Cabrillo Montessori
Don’t think you’re ready for our full day or school day programs? Ask us about our half day program, exclusively at our Cabrillo location!
Founded in 2016 Cabrillo Montessori is nestled in the heart of Santa Clara, with easy access to all major expressways and freeways.
Cabrillo Montessori offers a fully implemented Montessori Program for children ages 2 through Kindergarten.
What is most unique about Cabrillo Montessori besides spacious classrooms and wonderful staff, is the expansive playground areas, garden, grass and outdoor classroom environments. Children wait patiently to pick the fresh peaches from the tree and have fun carrying the fully grown pumpkins through the yard.
Programs Offered At This Location
Upcoming Events
Spring Egg Hunt – April 3rd
Spring is in the air at Cabrillo Montessori, and we’ve got eggs to find.
Sequoia and Yellowstone Primary: 2:45 PM
Pinnacles Pre Primary: 4:00 PM
What Our Families Are Saying…
Parents of Addie
I whole heartedly recommend the Kindergarten program at Cabrillo Montessori. The close knit community has been great for my daughter and her love for learning has only increased since joining. She can now read short books on her own, and I have been impressed with her progress on arithmetic as well. My daughter is kind and respectful, values that are emphasized daily at Cabrillo. The field trips are always exciting, and they have a lot of fun!
Divya
Our son started at Cabrillo Montessori when he turned two. It is amazing to see how he has blossomed from being a shy, anxious child to a confident little toddler in a matter of few months. We had researched long and hard before deciding on Cabrillo Montessori and we are extremely glad we chose this school. Its really nice to see teachers being so passionate and professional in what they do. They are montessori certified as well! Their understanding of children and their respect for individuality and uniqueness of each child is evident in the way my son is thriving! We trust them completely and feel like we are working with them closely as a team for the progress of our son. We like how the curriculum is centered towards emotional and social well being of the child as well as academic. My son’s vocabulary and emotional awareness has increased leaps and bounds. At an age where children often have big feelings, my son is better able to articulate them and manage them all by himself and this sometimes amazes me! We liked how the atmosphere in the classroom is bright, airy, clean and spacious. How activities like age appropriate gardening and cooking are utilized to teach skills and qualities like independence, empathy, respect for the environment and community. We are grateful to the director, the teachers and the support staff for being warm, compassionate and so so driven in what they do and we highly recommend Cabrillo Montessori!
Kaleb – Parent of Harper
Our son started at Cabrillo Montessori when he turned two. It is amazing to see how he has blossomed from being a shy, anxious child to a confident little toddler in a matter of few months. We had researched long and hard before deciding on Cabrillo Montessori and we are extremely glad we chose this school. Its really nice to see teachers being so passionate and professional in what they do. They are montessori certified as well! Their understanding of children and their respect for individuality and uniqueness of each child is evident in the way my son is thriving! We trust them completely and feel like we are working with them closely as a team for the progress of our son. We like how the curriculum is centered towards emotional and social well being of the child as well as academic. My son’s vocabulary and emotional awareness has increased leaps and bounds. At an age where children often have big feelings, my son is better able to articulate them and manage them all by himself and this sometimes amazes me! We liked how the atmosphere in the classroom is bright, airy, clean and spacious. How activities like age appropriate gardening and cooking are utilized to teach skills and qualities like independence, empathy, respect for the environment and community. We are grateful to the director, the teachers and the support staff for being warm, compassionate and so so driven in what they do and we highly recommend Cabrillo Montessori!
AJ & Danielle
Cabrillo Montessori strikes the perfect balance between promoting independence and fostering a fun and caring community for our little one. Here, we are confident she is learning useful life skills every day. As difficult as it is to part with our 2 year old in any circumstance, it feels great to send her into a clean, warm classroom with lots of loving smiles around. It sure is a testament to how the right amount of structure serves the children well whenever we walk in and they are each peacefully working on their own tasks, but also just as awesome to see them in circle time or at the playground having a great time together.
