Who We Are
By the time you find us, you have probably already visited countless school websites, hoping one of them would finally feel right. As a parent, you are not just looking for a beautiful classroom or strong academics, but a place where your little one will feel safe, deeply loved, and truly understood. At Peaceful Valley Montessori Academy, we have been creating that kind of nurturing, child-centered community across our two Twin Cities campuses since 2009, helping children from infancy through kindergarten grow with confidence, curiosity, and kindness. We believe that when children feel genuinely seen and supported, they begin to develop not only a love of learning but also a strong sense of who they are becoming.
Parent Reviews
Amy S.
June 10, 2025
The teachers, the administrators and the communication is top notch. I completely trust the people that work there and that watch my kids.
Ashley G.
May 13, 2025
I feel so privileged to have my children cared for by such capable, professional, and kind staff.
Brian G.
March 18, 2025
We absolutely love this school and the amazing staff. So welcoming and thorough and our boy loves it here as well. We wouldn't be anywhere else! Brian and Matthew
Devaleena D.
March 18, 2025
The student-teacher ratio and the personal care taken for each student.
Our Story
Peaceful Valley Montessori Academy was founded in 2009 by Summer Picha and Katie Wagoner, two teachers whose love for children ran far deeper than their classroom walls. They were not looking to open just another school. They were driven by a philanthropic belief that children are capable of making a real and lasting impact on the world around them, and that the job of a school is to help them discover that power early.
From those roots, something remarkable grew. What began as a single, passionate vision is now a two-campus community where hundreds of families across the Twin Cities, Minnesota, metro have found the place they were hoping existed. The faces and names have grown, the classrooms have deepened, and the school has become part of the Endeavor Schools family.
But the promise that Summer and Katie made at the very beginning has never changed. Every child who comes through our doors will be treated as an individual, cherished for exactly who they are, and supported in becoming the fullest version of themselves.
Our mission is to instill the values of citizenship, leadership, and partnership in everyone who becomes part of our community. We mean everyone, children, families, guides, and staff alike. We believe that when a school commits to making a real difference in the lives of the people it serves, everyone leaves better than when they came.
We envision our private Montessori school to be a place where your child wakes up excited to go. Where they come home with big stories about what they discovered, what they built, who they helped, and what they figured out on their own. We want every child to leave Peaceful Valley Montessori Academy not just prepared for first grade, but ready for a lifetime of learning with confidence, empathy, and genuine curiosity about the world.
Our curriculum is built entirely around the Montessori Method, a scientifically grounded, deeply human approach to education that treats your child as a capable, naturally motivated learner. Our guides do not stand at the front of the room and deliver information. Instead, they carefully prepare beautiful, home-like environments filled with purposeful materials and then follow your child's lead, observing, offering, and gently guiding as your little one discovers the world on their own terms. Each day, your child moves through an uninterrupted Montessori work cycle. This protected time lets them choose their own work, concentrate deeply, repeat tasks they love, and practice skills until they genuinely own them.
Your child's days at Peaceful Valley are rich with practical life experiences, sensorial exploration, language, mathematics, cultural studies, and grace and courtesy lessons. Children who complete our Children's House program often leave reading and spelling in cursive, working confidently with numbers into the thousands, and navigating maps of the world. More than that, they leave knowing how to care for themselves and others, contribute to a community, and approach challenges with curiosity rather than fear.
What Makes Our Montessori School Different?
Every Montessori school will tell you they follow the Montessori method. What makes Peaceful Valley different is the people who bring it to life every single day and the community they have built together.
We know that before you even think about academics, you are asking a much more personal question: Will my child be truly cared for? Will the people in that building actually know my little one, not just their name, but what makes them tick, what worries them, what lights them up? The answer here is yes, and we have put intentional systems in place to ensure it.
Before your child's first day, we invite your family to visit the school together so your little one can meet their guide, explore the classroom, and begin building a sense of safety before the journey even starts. During the first two to four weeks, our guides make a point of spending extra one-on-one time with new children, tuning in to your child's unique personality and needs.
Megan Bell, School Leader at our Golden Valley campus, speaks with equal conviction about what sets our school apart. "Our school is filled with lifelong learners within our teaching team. Not only is our team dedicated to the everyday needs of our students, but they also put in the extra effort to continue developing themselves in the service of the children." That commitment shows up in the classroom every day.
Early Childhood Leadership & Staff
Before you commit to enrollment, we know you want to know the people. Not just their credentials, though those are strong, but who they actually are and why they show up for this work with so much heart. Our lead guides hold either their Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) or American Montessori Society (AMS) certification, most following a bachelor's degree in a related field. New educators go through a six-month onboarding program that covers Montessori philosophy and implementation in depth, along with health and safety policies and our school's mission and values. Beyond those foundations, our team attends ongoing Montessori workshops, The Center for Guided Montessori Studies (CGMS) courses, and refresher training, and every guide completes Conscious Discipline coursework with Dr. Becky Bailey. Monthly staff meetings keep our community connected, growing, and aligned around the children in their care.
Dominique Lenway
School Leader, Peaceful Valley Montessori Academy, Eden Prairie
Dominique began her career in early childhood in 2015, working her way up from assistant teacher to school leader. She brings a rare combination of warmth and depth to her campus, and what she values most is the extraordinary quality of the people around her.
Megan Bell
School Leader, Peaceful Valley Montessori Academy, Golden Valley
With more than 10 years in education, Megan leads the Golden Valley campus with a focus on connection for the children in her care, the families in her community, and the guides on her team. Her campus is a place where children are seen as individuals first, and where no child is ever expected to fit a mold they were not made for.
Achievements & Accreditations
98% of our students meet or exceed first-grade readiness benchmarks, based on internal assessments aligned with national standards. Our lead guides hold AMI or AMS certification, and most have a bachelor's degree in a related field. Every guide is certified in CPR and First Aid. Our team brings a combined experience of over 400,000 hours and more than 60 years in education. All educators complete an extensive six-month onboarding program, ongoing Montessori training, and Conscious Discipline coursework with Dr. Becky Bailey.
"Our mission is to ensure that everyone who comes to us leaves better than when they came, children, families, and team members alike. That is not a goal we check off. It is the standard we hold ourselves to every single day."
-Dominique Lenway, School Leader, Peaceful Valley Montessori Academy, Eden Prairie
Endeavor Schools is a community of more than 100 schools across the country, brought together by a shared commitment to caring for children during the most important years of their lives. Each school is thoughtfully connected to its local community, creating environments where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow. Behind every classroom is a team of educators and parents who understand how much these early experiences matter, and who are dedicated to helping children build confidence, develop essential skills, and find a genuine love for learning. At the heart of Endeavor Schools is a focus on one simple goal: to give every child the support and foundation they need to thrive, both in school and in life.