Please see the following Guest Column from Emily Barnhart, the Head of School for Steamboat Montessori.
A Different Kind of Public School: Why Families Are Choosing Steamboat Montessori
By Emily Barnhart, Head of School
In a time when many families feel overwhelmed by screens, stress, and constant comparison, there’s a growing desire for something simpler—and more human—in education. That’s where Steamboat Montessori comes in.
This year, our tuition-free public charter school quietly celebrated a big milestone: 10 years of serving families in northwest Colorado. In that decade, we’ve stayed true to a clear belief—that children thrive when learning is joyful, relationships are strong, and school feels like a place where they truly belong.
That belief is showing results. Steamboat Montessori recently earned a Performance with Distinction rating from the Colorado Charter School Institute, placing us in the top 25% of public schools statewide based on academics and operational stability. Even more remarkably, we ranked in the top 1% of Colorado elementary schools overall, earning 95% of available state performance points and a rare 100% growth score—evidence that students here are not just achieving, but flourishing.
But numbers only tell part of the story.
What families often notice first is our slow-tech approach. In our classrooms, you won’t see young children receiving curriculum via screens. Instead, you’ll find hands-on materials, long blocks of uninterrupted learning time, meaningful conversations, and children deeply engaged in real work. Technology is introduced intentionally and purposefully, never as a replacement for thinking, creativity, or human connection.
Equally important is our parent–teacher partnership. We believe education works best when families and educators are on the same team. That means regular communication, transparency, and a shared commitment to supporting the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally. Parents frequently tell us they feel known here, heard here, and truly connected to their child’s school experience.
That connection creates something powerful: a culture of belonging and joy. Our attendance rate—91%—reflects that students want to be here. They feel safe, challenged, and valued. And when children feel that way, learning follows naturally.
Founded in 2014, Steamboat Montessori is the only Montessori public school in northwest Colorado, serving just over 180 students from preschool through fifth grade. We blend authentic Montessori practices with Colorado academic standards, offer free lunch for all PK-5 students, transportation to the Boys & Girls Club after school, and enrichment programs including Spanish, Visual and Performing Arts, Life Skills (SEL), Digital Literacy, and Physical Education.
As enrollment opens for the 2026–27 school year, we invite families who are looking for something intentional and deeply child-centered to come see our school in action. We welcome you to come witness the Montessori magic that happens daily in our classrooms. Weekly tours and kindergarten information sessions are available, and our enrollment lottery will be held in February. Drop in tours occur on Thursdays at 9:00 and Kindergarten Information Sessions are upcoming.
After ten years, one thing is clear: when we slow down, focus on relationships, and honor children for who they are, extraordinary things happen.
Learn more or schedule a tour at steamboatmontessori.org.