Parents praise Montessori program during El Paso ISD public comments

Three parents who identified themselves as the parents of children enrolled in the El Paso ISD Montessori program spoke during public comments, telling the school board the program supports independence and academic development.

Parent 1, a mother of a child in the district's Montessori program, said, "I'm a really proud mom with a kiddo here in Montessori. I like the life skills that it gives her, that she's gonna carry on through life. It just teaches her a lot of independence and while also giving her, like, the academic necessities." She later added that she has observed her child taking on responsibilities such as pushing in chairs, setting the table, reading, using higher vocabulary and doing math.

Parent 2, also speaking as a Montessori parent, urged other families to consider the program's learning environment: "If your child is one that is curious about learning, loves learning, questions things, then this is a perfect setting for them. It's going to allow that part of themselves to develop in a safe environment, a loving environment, a peaceful environment where it's okay to make mistakes because we can always go back and redo what we need to do and, they're gonna be able to be supported in that way."

Parent 3 described the district's instructional approach: "So because we work from the belief that children have this natural desire to learn and that's how we start every day. They want to be here. Our children want to learn. It's it's part of who they are and and so we take advantage of every opportunity we can and we respect them as learners."

Comments focused on observed developmental milestones and classroom routines rather than on any specific policy proposal or budget item. The meeting record shows these remarks occurred during the public comment period; the transcript does not record any formal board motion, vote, or staff direction tied to the comments.