A Little History
1907, Rome
Dr. Maria Montessori observed that children arrive at school bright, inquisitive, and engaged. As a physician, psychiatrist, and educator, she noted students were already the ultimate explorers: observing everything, touching everything, and asking oh-so-many questions. Rather than teaching from the front of the class, Montessori developed an environment dedicated to “following the child” and facilitating the discoveries already in progress.
Because adults are more accustomed to leading rather than following children, Maria Montessori insisted that her teachers spend quality time facilitating discoveries for these young explorers before being certified in her method. The history of Iris Montessori begins with one of those first-generation Montessori teachers, Elizabeth Kok.
1930, Amsterdam
By the 1930’s, the City of Amsterdam commissioned Elizabeth Kok to train with Maria Montessori and become the teacher trainer to bring Montessori schools to the public school system.
Joanna (Hanna) Laven, trained with Elizabeth Kok in Amsterdam and forged a lifetime friendship. Joanna trained for her hoofdakte, or training for teachers and principals.
1953, California & Texas
Hanna and her husband, Johan, immigrated to the USA in 1953 and founded the first of the new wave of Montessori schools in California and Texas. Johan’s Montessori certificate was signed by Mario Montessori, Maria Montessori’s son. The certificate was jointly issued by the American Montessori Society (AMS) and by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI).
After years working to help others set up Montessori schools, the Lavens eventually founded San Antonio’s Kriterion Montessori School. For forty years, the Kriterion School set the standard for great Montessori education in San Antonio. The Lavens’ granddaughter, Rachel Laven, began shadowing in the primary classrooms.
2008, San Antonio
Kriterion’s core team of Montessorians, including Hanna and Johan’s sons, Andreas Laven and Dr. Hans Laven, with a group of dedicated parents came together to found a non-profit Montessori school to continue the work started at Kriterion. To this day, the Monte Vista Montessori School in San Antonio maintains the beloved Montessori tradition of following the child’s inner flame and encouraging that natural passion for discovery.
2022, Nashville
After years of working in Montessori schools in San Antonio and Nashville, Rachel Laven met Rachel Geiger while working at a Montessori-based school in East Nashville. The two Montessorians-in-training and a group of supportive parents began the foundations of Iris Montessori, a micro-Montessori school in the heart of Nashville. Together, we carry the torch to pass along the Montessori tradition to the next generation of learners and educators.