Starting a school can feel overwhelming. For teachers who dream of creating a community-based Montessori school, there are countless decisions to make—from vision and leadership to community and facilities. At Wildflower, teachers don’t have to take that journey alone. Through our School Startup Journey, educators move step by step from idea to reality, supported by peers, mentors, and community partners.

Honeypot Montessori in Newark, New Jersey reopened this fall, carrying with it a story of resilience, persistence, and growth. “Honeypot is my love letter to Newark—the progressive, culturally rich city that shaped me as an adult and as an educator,” says founder and Head of School Dr. Deja Jones. To re-emerge with the embrace of Newark behind her is a celebration not only of persistence but of the city’s shared investment in Honeypot’s future.

This fall, as new Wildflower schools open across the country, we’re taking a moment to go inside the story of one. Born of deep partnership and shared purpose, Mountain Laurel Montessori embodies a radical idea: educators stay in the classroom, families are co-creators, and nature and Montessori are central.