A Brief History of
Daycroft Montessori School

Throughout our nearly 40-year history, Daycroft Montessori School has remained committed to providing a well-balanced, highly personalized education that promotes the development of the whole child.

Daycroft began in 1968 as a preschool program called Ann Arbor Montessori School, in the basement of St. Andrew’s Church. By 1974, the school needed larger quarters, and moved to purchased space on Butternut Street, adding a toddler program there. A new head of school re-named the school to Daycroft Montessori School during that year. "Croft” is Gaelic for shelter; hence, Daycroft is a day shelter. By 1978, our school served children ages 18 months to 5 years old.

In 1982, building code difficulties at the Butternut building caused another move to rented space on Packard Road across from Buhr Park, and the program expanded to full-day kindergarten. Worlds to Explore, an afternoon program for preschoolers, also began in this era.

The expanding programs again prompted a move in 1989, this time to a custom-built setting at 100 East Oakbrook Drive in Ann Arbor. The new building permitted after-care and before-care programs to be added.

In 1992, the program at the Oakbrook campus expanded again to include 1st and 2nd grade in a combined classroom, and in 1993, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades were added in a second elementary combined classroom. By now the building at Oakbrook was bursting at the seams, and a study conducted by the Board of Directors in 1995 indicated a need and support for a second campus.

Land at 1095 North Zeeb Road was purchased, and construction was completed in 1998. The elementary campus opened with a kindergarten classroom, a lower elementary classroom (grades 1-2), a middle elementary classroom (grades 3-4), and an upper elementary classroom (grades 5-6). An addition to the Zeeb campus, opened in 2003, included a large library, a science room, and an art studio.

The Oakbrook campus now includes two full-day preschool classrooms, one half-day preschool classroom and a full-day kindergarten program. The Zeeb campus now includes a full-day kindergarten classroom, two lower elementary classrooms, two middle elementary classrooms, and one upper elementary classroom.

"My time at Daycroft was so much fun. I loved it! My teachers made things fun and they taught in a way that was easy to understand."

—Kari Hart, alumnus

Timeline of Daycroft Montessori School

1968 Steve Lewis is first Head of School/Program Director of Ann Arbor Montessori.
1978 Josephine Kelsey becomes Head of School/Program Director. School changes name to Daycroft Montessori School.
1989 Lisa Himle becomes Head of School/Program Director. Building of Oakbrook Drive campus begins.
1992 Diane Seeger heads first elementary classroom at Oakbrook campus.
1995 Sheila Chaps becomes Head of School, begins process of accreditation by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS). Building of Zeeb Road campus begins.
1998 Zeeb campus opens.
2002 ISACS accreditation is granted.
2003 Addition to Zeeb campus opens in February.
2003 Rob Ciampoli becomes Head of School.
2006 Diane Mukkala becomes interim Head of School.
2007 Diane Mukkala appointed Head of School.