Alcuin Montessori Mission and History 

​We empower our children's inherent love of learning, inspiring and challenging each child to engage the world as an independent thinker, creative problem solver, and compassionate citizen.

Our Philosophy

Founded in 1961, Alcuin Montessori is one of the oldest Montessori schools in the country, and the first Montessori school in Illinois. Our programs are designed to help each child become confident, curious, self-disciplined, and motivated. The essence of the Montessori Method is to allow for the development of a child's individual potential while also encouraging participation in a community that emphasizes respect and cultural awareness. Classrooms are filled with materials that encourage creativity and emphasize sensory experiences.  We offer Education for Life.

Classrooms operate on the principle of freedom within limits. Children, under the guidance of a teacher, work at their own pace with materials of their choosing. Each student may work alone or with others. Different levels of ability are expected and welcomed within each classroom.  Education occurs in multi-aged classrooms, where children of various stages of development learn from and with each other.

History of Alcuin Montessori School

Alcuin ("Al-quinn") Montessori was established in 1961 by nine Oak Park families following a visit to the nation's first chartered Montessori school, the Whitby School. Children were seen working independently using Grace and Courtesy; three-year-olds were focused and concentrating on their work—it was an amazing sight.  

Inspired by the visit, Alcuin Montessori was conceived and brought to fruition on September 6, 1961 when its doors were opened to the community. Classroom space was rented at the Lowell School and Mary Flynn, from the Whitby School, was hired as Alcuin's first teacher.  Our first classroom had twenty-four children: a morning and an afternoon class for preschool aged children.  From there, the news of what Alcuin was doing spread and soon, those interested in the Montessori pedagogy came to visit Alcuin to see the children and classroom in action. 

One of our founders, Dr. Paul Dunn, stated in an interview, “We wanted Alcuin to be a demonstration center to bring Montessori to other cities… That first year we were besieged by people from around the country who wanted to know how to start a Montessori school.”  Eventually, the now-defunct Alcuin Montessori Teacher Training Program was born, and the work of Dr. Montessori spread, as did the creation of various Montessori schools. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Inspired by the Montessori quote, "This is education, understood as a help to life; an education from birth, which feeds a peaceful revolution and unites all in a common aim, attracting them as to a single center," our tagline, Education for Life has been a favorite of Alcuin families for decades.

Alcuin has been located at several sites in the Oak Park/River Forest area throughout its existence and is currently located at the First United Methodist Church just north of Lake Street in downtown Oak Park for ages 3-12.  In the fall of 2019, we opened our new campus for our Middle School and Infant/Toddler programs located on Roosevelt Road in Oak Park.

Our Logo

The Alcuin logo exemplifies the following components:

• the triad of child, family and school;
• a feeling of security;
• a strong foundation;
• a strong history;
• with a nod to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
  

​Lisa Lim, our logo's graphic designer, stated it is “Reflective of Alcuin’s loving and inviting community that nourishes the child. The core of love is expressed through every corner of Alcuin, the staff and community.”

The Rock

The school's unofficial mascot, "The Rock", was unearthed in 1968 when Alcuin was building its first school on ​Ridgeland Avenue and Randolph Street in Oak Park. 

​The Rock was moved in 1979 to Alcuin's new site on Keystone Avenue, in River Forest, and again in 1997 when it moved to its current location, at our main campus, on Oak Park and Superior.