Eugene Field Elementary Hosts Open House For New Montessori Program

Eugene Field Elementary School is launching a Montessori program next school year and they welcomed parents to learn more about it on Saturday.

Parents and teachers said the future Montessori program offers a new perspective on education.

Montessori is a hands-on style of learning where children learn by doing different activities around the classroom.

Luke Endicott says he is interested in Montessori for his youngest child because he is very hands-on.

“He’ll climb anything, he’ll count anything, he knows all of his letters, so it’s fun, now he can use his hands and manipulate it that way,” said Endicott, a parent.

Eugene Field Elementary School will be the third public school in Tulsa, and in the state of Oklahoma, to offer Montessori.

Program Specialist Diane Beckham says she believes children deserve this type of education.

“I think when Maria Montessori, when she envisioned her education, it was for the children who could least afford it, said Beckham. “So it is important to me that we offer high-quality Montessori education for any who chooses.”

She says she’s passionate about Montessori because of how children respond to the program.

“The passion comes from watching children and being amazed by them and just the wow factor of seeing students and how proud they are when they accomplish something,” said Beckham.

Principal Angela Graham-Callahan says focusing on educating students young is important in achieving life-long goals.

“We know that education is the key to change lives, we know education is the difference-maker especially for under-resourced children,” said Graham-Callahan. “So to see strong academic numbers is always an indicator that children are learning.”

Next year, Eugene Field will have 125 seats available in the program.