The story of Little Hands Montessori
Little Hands Montessori is a bilingual traditional one-room schoolhouse for children ages 3-6. Its program follows the Montessori Method, and children are taught in English and Spanish simultaneously.
In the winter of 2019, the local branch of a Montessori school in Richland, which had opened there 17 to 20 years prior, decided to close. The community was disappointed, particularly the families of students who were in the middle of their three-year education cycle. While there were hopes that a new Montessori school would open, it was unlikely that this would happen before the next school year.
What the community didn't know was that starting a nonprofit, one-room, bilingual schoolhouse was Lee Sanchez’s dream. As a teacher at the Richland branch of the Montessori school, she had established their bilingual program and had built relationships with the parents and students. Lee’s dream had begun in 2010, during her time working with families in the Dominican Republic. She had taken steps to start up a Montessori School House that would serve children from all socioeconomic backgrounds, including the preschool-age children from a nearby orphanage, when medical complications brought her back to the U.S. Though she had envisioned establishing a school abroad and had worked for years toward that goal, Lee loved the community in Richland and saw this as a new opportunity to realize her dream.
In 2020, after Christmas break, Lee held an open meeting to present the idea of the schoolhouse. Encouraged by Lee’s experience and the enthusiasm of the Richland community, a board was quickly formed. On January 16th of 2020 Little Hands Montessori was legally formed.
The Covid-19 pandemic hit during the initial planning and licensing process. As did hurricanes in the Dominican Republic; many of the original school materials collected there (such as a beautiful set of story-telling wooden figures from Mexican missionaries) were damaged or destroyed by flooding. A handful of materials were saved, including the “Little Hands Montessori” Logo that had been painted by Dominican students of Lee’s.
Despite these complications, blessed by the assistance from all the families involved, many donations of materials, and the support of Gull Lake Public Schools, Little Hands Montessori was able to open in time for the next school year. Children were able to begin attending the schoolhouse in August of 2020, in the same church that the first Richland Montessori school had started in years ago, and were greeted by the logo painted by the Lee's Dominican students.
“The Lord's hand has been upon the whole process and He has opened doors through the assistance of so many people. The names of those who have made this possible are endless. The school wildly meets my every dream. We {the staff} could not be more overjoyed with our jobs and the way that we get to spend our days in a beautiful place with these incredible children and families.” - Lee Sanchez, Little Hands Montessori founder and director.
Community connection continues to be of the utmost importance to those involved with Little Hands Montessori. Part of the school’s mission is to be active in community events, support local businesses and organizations, and make positive connections with the area that surrounds our school. One way that this is accomplished is by participating as a Rotarian. Staff and families from Little Hands Montessori can often be found at Richland community gatherings.
In the winter of 2019, the local branch of a Montessori school in Richland, which had opened there 17 to 20 years prior, decided to close. The community was disappointed, particularly the families of students who were in the middle of their three-year education cycle. While there were hopes that a new Montessori school would open, it was unlikely that this would happen before the next school year.
What the community didn't know was that starting a nonprofit, one-room, bilingual schoolhouse was Lee Sanchez’s dream. As a teacher at the Richland branch of the Montessori school, she had established their bilingual program and had built relationships with the parents and students. Lee’s dream had begun in 2010, during her time working with families in the Dominican Republic. She had taken steps to start up a Montessori School House that would serve children from all socioeconomic backgrounds, including the preschool-age children from a nearby orphanage, when medical complications brought her back to the U.S. Though she had envisioned establishing a school abroad and had worked for years toward that goal, Lee loved the community in Richland and saw this as a new opportunity to realize her dream.
In 2020, after Christmas break, Lee held an open meeting to present the idea of the schoolhouse. Encouraged by Lee’s experience and the enthusiasm of the Richland community, a board was quickly formed. On January 16th of 2020 Little Hands Montessori was legally formed.
The Covid-19 pandemic hit during the initial planning and licensing process. As did hurricanes in the Dominican Republic; many of the original school materials collected there (such as a beautiful set of story-telling wooden figures from Mexican missionaries) were damaged or destroyed by flooding. A handful of materials were saved, including the “Little Hands Montessori” Logo that had been painted by Dominican students of Lee’s.
Despite these complications, blessed by the assistance from all the families involved, many donations of materials, and the support of Gull Lake Public Schools, Little Hands Montessori was able to open in time for the next school year. Children were able to begin attending the schoolhouse in August of 2020, in the same church that the first Richland Montessori school had started in years ago, and were greeted by the logo painted by the Lee's Dominican students.
“The Lord's hand has been upon the whole process and He has opened doors through the assistance of so many people. The names of those who have made this possible are endless. The school wildly meets my every dream. We {the staff} could not be more overjoyed with our jobs and the way that we get to spend our days in a beautiful place with these incredible children and families.” - Lee Sanchez, Little Hands Montessori founder and director.
Community connection continues to be of the utmost importance to those involved with Little Hands Montessori. Part of the school’s mission is to be active in community events, support local businesses and organizations, and make positive connections with the area that surrounds our school. One way that this is accomplished is by participating as a Rotarian. Staff and families from Little Hands Montessori can often be found at Richland community gatherings.
Meet the people who help us grow!
Lee Sanchez
Director, Lead Guide & Music Teacher |
Lee is the founder, director, and lead teacher at LHM. She grew up in Michigan and received her bachelor’s degree in Children’s Ministries and Music from Hope College, graduating magna cum laude. Lee’s master’s degree from Concordia College (Minnesota) is in Education in World Language Instruction; she wrote her thesis on “Simultaneous Bilingual Literacy Development in Children Ages 3-5.” From Concordia, Lee went on to study at Maria Montessori Institute in London, England, graduating in 2010. From there, she began teaching in bilingual Montessori schools at the primary and elementary levels in the Dominican Republic. She also taught at the first Montessori school in Guatemala, helping to initiate and develop their bilingual program.
In addition to founding LHM, since returning to Michigan Lee has created “Hands and Feet Family Music” in Hastings, and has directed and taught Music Together® and/or Canta y Baila Conmigo® (a nationally recognized music and movement Spanish program.) Outside of school, Lee can be found spending time with her daughter and family, playing piano, or stand-up paddle boarding on the local lakes and rivers. |
