Harrington Elementary Children’s House

2025

In rural Maine, Harrington Elementary School is planting the seeds of meaningful change. Serving 145 students from pre-K through sixth grade—nearly half of whom qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch—this small school faces the unique challenges of under-resourced, rural education. Amid growing concerns about the rigidity of standardized curricula and the decline in student engagement, their Early Childhood educators began asking an essential question: What if we could do things differently?

The answer came in the form of the Montessori philosophy—an approach that honors the individual child, encourages hands-on learning, and supports emotional and academic growth through purposeful play. Harrington’s mission is to create a beautifully peaceful environment where children can explore, discover, and grow at their own pace. We are committed to fostering a lifelong love of learning, independence, and empathy—values that empower children to become confident, compassionate individuals.

With the support of MGGF through a grant for Montessori materials acquisition, they plan to launch a public Montessori Children’s House for children aged 4 to 6. This first step includes two certified teachers and one educational support staff, setting the stage for a long-term transformation of the entire school. MGGF's  grant will complement the teacher's current AMS training, an endeavor supported by the public school district.

This grant will not only fund essential Montessori materials—it will help validate that child-centered, developmentally appropriate education can flourish even in the most underserved areas.