OUR HISTORY
ABOUT US
WE ARE PRIME – Pre-kindergarten, Kindergarten and Elementary Montessori school with high academic standards, small classes, and Montessori educational pedagogy guided by individualized student attention and adherence to the Montessori Formula. We have a magnified focus on diversity, partnerships with families, global stewardship, and learning through nature.
Prime Foundation Montessori is for children ages 24 months through 12 years old (Toddlerhood – Grade 6) and is licensed by the Maryland State Department of Education and Montessori Validated by the Montessori Schools of Maryland.
Our staff is carefully vetted and well-qualified to care for children. Moreover, Prime Foundation Montessori exceeds the State of Maryland's requirements, licensing regulations and participates in the Maryland Child Care Credential program. We are Maryland State Department of Education Credentialed at level 6, the highest recognition level attainable. Prime has also enjoyed excellent staff retention years-long.
At Prime Foundation Montessori, health and safety are a top priority and we can attest to this by our outstanding handling/performance through the critical COVID-19 pandemic. All Past and Present Prime families can willingly attest to the fact that Prime Foundation Montessori has kept every child in its care safe at crucial times through the COVID-19 Pandemic and as we continually navigate through prevention and treatment for COVID-19 as it remains a public health priority; by providing a high level of safety for in-person learning that have proven to be highly effective for the last 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023 school year and the current ongoing 2023/2024 school year.
Prime Foundation Montessori can categorically state that since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2019, no child has contracted the COVID-19 virus under Prime Foundation Montessori’s care and till date.
Prime is still determined to keep every child in its care, staff and families safe this upcoming 2024/2025 school year. Prime Foundation Montessori cannot emphasize enough that the safety of all children, staff and families are of utmost significance and the reason why we exist.
Also, while children in traditional and other schools mostly fell behind academically during the pandemic, children attending Prime forged ahead academically at least one year ahead of their respective academic levels. Today, Prime past and present students have moved on to great success, accepted into higher grade levels than their actual age grade levels in private and public schools due to exceptional academic performances/advancements, attending schools for the Highly Gifted, Center for Enriched Studies, honors schools and developing extraordinary talents.
HISTORY
Prime Foundation Montessori is founded in 2011 by Osato Ojofeitimi on the philosophical approach that,
”Our care of the child should be governed not by the desire to ‘make them learn things’, but by the endeavor always to keep burning within them the light which is called intelligence.” - Dr. Maria Montessori. Twenty-six years of teaching provide an extensive practical foundation for meeting the needs of children and their parents.
Osato Ojofeitimi began her educational career at an early age as a traditional Chemistry/Math Teacher and College Professor. It was in 2010 that her motivation to seek a child-centered educational approach made her cross paths with the Montessori philosophy.
Ms. Osato’s own two children were educated within this methodology, and she saw the amazing impact the program had on them as they excelled through to the Center for Enriched Studies, the Centers for the Highly Gifted Schools, and in life.
In 2011, after realizing the need for a Montessori program in her community, she founded, Prime Foundation Montessori. A Montessori tutoring program in Miramar, Florida, to prepare young children for kindergarten and grade school entrances.
In 2014, Prime Foundation Montessori transitioned to a small homeschool.
Prime Foundation Montessori opened its doors in North Potomac, Maryland in 2017 as a one classroom schoolhouse comprised of eight preschoolers and licensed by the Maryland State Department of Education. The first year was a huge success. The children were excited to learn everything they touched and parents seemed pleased to have them continue, and to tell their friends, and enroll their younger children.
The School Age Program for elementary children opened in 2021.
In 2024, due to growing demand, Prime Foundation Montessori opened another location in North Potomac, Maryland to further cater to the needs of many interested families in our community.
Today, Prime Foundation Montessori offers full-day and part-time programs for children ages 24 months through 12 years of age. It is the realization of a long-cherished dream of Osato Ojofeitimi.
Prime Foundation Montessori has inspired a love of learning in children for over ten years, and we continue to thrive. We remain true to our Montessori mission. Prime continues to provide a safe and welcoming place where children are nurtured and encouraged to follow their curiosity and creativity, and where parents find outstanding support beyond expectations in the welcoming Prime community.
