San Tan Charter School 's Montessori PreK-12 program has reached two milestones, school officials said.

More than 400 students are enrolled in the Montessori program, making San Tan Charter School  the largest Montessori PreK-12 school in the Southeast Valley, Principal Katie Cox said.

Families are enrolling and staying in the San Tan Montessori program for many reasons, Cox said.

First and foremost, she said, are the teachers and staff who oversee the program.

“Parents are very happy with the stability in the teaching staff within our Montessori program,” Cox said, adding that local families are also pleased with the expansion of the program’s Outdoor Environment, where students experience hands-on lessons in gardening, tending to chickens, composting, using garden tools and more.

“Our campus now has three designated outdoor spaces," she said. "In addition, we have increased our Montessori ‘going outs’ experiences in our adolescent program, with the students participating in two extended camping trips throughout the school year.”

Kami Kerby, in-school music specialist and director at San Tan Montessori Preschool, said parents frequently tell her that they chose the San Tan program because of the way it fosters independence from an early age.

“Families are drawn to the way Montessori encourages children to make choices, care for themselves and their environment and take ownership of their learning in a peaceful, purposeful setting," she said.

“They also praise our long-standing commitment to love and logic, which is deeply embedded in our school leadership and classroom practices, and we are proud to be a Music Together school for almost 20 years, with a well-established in-school program that nurtures creativity, movement, and connection through music.”

In the classroom, Kerby said, San Tan’s Montessori guides excel at supporting each student’s social and emotional development, which helps create a strong foundation for academic and lifelong success.

“Our toddler and primary class teachers are Montessori-trained professionals with rich classroom experience, bringing both passion and expertise to their work with children every day,” Kerby said.

Cox and Kerby said they are proud of the steady growth the San Tan Montessori program has achieved, as well as the consistently positive and enthusiastic feedback they receive from parents.

Parents also appreciate the way their children can stay in the Montessori program throughout their entire time at the San Tan Charter School Recker campus, Kerby said.

“The partnership between our preschool and charter school creates a supportive bridge for students transitioning into elementary, offering consistency, shared values and a sense of belonging,” she said.