welcome!

From the Head of School:

MRM is a uniquely vibrant Duluth independent school that nourishes the whole child from toddlers through 8th grade. Our students build life skills and independence through experiential and environmental learning, thrive socially in a fun, diverse and supportive community, and succeed academically in a rigorous and individualized educational environment.

~ Wendy Fisher, Head of School

Educators at Many Rivers Montessori hold diplomas from the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Many Rivers is licensed as a child care provider with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. We are also a fully accredited member of the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), and adheres to the principals of good practice of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). 

Vision Statement

Our students are empowered to transform the world into a better place for all.

mission Statement

Many Rivers Montessori empowers our students to transform the world. Through world-class Montessori education, a focus on the whole child, and an inclusive and fun community, we cultivate independent, academically prepared, and socially responsible citizens who will be lifelong learners and creative problem solvers.

Values

1. DREAM BIG & MAKE IT HAPPEN: We have the courage and passion to dream big, and we’re willing to sacrifice, serve, and work hard toward an audacious goal that really matters.

2. FUN! We are a place of joy and laughter.

3. HEALTHY COMMUNITY: We are intentionally creating a kind, compassionate, inclusive and welcoming community that reaches out to the world around us.

4. NORTH COUNTRY CULTURE: We live in a beautiful, extreme, and distinctive natural playground. And we love being part of it. 

5. JUSTICE IS A WAY OF LIFE: Our respect for all means justice is at the heart of everything we do.

6. BE YOUR WHOLE SELF: We meet each child where they are at, and empower them to follow their passion and realize their academic, social and moral potential.

justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

“A great social mission that will ensure the child justice, harmony, and love remains to be accomplished.
And this great task must be the work of education, for this is the only way to build a new world and bring peace.”
Maria Montessori, Education and Peace, 1949

Many Rivers Montessori is founded upon the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori, for whom justice was a prerequisite for true peace. At Many Rivers Montessori, justice is a core value that animates our work of educating children who will transform the world. From this flows our commitment to the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and our journey towards becoming anti-bias and anti-racist in every aspect of our community.

As a school, we commit to keep the value of justice at the forefront of our efforts by:

• Recognizing and celebrating differences inherent in our shared humanity, and protecting the worth, dignity, and rights of all members of our school community, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, socioeconomic status, age, or ability. 

• Thoughtfully integrating developmentally appropriate anti-bias, anti-racist curriculum in all classrooms to equip our students to identify biases, reject stereotypes, and respect and honor members of historically marginalized communities and their contributions to society.

• Becoming anti-bias and anti-racist in our school’s programs, policies, and practices, even as we continue to seek growing diversity in our school community.

Non-Discrimination Statement

Many Rivers Montessori values diversity in every aspect of the school community. It is the policy of MRM not to discriminate in violation of the law on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability in the administration of its admissions policies, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic programs and other school-related programs.

our identity

We are a nurturing community of students, teachers and families coming together to grow a generation of students who can change the world. The foundation of this is the 100-year-old Montessori method, which undergirds everything we do at Many Rivers Montessori.

our montessori foundation

Our school is guided by the principles and pedagogy of Dr. Maria Montessori. She defined the goal of education as "the development of a complete human being, oriented to the environment, and adapted to his or her time, place and culture." The prepared environment nurtures the independence of the child, creates an abiding respect for self and others, and instills a love of learning and exploration.

love of work

Dr. Montessori believed that children learn through purposeful activities. The prepared classroom provides a developmentally appropriate environment that supports and inspires the child's innate desire to learn, and where the choice of meaningful work is expected and respected.

rooted in nature

The Montessori philosophy is rooted in the natural world. One way we honor this is with our vegetable garden, where the children will work to grow food that can be used in the school community, or donated to local food banks.

diverse and respectful community

Diversity, equity and inclusion are goals that our entire school community works toward. With daily lessons of grace and courtesy, our children grow to understand and respect one another and to appreciate each other's differences. Many Rivers Montessori offers financial aid to help make a Montessori education affordable for all. 

our history

Many Rivers Montessori opened in September 2014. Led by our founding Head of School, Mark Niedermier, MRM achieved Montessori and independent school accreditation. We also moved from our first home, a rented facility at the Jefferson School in central Hillside, to our permanent home at the former Cobb School in Woodland in 2018. In 2023, Mark retired from MRM and from independent school leadership. His leadership in MRM’s first decade was crucial in bringing the grand vision of a small group of parents to life in starting a brand new world-class Montessori school in Duluth. Our current Head of School is Wendy Reinsch Fisher.

The teachers, parents, and community members that came together to found this non-profit private school welcome you. Educators at Many Rivers Montessori hold diplomas from Association Montessori International (AMI-USA), and is fully accredited through the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS). Our dream is to build a school that will enrich the educational environment for children in Duluth for generations to come.

The philosophy that guides Montessori teaching is "cosmic education." In other words, all subjects are interconnected and seamlessly flow together. We strive for fluidity. One of the great lessons given in many Montessori classrooms each year is the work of water, especially the river. The children are continually reminded that rivers carve, carry and deposit. These actions have powerfully shaped our surroundings. Rivers also connect with the way Montessori education presents history through geography, as rivers bring people together. Every great civilization has formed near a river or body of water.

Our amazing city of Duluth, Minnesota is built around many, many rivers. Our school, like a river, will shape the community around it — and this will become our history.