History of Sun Grove Montessori School

Sun Grove Montessori School, Inc. was organized under the laws of corporation of the State of Florida, on June 7, 1978. Parents and teachers signing the document were Gelaine Hutchinson, Pat Hawke, Faye Wright, Bill Hinsley, Howard Specker, Rudy Widman, Barbara (Embry) Scott. The attorney who filed the papers on the school’s behalf was Joseph DeRoss.

Sun Grove Montessori School began in the Sunday school rooms of the First United Methodist Church in Port St. Lucie.

In the summer of 1978, parents, board members, and staff renovated a building on Dame Road in Fort Pierce that would be Sun Grove’s new home. There were 45 primary students and 15 elementary students. Pat Hawke, Lorraine Sonoda, and Barbara Martin were the Primary Directresses. These three directresses had received their Montessori training with Elizabeth Casparri, who had been personally trained by Maria Montessori. Kathie Muschott and Barbara (Embry) Scott received Primary Montessori training at Palm Beach Junior College. Kathie Muschott joined the primary staff. The elementary class was under the direction of elementary-trained Montessori teachers, Don and Ginny Zywot. Barbara Scott was the office manager and served on the Board of Directors.

In 1985 the Board of Directors decided to purchase five acres in White City. Two buildings were constructed – one held two primary classrooms and the other housed elementary classrooms. Sun Grove opened the doors of the new buildings on September 10, 1985. Pat Hawke and Kathie Muschott were the Montessori-trained Primary Directresses. The elementary class was under the supervision of an elementary-trained Montessori Directress, Diana Murray and teacher Coral Samosky. Within that first year Deborah Bednarz joined the staff and the following year, so did Wendy (Williams) Conte and LouAnn Bowen.

In 1995, the Board decided to add an Infant/Toddler Program which required the construction of an additional building. While the addition was under construction, Infant/Toddler classes started in the elementary multi-purpose room. In September of 1995, the infants and toddlers moved into their new environment. Penni Guettler, Glenna Carlton, Eleanor Taylor, and Barbara Scott received Infant/Toddler Montessori training and were instrumental in the success of this program. Rasha Lukes, who had also taken the same training, joined the team the following year.

In 2004, Sun Grove Montessori School purchased 4.78 acres directly across the street from the current location on Oleander Avenue.

In 2006, Sun Grove Montessori School sold that property, with the intention to use the profits from the sale in order to expand the school.

In 2007, the decision was made to add a Montessori Middle School Program. Middle School classes started in August, 2007, in the existing elementary multi-purpose room. Letty Ortiz, who had been a Primary Directress, attended Montessori Middle School training in Houston. Joe Gilewski, a Sun Grove alumnus, became an assistant in the Middle School. Three concrete classrooms were purchased, delivered complete, and set as one building on the original property, perpendicular to the current elementary building. One classroom was furnished and set up as the Middle School classroom. One classroom was designed to serve as the café and dining room for the Middle School’s business, “Wake Up, Montessori.” The third classroom is used for before and after school care as well as a lunchroom for primary students.

The current staff and students continue to thrive and benefit from the efforts of all the parents and staff past and present. The philosophy of Maria Montessori and the Sun Grove way of life remain as a constant in all our lives.