Little Lantanas Montessori 1124 North 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004

"This school is amazing and the teaching staff is so attentive and nurturing. If you are considering this school for your child, you should absolutely do it. When my family started looking into first time daycare/school options for our 3 year old daughter, a caring and safe environment was at the top of our priority list. In the 5 months since enrolling, Ms. Elledge and Ms. Nielsen have blown us away by going above and beyond those expectations. Every activity in the classroom has a purpose to help them develop a specific skill and it’s obvious the kids have fun while doing it. The teachers treat the children with respect, patience, and kindness and I can tell having that modeled at school has made an impact on my child. Ms. Elledge also recognizes how hard it is for parents to be away from their children all day and she’ll send updates on my daughter’s progress with lessons and pictures. This has been so helpful, especially during that first month when we were all still getting used to our daughter being out of the house. With everything going on in the world, I feel so grateful for the work that Ms. Elledge and her team do."

"If you're looking for a preschool that instills a love of learning, provides a safe environment, and supports your child's unique needs; you've come to the right place! Finding a preschool that not only provides excellent education, but also guides your child's unique path and development is a rigorous process. I toured over a dozen Montessori and non Montessori preschools and was left disappointed with child discipline (they were punishment-based instead of learning-based), crowded and disorganized environments, large child:teacher ratios, minimal updates on your child, HIGH turnover rates, and lack of structure. After meeting Ms. Elledge for the first time and touring her school; I knew this was the right fit for my son and our family. Not only does she provide the best education through Montessori (she is AMI certified and continues to expand her credentials), but she also engages in positive discipline and respectful parenting practices. I think for most parents, being able to communicate directly with your child's teacher is HUGE! I receive pictures and updates via text as well as direct communication with her at drop-off and pick-up. Any time that I've had a concern or question, she responds promptly and is available to set up meetings. I can observe the classroom to watch the children's work cycle, see how lessons are presented, and note their independence in choosing what to work on. I know my son is SAFE and SUPPORTED - I've seen it first hand. Her assistant, Ms. Nielsen is wonderful. My son adores her and she has been vital in helping with drop-offs to make him feel safe and secure while being away from home. In this past year, I have watched my son grow his confidence as an individual and as part of group settings. I've seen his focus and concentration increase, his interest in learning blossom; not to mention his math, fine motor skills, and language improve tremendously. Our family is forever grateful to have found Little Lantanas Montessori and I cannot thank them enough for giving our son the best education while setting him up for success as his own unique self."

"It was challenging to find a preschool that met our needs right in the middle of the pandemic and I am so happy we found Little Lantanas. I toured other well reviewed (non-Montessori) preschools in the Arcadia/central Phoenix area and I was honestly disappointed...my initial concern was their child discipline practices but also some of their teaching methodology that is not supported by the child development science out there. I didn't know much about Montessori schools but what I knew supporting my parenting style and I am so happy I met Ms Elledge. I know my daughter is well taken care of and she is thriving! Ms. Elledge has also been highly proactive in her response to COVID and has done a great job in creating a safe environment on that end. I would encourage any parent that is intrigued by Montessori or follows a Positive Discipline/Gentle Parenting/Secure Attachment Parenting style to consider this preschool, you will find that this will go well with your parenting practices at home. Ms Elledge is highly qualified and the Montessori method is centered on the child, it incorporates evidence based practices and sets a beautiful foundation to help children develop into self driven, inquisitive, secure, and independent people. These first years are so important, they really set the foundation for future years in so many ways!"

"Little Lantanas is a brand new Montessori school serving the downtown Phoenix area. The school is owned and operated by the HIGHLY qualified Mrs. Elledge. Mrs. Elledge's teaching experience is substantial! She has experience in both traditional and Montessori classrooms! She is AMI certified, meaning she is trained by the International Montessori Association, which is recognized globally and certifies her to teach anywhere in the world. She is a passionate teacher who knows so much about education philosophy. As a former coworker, she inspired me to improve my own teaching practice just by watching what she is capable of in her classroom community. She ensures that every child receives individualized instruction based on their specific needs. She creates a classroom community that allows for every child to feel seen and heard. She has created her own school and is providing for small classrooms so that children can truly grow and learn. I highly recommend this school if you want a quality Montessori program for your young child."