Our History Head Directress, Kay Murrell, taught at the Montessori school on Hanley Road in Town and Country from its inception in 1970. The school hosted Tampa's first Montessori training course and became affiliated with the American Montessori Society. In 1978, Kay Murrell and her husband, Tom, a local businessman, purchased the school and renamed it The Montessori House.
In an effort to establish a reputation of a school with a quality curriculum and faculty, The Montessori House undertook consultations, self-studies, and evaluations for accreditation with the Florida Council of Independent Schools-completed and granted in 1980-and the Florida Kindergarten Council, 1981. Affiliation with the American Montessori Society continued. In 1981, The American Montessori Society became an accrediting agency. In 1982, the Montessori House, again through consultation, self-study, and evaluation, was the first school in the United States to become accredited by the American Montessori Society under new accreditation standards.
A new campus on Ehrlich Road in Carrollwood was built in 1981. Both campuses offer the same Montessori philosophy and curriculum. In 1988, the second level of grades, 9-12 years old, was offered and the school became The Montessori House Day School. In 1995 at our Hanley campus, a Toddler class was begun for children 2 years of age. In 1995, our library was automated with the Athena program. Our elementary classes established Internet services in 1996 and new playground equipment was added at both campuses in 1997 and 2001. Four of our faculty members were selected by the Florida Council of Independent Schools to attend the Academy 2005 for high performing teachers. In 2007 we celebrated 100 years of Montessori education with educators worldwide.
