Shining Stars Montessori Academy Public Charter School

Shining Stars Montessori Academy is unique in its design as a free and open to the public Montessori school infused with cultural empowerment principles. Using this holistic approach, Montessori education infused with culturally empowering principles, to educate its target population, Shining Stars will ensure high academic performance and build children’s confidence.

The vision of the founders of Shining Stars Montessori Academy is one that seeks to alter the educational outcomes of children living in Washington, DC, thereby positioning them for future success. In keeping with our mission, we will strive to nurture the genius of all the children who come through our doors, guiding them in the principles of the Montessori approach, infused with our cultural empowerment program, towards developing their full potential.

We are committed to improving the lives of inner city children and we believe that making Montessori accessible to these children and their families will do much towards positively impacting their lives. Shining Stars Montessori will create an environment for children in which the basic needs of the child are met through four core areas of learning. The Montessori classroom will be designed for children’s use so that they may navigate through their studies at a pace with which they are comfortable. Allowing children to build confidence in their work and achievements, and to have continuous opportunities for success in the classroom, will establish a strong foundation for their future. Every discovery they make and every task they complete will provide an exciting demonstration of their capabilities and potential. The Montessori teacher’s role is to guide children through this process, ensuring that their most basic needs are met and that their continued development is productive and positive.

The cultural empowerment component of our curriculum will offer a holistic approach to instruction that infuses the values of people of color throughout the world in the daily lessons that students will receive. These lessons will be reinforced through the Montessori hands-on approach to encourage intellectual curiosity. Students will be fully educated in the extent to which people of color have contributed to our society. Through this cultural education, Shining Stars Montessori will provide students with more exposure to positive images of people of color, leadership opportunities for all students (regardless of ability, race, ethnicity, gender, or Primary language), and support for children and their families. 
In addition, our culturally empowering principles will promote family and community governance, highlighting the interconnectedness of all things and the spiritual nature of human beings. The empowering educational experience at Shining Stars Montessori Academy will instill in our students a strong sense of personal identity, independence, respect for self and others, confidence, and an understanding of social justice and responsibility.