Early History: Bridgid and Stanley Beames founded Namaste Montessori School in August of 2004. It was initially licensed as a NYS Family Daycare and located in the Beames’ family home. Bridgid had dreamed of opening her own Montessori school. AS a result, of this dream combined with the need for day care in the area and overwhelming community support, Bridgid and Stan open Namaste Montessori School.
Bridgid and Stan expanded the program to become a NYS Licensed Group Family Daycare in the spring of 2005, in response to overwhelming interest in the program and an extensive waiting list, .
Soon after the expansion Bridgid and Stan created a long-range plan and blue print for the growth of school. The next phase in the growth of the school required moving the program out of their home into to a larger site. This resulted in Bridgid and Stan purchasing the building and property at 1608 Trumansburg Road in December 2026. With help of families, they completed renovations in the spring of 2007.
In the June of 2007, Namaste Montessori School became a NYS licensed day care center and moved into their new facility. This allowed the program to expand from one classroom with a capacity of fourteen students on any given day to two classrooms (a primary program and a toddler program) with a total capacity of thirty-one students on any given day.
In 2010 the school took a close look at the needs of their families and the community. After careful reflection, a decision was made to continue to expand the school and a new ten year long range plan was established to grow the school as well as add additional primary and toddler level classrooms.
To grow the school, the school purchased and renovated the property located at 1872 Trumansburg Rd in 2011. That campus became Namaste Montessori School’s Elementary Campus. The founding elementary class opened its doors in September of 2011.
Practicing division
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Namaste Montessori School remained open and in-person, with careful health and safety measures in place. Despite the health challenges, the school was been able to provide an essential childcare service to families of young children and a vibrant place to continue learning with peers!
In the next five years the school hopes to build additional classrooms and a community meeting space at the 1608 Trumansburg Rd Primary campus. Long term goals include relocating the elementary classroom to the Primary campus, and the possibility of establishing a Middle School program at the Jacksonville Campus.
Namaste Montessori School is licensed by the New York State Office of Family and Children Services and affiliated with the International Montessori Council.
The school is operated on a daily basis by an administrative and teaching staff overseen by the Head of School.
