As Told by Laurin Abramson, Roberta and Jim Cummesky

Montessori de Terra Linda was founded in 1970 by June and John Lord, owners and founders of Ross Academy Montessori Schools.  Ross Academy began in 1963 and soon grew to include sites in Mill Valley, Ross, San Anselmo, Terra Linda, Novato and Petaluma.  Montessori de Terra Linda opened in its current site, renting from Christ Presbyterian Church, in September, 1970.

Roberta Cummesky worked at the Mill Valley site in the after school program and in 1978 she became the assistant in the primary program at the Ross site.  Roberta and her husband, Jim Cummesky took the Association Montessori International 3 to 7 year-old training in Perugia, Italy in 1979 and returned in 1980 to co-teach at the Terra Linda site. 

The Cummeskys took over Montessori de Terra Linda from RAMS in 1981.  They both taught and directed the school until May 1996 when the school became a non-profit organization. Julia Rinaldi El-Abd, former teacher and Business Manager, was hired as Head of School and the Cummeskys were able to return to full-time teaching.  Julia El-Abd and Jim Cummesky developed the founding Board of Directors with Jacky Sarti as the first Board President.

Laurin Abramson, MdTL’s Pre-Primary Guide, was the pre-primary teacher at the RAMS Mill Valley site from 1976-1979.  She joined her sister, Roberta, and brother-in-law, Jim, at Montessori de Terra Linda in 1981.

In 1980, MdTL included one pre-primary class of 18 children and one primary class of thirty five children. A second primary class was added in 1983 and a third primary class in 1988.  The school expanded to include the elementary program in 1984. In 1985 the elementary class and one primary class moved up the street to the Santa Margarita School site.  The elementary program grew to eventually include seventh grade in 1992. In 1994, additional classrooms at the current campus, Christ Presbyterian Church, became available so the primary and elementary programs were moved from Santa Margarita to CPC to establish one unified school community.

Montessori de Terra Linda provides a unique learning environment founded on the principles developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. Our dedicated school community guides and nurtures the natural unfolding of the whole child in an atmosphere of order, beauty and harmony. Each child is actively supported in the self-directed pursuit of lifelong intellectual, emotional and spiritual growth.

Montessori de Terra Linda (MDTL), has been serving children and their families since 1970. MDTL offers a Montessori education for children ages two through twelve. Montessori de Terrra Linda is associated with Association Montessori Internationale. AMI is the original association created in 1932 to uphold the standards of Montessori education as set by Dr. Maria Montessori. Our program assures that your child received the highest level of Montessori education, one that not only provides a solid foundation for his or her further education, but is a preparation for life.