Since opening in 2006, Angel’s Montessori has helped generations of children build a foundation for lifelong learning while creating a community that continues long after students leave the classroom. The Alhambra preschool celebrated its 20th anniversary with a gathering that brought together current families, former parents, and students, marking two decades of education, relationships and shared memories.
Founder Melina Petrosyan opened Angel’s Montessori with a vision for an educational approach that combined Montessori principles with other philosophies of early childhood development.
“I started this school to have a hybrid-Montessori, as I felt that all the other schools were missing something,” Petrosyan said. “The school incorporates the Montessori system into its morning education while drawing on other approaches, including Reggio Emilia and developmental philosophies.”
When Angel’s Montessori opened in 2006, Petrosyan saw an opportunity to bring more Montessori education to the area. “Hardly any Montessori schools were near here when we started,” she said. Over the past 20 years, the school has served approximately 100 students annually, welcoming families from Alhambra and surrounding communities, including South Pasadena, San Marino, Arcadia, Montebello and San Gabriel.
For Eugene and Miho, parents of a current student, the decision to enroll their children came after comparing several local schools. “We are local Alhambra residents and looked at five or so other schools within a five-mile radius of here,” they said. “After trying several schools, the pedagogy, the patience, the support, the love, the temperament of the instructors, and the structure here stood out. We decided to send our second child here too. It’s a great institution.”
For families who have already graduated from the program, the relationships built at Angel’s Montessori have proven just as lasting as the educational foundation.
Poova Bullock and Carlos Godinez, two friends and parents of former students, described a community that remains connected through birthday parties, family gatherings and friendships that continue even after children attend different elementary schools.
“A lot of us parents that met here haven’t seen each other in a year, and we’ll get an invite to a kid’s birthday party and it’s just like how it was before,” they said. “The previous parents get together for kids’ parties all the time, even when the kids go to different schools after.”
The impact, they explained, extends into the classroom and beyond. When their children transitioned to traditional schools, teachers shared positive feedback about their academic progress and their ability to respect and care for classmates.
“That was incredible for us,” they said. “Education at Angel’s Montessori is a group goal. The teachers help us as parents, and we never felt alone. We feel warm just driving by here and remembering,” they said. “We’re so glad we went here, and it was absolutely worth it.”
“There were a lot of tears today,” Petrosyan shared, reflecting on the celebration. “We saw students who had been with us in the early years today grown up and on to college. It was very touching.”
After two decades, Angel’s Montessori’s anniversary was a reflection of the school’s lasting place in Alhambra: an early education institution where children begin their learning journeys, parents find support and families build relationships that continue long after graduation.
To learn more about Angel’s Montessori, visit https://www.angels-preschool.com/.
