School History

Danville Montessori School, Inc. was founded in 1975 by Pat and Bill Critchfield. 

Education Director, Pat Critchfield, has undergraduate degrees in anthropology and education and a M.Ed. in Montessori Education. She had experience in both public and private education before beginning her career as a Montessori teacher in 1974. Pat is certified by the American Montessori Society for ages 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12. 

Bill, the school's administrator, has an MBA and is a partner in Critchfield & Critchfield Accountants, in Danville.

The school's first site was a basement classroom, at the home of the Critchfield's. Enrollment the first year was seven students. The second-year enrollment climbed to twenty-two students. Growing interest and enthusiasm for the Montessori method necessitated a move to more spacious quarters.

The Main Street site was bought at auction in July 1977. The school now exists in two buildings that previously housed a small Catholic school.

Danville Montessori School has two pre-primary classes and a day care to meet the needs of the community. The school again met parent requests with the addition of a Montessori elementary program in the fall of 1984. An after-school program for the Montessori elementary students is our most recent addition.

The Danville Montessori School, Inc. is a private, non-profit, non-discriminatory corporation chartered under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. As an affiliate of the American Montessori Society, it benefits from being a part of a nationwide group of Montessori schools, as well as having access to the resources available from such a network.