It’s Official… We’re all grown up and have moved into our own place!
Fulton Montessori School is located at 1620 Williamsburg Rd. We offer a Toddler Program, ages 16 mo-36mo, and have openings for our Children’s House (ages 3 yrs -5 yrs) for the ‘23-'24 school year. Check up on us on social media to see what we are up to and feel free to connect with us on our admissions page or our “ways to help” page.
We are excited to be able to nearly double our previous capacity and plan to expand our Children’s House program and to open a second toddler classroom.
2018: Ms. Salome provides observes the work of Uma Sands, one of the first FMS students.
Photo by Will Sands
Our Mission
We are a 501(c)3 grassroots organization whose mission is to strengthen children through Montessori education in Richmond's East End.
Our Vision
To provide affordable, high-quality early learning care in a Montessori preschool setting for the working families of Greater Fulton, the East End, and surrounding neighborhoods. We place special emphasis on serving low-income and BIPOC families and give enrollment preference to children living in our service neighborhood of Richmond’s East End.
History
In late 2017, the Neighborhood Resource Center (NRC) unexpectedly closed their Montessori preschool program. This abrupt end to a 10 year program created an urgent need for an affordable education option for young kids in Richmond's East End. After leading and directing the NRC's preschool for 10 years, Salome Fernando, and some very passionate parents and community members, founded the non-profit Fulton Montessori School in 2018 to ensure that children living in Richmond's East End continue to have access to quality education. Our history is a grassroots history with a deep commitment to the working families of this neighborhood.
Read more about Salome and the backstory of the Montessori program in Greater Fulton in this Richmond Magazine article here.
Student works on a topography puzzle.
Students socialize while working and often support each other’s learning at the same time
Photo credit: Corey Borgman @ Montessori Science, UVa
Statement of Equity and Inclusion
One of the fundamental core values of Fulton Montessori School is to treat all persons with respect and dignity. We recognize the strength of diversity and inclusiveness in all its activities and functions with volunteers, staff and community institutions. FMS will not discriminate in the provision of services, employment practices or engagement of volunteers on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, familial status, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, mental or cognitive disability, or physical disability.