Lifetime Montessori

We moved our child recently from another school to Lifetime after wanting more structure in an academic setting, balanced with group play and exploration. Every child and family have different needs and it was important that we found teachers and an administration that was willing to partner with us to address our concerns and proactively work together to find solutions. We have been very impressed with the leadership, admin and teachers’ transparency, accountability and communication. So many schools can feel like a corporate profit driven endeavor and we have observed that Lifetime cares deeply about children development and curating their interests. A simple example is that when we asked that we let our child observe the classroom ‘work’ session in action before making a decision to enroll her formally. The school year had already started and the Director, Kristin asked that we hold off until the second or third week of school so that she could support the teachers to protect the integrity of what they were trying to establish in the new classroom on the first week of school without creating a distraction. She could have easily agreed to allow us to observe sooner so we could enroll earlier (other schools did), etc… it’s through small actions and decisions that we felt comfortable placing our child there with a team of educators and admin that truly put the children’s wellbeing and needs first. They also have set a system of room parents that are very helpful to guide fellow parents with onboarding, external play dates and organizing events. There is no perfect child care or school, but at the end of the day, we chose Lifetime bc we are confident that the whole team works together to communicate openly and will partner together to honor what’s best for our child. It’s also a great sign when the teachers choose to co teach together for multiple years, clearly, they are enjoying it :). Thanks to the whole team for putting in their efforts to create a space for children to explore, learn and play!

Our child has been enrolled at LMS for nearly three years and absolutely loves it. The Montessori approach here is outstanding, fostering not only academic growth but also overall personal development. Ms. Kristin, the school director, along with the entire staff, are always a pleasure to interact with. The teachers, Mr. Daniel and Ms. Esmeralda, have created such a welcoming and nurturing environment that truly supports learning and growth. The positive culture at LMS has had a wonderful impact on our child, and we are grateful for the dedication and care the school consistently provides. Thank you — and please keep up the excellent work!

As parents deeply invested in our child’s development, we feel incredibly fortunate to have found Lifetime Montessori. From the moment we met Ms. Kristin, the principal, it was immediately clear: this school isn’t just using the Montessori name—it’s living the philosophy in every detail. Most parents may not realize that “Montessori” isn’t a trademarked term. Any school can claim to follow the method without truly doing so. But at Lifetime, everything—from the prepared environment to the way teachers engage with students—is grounded in authentic Montessori principles and developmental science. If you visit and speak with Ms. Kristin, you’ll quickly realize: this is the real deal. One of the key reasons we chose Montessori is because of the long-term impact it has on children. While only around 1–2% of American children attend Montessori programs, the approach has produced an outsized number of leaders and innovators. The founders of Google (Larry Page & Sergey Brin), Amazon (Jeff Bezos), Wikipedia (Jimmy Wales), SimCity (Will Wright), and even public figures like Julia Child and Stephen Curry all had Montessori beginnings. This is not coincidence. These individuals credit their early Montessori experience with building their independence, creativity, and love of learning—traits that led to their success. Montessori nurtures how to think, not what to think. Our son is thriving under the care of Ms. Faride. Her calm presence, wisdom, and deep understanding of toddler development reflect the very best of the Montessori tradition. She brings a gentle structure that fosters independence, curiosity, and emotional growth—exactly what young children need to become confident, capable humans. Every staff member we’ve encountered is aligned and deeply committed. The teachers don’t just “watch” children—they mentor and guide them with intention. They understand the why behind every choice. It’s clear that the entire team loves what they do, and that passion creates a truly nurturing environment. We couldn’t be happier that our son is growing in a school designed for human development—not just test performance. Lifetime Montessori has created a space where toddlers can truly become full-functioning, joyful, independent people. Thank you, Ms. Kristin, Ms. Faride, and the entire Lifetime team. You’ve built something truly extraordinary.

We currently have our 3 children here and have been very happy with their educational progress. The flexibility Lifetime shows to ensure the children can do things at their level, whether more advanced or less than peers, is much appreciated as it helps the kids maintain focus and interest in the topics. Thank you!

I could not be any happier with the choice I made sending both my boys to Lifetime Montessori. My oldest boy started when he was 20 months and was there through kindergarten. The transition into 1st great went really well and he was really well prepared. My youngest son is currently there in kindergarten and has also been there since he was 20 months. I can't thank the director and staff enough for helping them grow and become such confident, responsible, caring individuals. So many of the staff members are dear to me as I have known them for a long time. Many of them have there been since my son started there 6 years ago and they all have such a passion for what they do. Over the years I have watched the Director, Kristin, run this school and am truly amazed by her passion. I have been driving from Carmel Valley to this school for 6 years now and am not regretting it for a second. It has been the best decision I have made!