History and Mission

The seeds of today’s Litchfield Montessori School were planted by Mary Loyer, who moved to the Litchfield area with her family in the early 1970’s and looked for a school where her children could continue their Montessori education. Finding no Montessori school close by, she organized a group of supporting parents and started our school in 1972. From those small beginnings, our school has blossomed to welcome families from throughout the Litchfield Hills and Naugatuck Valley.  In 1987 we purchased the light, airy, and open Marcel Breuer-designed building in Northfield adjacent to play areas, fields and woods that provide a natural learning environment accessible from each classroom.

While the school has grown in size, it remains small enough to be a welcoming community that focuses on each child. Our small community also boasts a strong and loyal parent group who welcome and encourage the interests of new families.  We also offer education programs for parents to help them understand the Montessori philosophy and how young children learn and grow.

From its earliest days in the hearts and dreams of a few parents, Litchfield Montessori School has grown into a vital and thriving home for the education of children and families.  As a result of Mary Loyer’s vision, more than three decades later, Litchfield Montessori School alumni care deeply about other people and the world.  They work to discover extraordinary and individual ways to contribute to our global society.  The Litchfield community is a better place because of its Litchfield Montessori School family, who value diversity, peacefulness, independent thinking, creative initiative, and life-long learning.