As we watch the final elements come together, we have become pretty nostalgic about what it’s meant to us to open Cantera Montessori. As founders of MSOSV, Colleen and Mike have loved the Austin area for over a decade. There’s something about the beautiful hills and friendly culture that really called them to this location. As longtime leaders in the Montessori education world, they saw a need for authentic Montessori education in the greater Austin area.
This inspired Mike and Colleen to collaborate with long-time business partners (and friends) Trey and Joy Simonton. Trey and Joy, Austin-natives themselves, are parents to two children, Bryce and Lydia. As parents, they know how critical these early years are to children’s development. They were enthusiastic about the idea of bringing a new campus to the area.
Together, they sought to bring a new level of Montessori education to Georgetown. A place where they could train a new generation of Montessori educators and bring new opportunities for children to thrive with an authentic experience. Together with MSOSV and Sage Montessori Teacher Education Institute, they developed a solution to bring fully implemented Montessori education to more families.
The search for a location was a long one. Given the high expectations for the new school, the campus’ location had to be ideal. After months of looking for the perfect spot, an idyllic location was found: a lovely estate house nestled in two beautiful acres, convenient to families from local neighborhoods. Over the next months, the team got to work completely renovating the building to become the perfect learning environment for young minds. We have large spacious classrooms for children to have the space they need to learn and grow. We have beautiful outdoor space for children to run and play in a peaceful, natural environment.