Inspiring Conversations with Manoja Weerakoon of La Habra Heights Montessori Academy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Manoja Weerakoon.

Hi Manoja, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began my teaching career teaching young adults as an assistant lecturer at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. After that— I embarked on a different path altogether— market research, the banking sector, and customer service in a managerial role.
My calling, my passion— revealed itself when I learned about the Montessori philosophy of teaching young kids.

Something shifted in me entirely and I went to work in a Montessori school to gain the hands-on training pertinent for this line of work— and I will be honest, it was far more challenging than anything I had experienced with young adults or in the corporate sector. But it was also far more rewarding. Teaching the very foundations of life to these “little people”— showing them how to hold a pencil correctly, instilling proper manners, and nurturing values at such a tender age— that is truly a blessing.

I first started my journey in USA in Chicago before moving to our sunny state of California. I faced many challenges as I navigated my way learning to teach in a foreign country. I think my experience, ethics, discipline and hard-work helped me to excel in whatever I did. I was always ready to learn— flexible and malleable to perform more than what was expected of me by my employers.

My teaching career in California began as an elementary school teacher at a private school in La Cañada Flintridge— that was 25 years ago. From there, I pursued my passion for public education and worked as a substitute teacher in Los Angeles Country and San Bernadino. During that time, I was also building a foundation in real estate— and in 2013, I formed my own company.

In 2014, I opened my own Montessori preschool in the La Habra area, La Habra Montessori Preschool— the very first Montessori preschool the city had ever seen. Since then, we have worked diligently to serve families in La Habra and the surrounding communities— nurturing children from birth through 12 years of age.

We are now in an exciting season of growth. We are expanding our services to La Habra Heights. We opened La Habra Heights Montessori Academy in November 2025. Our vision is to expand our philosophy of meeting each child at their own pace, guided by the Montessori curriculum, and laying a strong foundation for their future.

Working with young children has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Watching them grow and become whole human beings— that never gets old. Of course, we have faced many challenges as childcare providers— but none of that diminishes the joy. Coming to work every day feels like going to Disneyland— the energy, the curiosity, the laughter— it is simply irreplaceable.

It is through hard work, dedication, and a genuine passion for what we do— that is how we got here. I am always grateful to my team, who stood by me during difficult times and still continue to stand with me and share the same passion as me.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Even today, childcare providers are still facing challenges— in spite of this, we are continuing to expand. When we first started La Habra Montessori Preschool, we felt somewhat isolated— and there seemed to be a dearth of assistance or guidance. We had to ascertain certain things through research and hard work. Transitioning from being an employee to an employer is a big life change— you are not only responsible for yourself but also for others: the quality of work they do, and their mistakes. It was financially very challenging— the lack of resources for women-owned small businesses.

The only thing that helped overcome this was my past-experience, knowledge, education, talking to other childcare providers, my dedicated staff, and later-on— joining early-childcare organizations.

Later, during the pandemic, we were open and never closed La Habra Montessori Preschool— even when all the public schools and most of the private schools were closed— we were the only school in the area that remained reliably open. We experienced a shortage of staff during that time so my family had to step in and help me. We never closed for even a day during the pandemic— I was felicitated by the LA County supervisor Hilda L. Solis for my dedication. I am thankful for LAist as they reached out to us and provided a platform to express our challenges and fears as childcare providers during the pandemic.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a licensed childcare provider, with services taking care of many children from birth to 12 years of age. We specialize in a Montessori and child-based curriculum to ensure our students are prepared to meet or exceed state-standards. Our La Habra Montessori Preschool and La Habra Heights Montessori Academy program is year-round with a summer camp uring summers. We offer extracurricular activities such as arts and crafts, music and movement, martial arts, and piano lessons.

I have found our parents also love our holiday programs— including an annual Christmas program where families can come together. Our tuition, given the level of care and education we provide, strives to be affordable and reasonable for our parents.

I would say we try to incentivize maintaining a happy, nurturing, and safe environment where children learn and grow. No child is labeled, ostracized, or singled out as difficult, contingent upon having the support and trust of the parents or guardian— we aim to work as a parent-teacher team.

What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is that children grow in a safe, nurturing, very free, and happy environment at their own pace— without forcing any goals or milestones to perform or comparing children to each other, as every child is unique.

Additionally, I would say what matters a lot to me is empowering women and other childcare providers— I volunteer in three woman’s organizations and institutions dedicated to early childcare planning. As a young adult I was very active in Roteract Club, I want to continue my desire to help our community by volunteering in community based organizations.

I continue to try and educate myself to help my parents and am looking for ways to help myself and my staff to continue providing a quality service to my clientele.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://lhhmontessoriacademy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lahabramontessori/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montessoripreschoolLaHabra/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lahabramontessoripreschool2714 and https://www.youtube.com/@LaHabraMontessoriandPreschool 
• Other: https://www.lahabramontessori.com/