Hidden Gems: Meet Catherine, Isabel, Nina, Karen, & Sarah of Blossom Montessori

Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine, Isabel, Nina, Karen, & Sarah.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? 
March 2020 was a tumultuous time for everyone. The preschool that four of us taught at suddenly furloughed all the staff and closed their doors indefinitely. We immediately pivoted to virtual teaching and created a hybrid program to support our students and their families. The positive response from our community inspired us to pursue our dream of opening our own school.

In discussions, the five of us identified a gap in high-quality early childhood education, especially in northeast Los Angeles. Many preschools lack diversity, can be exclusive and expensive, and have minimal communication with families. Teachers are also underappreciated and often underpaid, impacting both staff well-being and child development.

With a mission to create a more inclusive and engaging learning environment, we opened Blossom Montessori in September 2022 after months of preparation and growth. Our journey has been one of perseverance, learning, and community building. We’re excited about the positive impact we’re making in the lives of children and families in Los Angeles. We are currently in the initial stages of working to open a toddler center as an effort to support the needs of the surrounding area.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our journey has been far from smooth, though it rarely is for many fellow small business owners. After signing a lease in a seemingly ideal location in July 2021, where a business had previously operated as a children’s preschool and playspace, we soon discovered major issues with building. The playspace had been operating as a retail shop and had never been ‘certified’ as a school with the Department of Social Services. This exposed a series of problems: the building predated local occupancy permits, was not classified for proper use by the city of Los Angeles, and did not have the mandatory certification required to be operating as a licensed preschool. This led to months of navigating city bureaucracy, redirecting funds, and enduring income loss.

Despite these challenges, we utilized the time to offer parent education and launch playgroups in our Community Space, supporting our operational costs. It was a deeply cathartic moment for us when we opened our school after 21 months of blood, sweat, and tears. It’s an accomplishment we will always be proud of.

We are grateful to all our friends and family who donated, became our patron saints, and cheered us on our journey. While the process was tedious and expensive, we’re not deterred and are prepared to do it all over again to endeavor in creating a toddler space!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We noticed that many preschools in the area weren’t meeting the needs of the families and staff outside of providing childcare and jobs. We decided to build Blossom Montessori around a three-part mission: to cultivate conscious minds and nurture social and emotional development, to create a diverse and inclusive school environment, and to foster a real, authentic community amongst our families and teachers.

Part one of our mission focuses on social and emotional development through a mixed-age environment where children learn empathy, kindness, and leadership skills. We use Positive Discipline (Dr. Jane Nelson) and encourage family involvement to create a consistent and supportive learning environment.

Part two addresses the gap in access to high-quality Montessori education by offering sliding-scale tuition by using some of our profits and accepting state subsidies through Pathways LA. Our goal is to continue expanding these opportunities through non-profit partnerships and eventually a non-profit of our own.

Part three emphasizes community engagement through parent support groups, neighborhood cleanup events, and plans to utilize our Community Space next door for education and enrichment programs open to everyone in the neighborhood.

We’re proud of the positive impact we’re making on children, families, and the community, and we’re committed to continuing our work towards a more equitable and inclusive early childhood education experience.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The impact of community is why we are where we are today and is a major reason that it is a key part of our mission! Isolation during the Covid-19 Crisis was challenging, leading to various losses and hardships, including financial, mental, and physical struggles. As teachers without jobs and parents without childcare during lockdown, we found solace in small pockets of community support, which helped us navigate through those difficult times and ultimately brought us here!

Today, the families entering Blossom are seeking connection with other families. They ask for parent groups, events for socializing, and how to get involved in the neighborhood. As a storefront school on a bustling street, we realize the impact we have on our neighborhood. As isolation eases, we prioritize teaching children about community involvement and diversity.

In the classroom, we reflect the children and their community members through books, lessons, family visits, and more. Beyond the classroom, we demonstrate community involvement through activities like our Community Clean-Ups, weekend field trips, and participation in local events. Our goal is to instill in our students the importance of being active and engaged members of their community.

Contact Info:

• Website: weblossomla.com/