Gladwyne Montessori

For nearly 60 years, Gladwyne Montessori has provided families a nurturing environment for children to start their journey as lifelong learners and become positive contributors to the world around them. At Gladwyne Montessori, we educate leaders through a proven method of 21st century learning.

The Children’s House was incorporated as a non-profit organization on August 22, 1962. Today it is Gladwyne Montessori. The Children’s House was the dream of seven women who worked together to research the best educational methods available, and establish a school. The founding parents included Nora Leibold, Vivian Piasecki, Joan Kirk, Pat Dempsey, Josie Sorlien, Darcey Hall, and Grace Sharples Wheeler.

Their dream was realized when The Children’s House opened its doors in a rented carriage house at the Mildred Sullivan School building in Rosemont to 30 pre-schoolers in the fall of 1962. The school was Board-administered under the guidance of founder and teacher Josie Sorlien.

In 1965, Darcey Hall Hale became administrator of the Children’s House and served as the first non-teaching Headmistress until 1968. The Children’s House moved in fall 1966 to the St. Sahag & St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church in Wynnewood when it enrolled 90 primary age children. The school remained at that site for two years as parents raised funds to acquire a permanent home.