About Sunrise
History | The School | The Staff | The DirectorHISTORY
Sunrise Montessori School is inspired by the original “Casa dei Bambini” established in 1907 by Dr. Maria Montessori in Rome, Italy. Dr. Montessori (also Italy’s first female physician) created this way of schooling through intense study, observation and by offering children respect and access to constructive materials and careful instruction. She was an innovator and advocate for children throughout her life.
Sunrise has been educating children in Santa Barbara, California since 1976. It was started by Judy Egenolf and then owned and directed by Al and Annelise Keys for 28 more years. They developed the school into a renowned place of love and learning.
Felicia Danon North is the current owner of Sunrise Montessori School. She received her American Montessori Society Certificate in 1995 and taught and assistant directed in a dual language program in Seattle. She has been a part of the Sunrise Montessori staff since 2002. She brings her love of children, gardening, music, languages and a variety of cultures to Sunrise’s families.
It has been commented by families that “One can feel the presence of so much love” and “I chose Sunrise Montessori School because our son is so much like a sponge, we want him in really good liquid”. This is the lasting legacy of Sunrise’s founders. It is our commitment to maintain these qualities now and long into the future.
Beyond the 100th year of Montessori, Sunrise Montessori School is continuing to carry the torch of a great philosophy of teaching, enriching the children of Santa Barbara and starting their years of discovery, learning and growth!
THE SCHOOL
We provide a caring, lovely, homelike environment with wonderful developmentally based materials, flowers, plants, fruit trees and many well-loved birds and butterflies! We offer avenues into the Spanish and Italian Languages and many cultures to embellish the child’s perspective of the world.
At Sunrise Montessori School we encourage freedom with responsibility and respect for self and others. This allows children the freedom to explore and experience activities in a carefully prepared environment where they may grow in wonder, discovering the great and ordinary secrets of the universe.
THE STAFF
Sunrise Montessori employs directors, teachers and assistants who are dedicated to the Montessori philosophy and the practice of guiding the young child. The director and lead teachers are trained by accredited and approved Montessori training centers. All employees are approved as having the required coursework for their positions through their training centers, as well as by the California Department of Social Services.
With a full understanding of the Montessori philosophy and practice, our staff relates to each child with warmth and acceptance. Recognizing that each child is unique, our program is individualized to satisfy the child’s underlying interests and needs.
THE DIRECTOR
Felicia Danon North fell in love with the Montessori philosophy of education on a trip to Italy back in 1993, and it has become her passion in life. Soon after her return to the US, she began her training as a Montessori teacher. In 2002 she came to Santa Barbara and discovered Sunrise Montessori. “It was unique; a small scale preschool --perfect for young children--and a great learning environment which made it the sweetest school I had ever seen.”
After teaching at Sunrise for 5 years, Felicia became the school’s Director in 2007. She accepted the challenge because she “really wanted this sweet school to continue.” She assembled a staff with a love of children, enthusiasm for teaching, a sense of fun, and great patience. Most importantly, Felicia says, “I hire for the heart!”
Felicia feels strongly that it needs to be a place of love and education, because preschool is the first place a child experiences after being at home. It is her job is to include the whole family, reaching beyond the class room to build a community of people who care. “We take the children and the whole family into our hearts, and they become a part of the Sunrise Family.” As one of the parents said, “Felicia goes out of her way to care for the families. I was so amazed that she even called to personally check on all of us during the recent fires.”
What brings her the most joy at school each day is “being with everyone, having fun with them; discovering the wonders of each person, teaching and learning with them. I truly feel that the work that we do with the children at Sunrise will create a better future for us all.”
