Raising the bar on Montessori schools in Dallas
Varsha Patel,
Founder & Head of Schools
As a mother and advocate of the Montessori way, Castle Montessori Schools founder and Head of School, Varsha Patel and her team of dedicated teachers and administrators have set the bar when it comes to providing a top-notch education for the young.
In a day and time where many schools are cutting their staff members and faculty to save money in a tough economy, Patel’s approach runs counterintuitive to the trend.
The addition of two outstanding AMS/AMI Certified Montessori education experts on staff, each with over 15 years of experience, has catapulted Castle Montessori Schools of Carrollton, Flower Mound and McKinney into the position as the premier choice of North Texas parents seeking a high-quality Montessori education for their children.
Patel has recently made a substantial investment in the forward development of each school’s program through the addition of the schools’ first Education Program Directors. The Primary Education Program Director specializes in children ages 3 to 6 years of age while the Toddler Education Program Director specializes in younger children ages 18 months to 3 years of age.
As part of the management team, the Education Program Directors work in concert with Patel to ensure that the quality of the education being delivered is consistent not only from classroom-to-classroom but also from school-to-school.
When it comes to the sometimes challenging aspect of toddler life, the Education Program Directors have many answers. A deep love for children in this age range is a must, and the Toddler Education Program Director serves as a direct resource for parents who oftentimes are at a loss when it comes to the behavior and emotions of their little ones.
“It’s exciting that we are able to not just provide for the care and education of the very young child, but we have now put in place more ways for parents to learn important things about their child. When I was a young mother, I would have loved to visit with an expert on toddlers about so many things,” Patel said.
“I know it can be very stressful to have a toddler, and parents can sometimes feel very isolated and alone. We want to make sure our families know we are here to support them,” Patel added.
Castle Montessori Education Program Directors are also available to help families set up a home environment which meets the developmental needs of their child, and also works with teachers to deepen their understanding of the needs of children. This, in turn, maximizes the ability of the child to receive the full benefits of a Montessori education.
Both directors also work daily to provide continuing education support for teachers and their assistants by providing training in new courses as well as refresher courses. Patel believes the school’s teachers are free not only to teach, but to learn as well. The position also serves to help with all areas of classroom management and acts as part of a unique teaching team which is focused on ensuring quality education for each and every child.
“I really believe in a team-based learning environment for our schools when it comes to our staff,” Patel said. “In this way, everyone feels supported and staff members know they always have somewhere to turn to gain or share new ideas for improving our educational processes. “The Montessori way is certainly not just for children. It’s also a philosophy that transcends into all human interaction, if we allow it to do so,” Patel said.
“Dr. Maria Montessori dedicated her life’s work to helping children discover and nurture their potential, and through my schools I hope children gain a sense of community, a culture of respect, choice, and independence. I love the fact that in each of my schools we have created a place where children feel successful, at peace, and are actively engaged in purposeful and focused learning,” Patel said.
Each Castle Montessori School campus is built featuring state-of-the-art computer labs, indoor gymnasiums, outdoor playgrounds with upgraded play structures, music rooms with baby-grand pianos and closed-circuit monitoring security systems. A distinct sense of order and beauty is seen throughout each classroom.
All lead teachers (Directresses) are certified by the American Montessori Society (AMS), Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), or the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE). Teachers holding certifications from these organizations have undergone a rigorous two to three year Montessori training program and have achieved their teaching certificates only after having passed their exams and internship requirements.
Castle Montessori schools offer year-round programs for children ages 18 months to nine years, before and after-school care, nature study, music programs, computer programs, two foreign language programs (Spanish and Mandarin Chinese) as well as extra-curricular programs such as dance, martial arts, indoor soccer, golf, and more.
New students have a unique opportunity to spend time (free of charge) to ensure the transition period into Castle Montessori schools is an enjoyable and stress-free time. Parents may bring their child into the school for as little as a few minutes or as long as several hours so that both parent and child can gradually adjust to the new school environment.
Parents are invited to visit the school anytime for a tour with or without an appointment. For more information, please contact the schools directly at
Castle Hills Montessori, Carrollton, TX: 972-492-5555
Castle Mound Montessori, Flower Mound, TX: 972-539-3333
Castle Montessori of Frisco, Frisco, TX: 972-377-2220
Castle Montessori of McKinney, McKinney, TX: 972-529-1222
Castle Montessori of Plano, Plano, TX: 972-781-2333
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