The Chapman Montessori School was established in 2017 in Garden Grove, CA by Nilmini Dahanayake, a 2003 immigrant to America from her native Sri Lanka.
Growing up in Sri Lanka, Nilmini recalls the many challenges that women face in a traditional male-dominated culture. As a new mother in Sri Lanka, she therefore sought to be a good role model for her two daughters to not fit into the traditional expectation of women to be dependent. Seeking to be the ‘best mom’ possible, Nilmini therefore enrolled into a teacher training program to become employed in a local Montessori school as a teacher/supervisor for children aged 2-6.
In 2003, Nilmini moved with her two daughters to America and, with the aid of an American associate, obtained a work permit to support her family, now as a single parent. Her first employment was as an infant lead teacher at a Montessori school in Anaheim, CA, and then later in various positions from teacher to director, which helped her gain confidence to start her own school in 2017.
In 2017, Nilmini started the Chapman Montessori School in a previously shut down school which had only four bare walls, and no previous teachers or enrollment to pass on. During those difficult start up days, Nilmini recalls, “I had to wear many hats from acting as a director to marketing manager to lead teacher to janitor to gardener until I was able to hire skilled employees for these positions.”
Today, Chapman Montessori has an enrollment of children aged 2 months to 12 years, with a functioning infant center, preschool and school age classroom that all incorporate the principles set forth by Dr. Maria Montessori. The school curriculum also involves arts, music, Spanish, gardening/nature and Yoga.
Throughout the school’s challenging time in its initial development, from an empty building in 2017, Nilmini states, “If there is one thing that stuck with me through these obstacles and experiences, it is my passion for helping each child reach their highest potential. I am grateful I am able to do that every day with a growing number of students at Chapman Montessori School which continues to provide safe and quality childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
For more information about Chapman Montessori school, contact: Nilmini Dahanayake, 1-800-587-0725, website: www.chapmanmontessori.com email: chapmanmontessori@gmail.com
