Good Shepard Montessori School: A Fantastic Opportunity for a Child-Centered Education
“The Good Shepard Montessori School is located in the basement of the Saint Joseph Parish Community Center on Middle Street next to the church, and will be teaching children ages three to six.”
Photo credit: Zachary Myers
09/30/2026
Zachary Myers, Editor-in-Chief
Something I have learned from my time as an early childhood education major at UMF is the emphasis professors put on child-centered education. It is so critical that we put the child at the core of our curriculum and allow them a chance to explore their environment at their own pace. Because of this, it piqued my interest when I heard that a Montessori school was soon opening right near the UMF Campus. The Good Shepard Montessori School is located in the basement of the Saint Joseph Parish Community Center on Middle Street next to the church, and will be teaching children ages three to six. As of now, the school is not yet operational due to remaining inspections from the Maine Fire Marshals office, but based on the team at the school, everyone is ready to get the ball rolling. The Good Shepard Montessori School will be run by volunteer head of school Alison Gingras, lead guide Katherine Mitchell, and assistant Jocelyn Cates, who is a practicum student from Kennebec Valley Community College.
Alison said she was hired over the summer to oversee the school being implemented, but she noted that in early 2025, bishop James Ruggeri was in Farmington to talk about Catholic education, and eventually the St. Joseph and St. Rose parishes came together and decided to pursue a Montessori education program. When asked about their thoughts on Montessori education, Katherine said, “I really liked it is so child-led and really lends itself to exploration of what every child is drawn to,” noting also that the curriculum teaches practical life skills that children can use in their everyday lives. Jocelyn talked about her last practicum setting in a Head Start and how there were Montessori elements in it, and she was inspired to pursue it because of Maria Montessori’s philosophy that children have “an innate desire to wonder, learn, and explore.”
When asked about the main goals for the program, Katherine said they wanted to make sure the environment is a safe space for children and that everyone can grow as a learner of Montessori. Alison added that there is a need to give children this type of education that may not be as present in a public-school setting, noting that the first time she walked into a Montessori school setting she felt, “a sense of peace that my inner child wanted to be here.”
With the concept of the Montessori school being inside of a Catholic church community center, one of the main things to wonder about is the level of difficulty there may be in giving faith-based teachings to young children. Alison sees the school as growing the child physically, emotionally, and spiritually, with Katherine saying that the concept of the school is the child exploring things at their own pace, and they will learn things when they are ready. Alison explained how the Montessori school will be a half-day program in the morning, with the children having the opportunity to explore their environment throughout the day and being able to work one-on-one with the staff. She noted that it is “a time for exploration,” and that the children will begin to explore manners. Towards the end of the day is when the faith-based teaching will take place.
Students at UMF should look forward to this opportunity, as this could be a great and local opportunity for work in the educational field for a campus full of early childhood educators. It could also be an opportunity for adults to explore their faith in an environment where it will be supported for all ages.
