Our Montessori approach empowers children to think deeply, follow their interests, and build a lifelong love of learning.
Sterling Montessori Academy and Charter School applies the philosophy, methods, and didactic material of Dr. Maria Montessori (1870 – 1952). Montessori education, based on children’s developmental needs for freedom within limits, mandates a carefully prepared environment. This prepared environment guarantees exposure to materials and experiences that develop intelligence, as well as physical and psychological abilities. The materials are self-correcting, interesting to children, and developmentally appropriate.
We are centrally located in the RTP area with easy access from Raleigh, Cary, and Durham.
Our school is comprised of two separate educational entities. The Academy serves children 3 and 4 years of age, and is a tuition-based program. The Charter School serves children ages 5-14, which includes Kindergarten through 8th grade. Each institution has individualized admissions procedures.
Sterling Montessori is an American Montessori Society (AMS) member school. Sterling follows the AMS educational guidelines, as well as those of the North Carolina Department of Instruction and North Carolina Office of Charter Schools.
Mission
The mission of Sterling Montessori is to create a diverse educational community, grounded in the Montessori philosophy and teaching practices, that fosters curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in its students. We strive to empower our students to become life-long learners who respect themselves, others, and their environment.
For more information on the Montessori Methods, please visit our Montessori Education Page.
Vision
Sterling Montessori is a model charter school that demonstrates how the Montessori Method and a commitment to academic excellence helps students reach their full potential.
We envision a sustainable, accessible, and diverse institution that graduates thriving students who are engaged in lifelong learning and are empowered to become positive, contributing members of their immediate and global communities.
Philosophy
Sterling Montessori follows the philosophy and teaching practices based on the Montessori Method developed by Dr. Maria Montessori (1870- 1952). Montessori education emphasizes learning through all five senses.
Children learn at their own pace with a goal of nurturing a natural desire for knowledge, understanding, and respect. A child’s work at Sterling Montessori is an exciting process of discovery leading to concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning.
Our Guiding Principles
Sterling Montessori…
Nurtures in its children a lifelong love of learning and respect for themselves and others, in a peaceful environment
Follows the philosophy and curriculum of Maria Montessori as the cornerstone of the educational programs. The Montessori curriculum is scientifically based and meets the requirements of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and the Office of Charter Schools
Has an aesthetically pleasing campus and is an interactive extension of the classroom by offering a prepared and sustainable environment for children
Has prepared environments that are developmentally appropriate and provide hands-on learning, freedom of choice, a mixed-age classroom, the absence of rewards and punishments, uninterrupted work periods, and individualized instruction that supports each child’s growth
Views diversity as a strength where every individual is welcomed, treated with respect, and supported in their own educational journey. Our diverse population is celebrated and enriches our students’ cultural education so that they learn to value differences and listen respectfully to a variety of ideas as a step towards supporting a more peaceful world
Understands that to follow a child with learning differences might require additional expertise and implementing a specialized learning plan in addition to the Montessori curriculum
Is a community where the voices of children, parents, and staff are valued and all members are active participants in creating an ideal learning environment for all
In pursuit of our mission and goals, is a financially sustainable institution, whose leadership models transparency, accountability, and professionalism for its staff
Montessori classrooms have three-year multi-age groups (ages 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, and 12-15) together, forming communities in which the older children spontaneously share their knowledge with the younger children. The Montessori method of education is a child- centered educational approach based on scientific observations of children. Children develop physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively in order to thrive in the real world.
OUR STRATEGIC PLAN
At the end of 2023, Sterling embarked on a new process of review our Strategic Plans for our future. Work in s on-going and will continue through the 2023/24 school year, with the hopes of presenting and approving a new strategic plan in 2025.
January 2021: Sterling is pleased to announce that the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) has approved our revised mission statement and guiding principles. This process began in May 2019 with the LHU Board, administrators and staff collaborating on our Sterling’s strategic goals for the next few years.
HISTORY OF STERLING MONTESSORI
On June 20, 1989, special education teachers Andrea Faurot and Charles Uzzell opened Cary Montessori in their home with one preschool student and their daughter Molly. From this humble beginning, Sterling Montessori Academy and Charter School was born. By December 1990, Cary Montessori had grown to 90 students and 14 teachers. This rapid growth necessitated a move to larger facilities – first moving into 201 High House Road, then in 1993 – 1994 moving into two additional spaces in Cary.
As demand for a quality Montessori education grew, Andrea and Charles were challenged to find land or facilities in Cary large enough for the growing school. The first six acres in Morrisville were purchased and construction began on A & B buildings, using “natural lighting” concepts. Shortly after completion of the private school in 1996, North Carolina passed laws enabling the creation of Charter Schools. Sterling Montessori Academy and Charter School became a private preschool and public K-8 charter school in 1997.
Sterling’s founders, Andrea Faurot and Charles Uzzell, were teachers and visionaries committed to the quality of the Montessori education the school provided. The non-profit Laura Holland Uzzell (LHU) foundation was started in 1993 to raise money for teachers to acquire Montessori certification, and for students to have access to a Montessori education. Named after one of Sterling’s early supporters, the LHU Foundation Board operates, and is the governing body of, Sterling Montessori Academy and Charter School (SMACS).