Pryush and Aparna Sharma
This was our first and only pre-school experience. Ever since we enrolled him, we saw great improvements in his independence and confidence. The combination of the Montessori teaching methods and philosophy has allowed my child to excel both academically and personally. We can be at ease when he is at school knowing he is cared for, and safe. We feel extremely blessed to have found such a wonderful group of teachers and staff. And here is the litmus test: after observing my child, if people often ask about the name of the school he goes to, it could only mean that Cabrillo MSOSV is amazing, period!
Parents of Madden
Cabrillo’s Kindergarten program is amazing! Cabrillo Kindergarten program gave Madden the flexibility to learn and challenge herself daily at her own pace. She had a nurturing learning environment with teaching professionals who truly cared about her. Cabrillo’s program has given her the tools to be a compassionate and intelligent young girl! Unfortunately, our family relocated out of state and Madden transitioned to another school. We would have loved for her to complete her school year if the circumstances were different.
Sarah C. – Parent of Sophia
Sophia has been having such a wonderful time in her Pinnacles classroom. From day 1, she has seemed so comfortable and happy- to the point where she’d be sad that she had to go home! I’ve also noticed her demonstrating life skills she practices in the classroom at home. I can tell that her ability to play and practice in the classroom has translated so organically into our home life. We’re genuinely so happy with the experience Sophia has been having at MSOSV!
Tomoyo
My child loves it here. She always talks about something new and I learn something new too! The teachers are so nice, I don’t know anything about Montessori when I started a year ago and now my child I can see it working. I love Montessori. Thank you Ms. Milinh.
Andrew & June – Parents of Ann
I remember my own kindergarten year well. We learned to tie our shoes (-this was before velcro :), made applesauce and paper mache Easter baskets and took naps each day on blankets on the floor. I am sure I probably learned the letters of the alphabet and some counting of numbers. Ann may not remember all the details of her kindergarten year when she is older, but she will have reaped the benefits of her time in this Montessori oriented curriculum many times over. During the past year I see her developing a deeper enthusiasm for learning new things and being excited about “what’s next” in her kindergarten class. She is already able to read books at the pre-K and Step 1 books and counts to 120 (-frequently). More importantly, she understands the concepts behind the words she knows and the numbers she can articulate. Ann will invariably ask me “what does ________ mean?” when she hears a new word or phrase in a book, movie or song and she will remember most or all of my explanations. We have many conversations about the library books we read to her, the characters’ motivations in stories and her own thoughts about the world and the things she encounters from day to day. All this is to say that I think Ann’s time in Cabrillo Kindergarten is helping her to grow in her love of learning and provides her with the tools to succeed admirably in first grade and beyond. So if you happen to be listening to Paul Simon’s song, You Can Call Me Al, and your child asks you the meaning of “incidents and allegations,” you can thank her/his Montessori education. Thank You all!
Parents of Ayur
I can see Ayur happily going in every morning, and is happy when I pick him up. He’s becoming more independent and loves to practice things he learned at school when he comes back. He is the kind of kid who takes his time to warm up to new situations but seems to have adjusted really well with teachers so far and has started saying a couple names of his friends as well. I love that the teachers are helping us with his potty training journey as well!
Corinne B. – Parent of Luke
Things have been going great! I was worried about Luke’s transition, but he only cried for the first 3 days at drop off. He is certainly picking up a lot of new things. He talks a lot about ocean animals, which I know was part of the curriculum this summer. I can tell he really enjoys this school. At the previous school, I did not get much information about classroom and school activities, so I am very much enjoying the weekly newsletters from Ms. Karla and the schoolwide updates as well. Looking forward to watching him grow here.
Staff Photos and Bios
Chantal Rule
Head of School
Ms. Chantal joined Montessori School of Silicon Valley in July 2020 as an Aide and Distance Learning Support teacher at our Crescent location. Her dedication, adaptability, and natural leadership quickly became evident, and in August 2021 she moved to our Main Street campus to serve as Assistant Teacher in the Sycamore community. In February 2022, Ms. Chantal stepped into the additional role of Assistant Head of School while continuing her work as Assistant Teacher in the Maple community. After three months of successfully balancing both positions, she transitioned into a broader Assistant Head of School role, supporting both the Main Street and Calaveras locations.
Following the closure of our Main Street campus, Ms. Chantal returned to the Crescent location as Assistant Head of School and most recently served as Acting Head of School during Ms. Jea’s maternity leave. Her steady leadership, warmth, and deep commitment to the school community made a lasting impact during that time. Beginning in January 2026, Ms. Chantal officially stepped into the role of Head of School at our Cabrillo Montessori location. We are thrilled to have her leading the Cabrillo community and look forward to all that is ahead under her guidance.
Ms. Chantal has completed a variety of Early Childhood Education courses through Theoria College. Among her favorites are Child Growth & Development, Curriculum & Theory, Child, Family & Community, and Music & Movement. She has also completed ECE 500: Early Childhood Program Administration and Management, further strengthening her leadership in early childhood education.
What inspires Ms. Chantal most in her role as Head of School is her passion for creating a supportive, safe, and nurturing learning community for families. She believes that when a community is thriving and working together, truly beautiful things can happen. From the moment she stepped into MSOSV, she felt a strong connection not only to the Montessori philosophy, but also to the caring and collaborative teaching community. She knew she wanted to be part of a school environment where children and families feel genuinely supported.
Her favorite part of being Head of School is taking a step back and witnessing the success of everyone around her; the children, the families, and the teachers. Seeing that collective growth and joy reassures her that all the hard work is meaningful and worthwhile. Watching children grow through each stage of development is one of the most fulfilling parts of her journey. As Ms. Chantal shares, “There’s nothing as rewarding as seeing the students you teach go from barely being able to speak to reading a book to you and writing full sentences. It’s such a beautiful transformation to witness.”
Outside of school, Ms. Chantal loves spending time by the beach or the lake, anywhere with sunshine and warmth. On cooler days, she enjoys crafting or relaxing while rewatching her favorite shows and movies.
Julie Ford
Assistant Head of School
Ms. Julie began her journey with Cabrillo Montessori in April 2025 as Assistant Head of School, bringing with her over a decade of experience in early childhood education. With a strong foundation built in the preschool classroom, she has spent more than 10 years nurturing and guiding young children through their most formative years. Her passion for early education continues to grow, and she looks forward to fostering a warm, supportive environment where children, families, and staff can learn and thrive together.
Ms. Julie holds an associate degree in Child Development and is passionate about continuing her professional growth within the Montessori philosophy. She is especially inspired by the way Montessori nurtures each child’s independence, curiosity, and natural desire to learn; qualities she believes are the foundation of a lifelong love for learning.
What she finds most rewarding is watching children discover their own capabilities. From witnessing that first moment of pride in a new accomplishment to helping a child navigate big emotions with confidence, Ms. Julie treasures the everyday moments that make early childhood so special. She believes in meeting each child with warmth, respect, and encouragement, and in creating a school culture rooted in connection and care.
As a leader, Ms. Julie brings compassion, positivity, and a strong commitment to partnership; with both families and educators. She believes a thriving school community begins with mutual respect and open communication, and she works each day to support a nurturing, inclusive environment where everyone feels seen and valued.
Outside of school, Ms. Julie enjoys painting, crafting, and spending time in nature. Whether she’s hiking, swimming, camping, or tending to her garden, she finds joy in life’s simple pleasures and loves bringing that same joy into her work.
Ms. Julie is honored to be part of the Cabrillo Montessori community and looks forward to supporting each child’s journey with heart, purpose, and intention.
Karla Lopez
Lead Pre Primary Guide
Pinnacles Community
Ms. Karla was born in Riverside and raised in the Bay Area, California has always been home and she is excited to join the Cabrillo Montessori team as the Lead Guide in the Pinnacles Pre Primary community. She began her journey with Montessori School of Silicon Valley in January 2023, starting as an Assistant in the Pre Primary community at our Crescent Montessori location.
