and elementary schools are privately owned. However, the number of public Montessori elementary schools is growing.
Current educational research supports many of Montessori’s observations, and much of the reform taking place in schools in the United States reflects the same hands-on approach to learning which is an important part of Montessori education. The Montessori curriculum is now being taught in preschools, elementary and secondary schools.
In Anchorage, a committed group of parents organized in 1983 to create a public school Montessori program. The parent group spent many hours researching, advocating before the school board, raising funds and making materials. In 1985, the Montessori program opened on a pilot basis, serving kindergarten through second grade. After two years the program was removed from pilot status, and there were children on the waiting list for enrollment.
Denali Montessori has been a parent/teacher/administration partnership since its inception. Through the Montessori Advisory Committee, parents continue to play an active role in the direction of the program.
In 2002 our old school was demolished and a brand new building was constructed.