Ms. Karla is currently pursuing her Montessori training through the Montessori Teacher Education Center (MTEC). She completed her Early Childhood Education units at San Jose Community College and San Jose State University at the end of 2022, just before beginning her role at Crescent Montessori.
The children inspire Ms. Karla to be a Montessori teacher. She is continually amazed by their capability and the unique perspectives they bring to the world. Her favorite part of teaching is watching children blossom and achieve their goals, exploring their environment with curiosity and confidence.
In her spare time, Ms. Karla loves to read and learn new things. She has a quirky habit of needing some kind of noise or music in the background to concentrate, as she finds complete silence challenging. She also enjoys developing new hobbies regularly, whether it’s perfecting a favorite dessert recipe or discovering new places to explore.
Ms. Karla is thrilled to be part of our Cabrillo Montessori community and is committed to fostering a nurturing, engaging, and authentic Montessori environment for every child.
Rosalie Oviso
Lead Primary Guide
Yellowstone Community
Ms. Rosalie’s journey into Montessori education began with a lifelong dream of becoming a teacher and a deep belief in honoring each child’s unique potential. Her professional background includes over 10 years of experience in HR, teaching, and mentoring adults, but she found her true calling when she discovered Montessori. In 2025, a volunteer opportunity at Little Tree Montessori School in Saratoga gave her the chance to work closely with preschoolers. She was immediately drawn to the philosophy’s focus on independence, hands-on learning, and respect for each child’s natural curiosity.
She is currently enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at the Montessori Teacher Education Center (MTEC) Bay Area, where she has completed 24 units in Practical Life, Physical and Life Sciences, Social Studies, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, Child Development/Psychology, and Parent Involvement/Education. Ms. Rosalie is also participating in an Internship Program that allows her to bring her studies to life in the classroom; guiding children with patience, attentiveness, and care.
Her favorite part of teaching is witnessing the daily growth of her students and knowing she plays a part in helping them develop confidence, curiosity, and kindness. She strives to create an environment where children feel supported, valued, and free to explore their interests at their own pace. Building trusting relationships with students and families is at the heart of her approach, and she believes that consistency and open communication are key to a child’s success.
Outside of the classroom, Ms. Rosalie enjoys traveling, watching movies or TV with her family, and singing karaoke with enthusiasm. She describes herself as ambitious, hardworking, patient, and loyal. While she may seem reserved at first, her warmth and care quickly shine through. She is deeply committed to her work and to making a lasting, positive impact on every child she teaches.
Joti Bains
Lead Primary Guide
Sequoia Community
Ms. Joti brings nearly 15 years of experience working with children across various age groups and educational settings. She began her journey with MSOSV in November 2018 as a Primary Assistant and has been a dedicated part of the Montessori community ever since. Her warm presence, consistent support, and passion for child development shine through in every interaction she has with the children and families she serves.
In 2025, Ms. Joti began her Montessori teacher training through the SAGE Teacher Education Institute. This milestone deepened her understanding of Montessori philosophy and strengthened her commitment to nurturing independence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning in every child she guides.
Inspired by her mother—who dedicated over 20 years to Montessori education—Ms. Joti feels a deep connection to this approach and the values it fosters in both children and adults.
What brings her the most joy in her role is witnessing the pride and excitement on children’s faces when they complete a task or master a new activity. She especially cherishes the spontaneous affection they share—the big bear hugs that make every day rewarding and meaningful.
Outside the classroom, Ms. Joti loves to travel and has a growing collection of magnets from all the places she’s explored. She enjoys reading, solving puzzles, and embracing new challenges—something her dad fondly calls “a new kick.” Whether it’s a hiking trail, a new hobby, or an unexpected adventure, she welcomes each experience with curiosity and courage.
Her care for others extends beyond the school community. She regularly volunteers at a nearby nursing home, spending time reading and connecting with the elderly—a reflection of her deep-rooted compassion and commitment to service.
Ms. Joti is honored to be part of the MSOSV team and looks forward to continuing her journey as a Montessori educator, guided by love, learning, and a spirit of adventure.
Location Photos
