First-Ever Montessori Fair

Trevor Eissler is a father, a business jet pilot, a juggler, a pianist, a triathlete, a unicyclist, and an author.

But it’s his passion for  Montessori education that he’ll be sharing with Lexington families as the keynote speaker for the Montessori Fair on Thursday, Feb. 23.

The Fair — the first of its kind in the area — will be held at Calvary Baptist Church, 150 East High St., starting at 6:30 p.m. with Eissler scheduled to speak at 7 p.m.

The event is free and open to parents considering an educational alternative or who are just curious to learn what Montessori is all about.

Montessori schools in Lexington and the surrounding counties offer a full continuum of education from toddlers through high school – so parents of children of any age can attend.

Eissler fell in love with the Montessori method after enrolling his three children in a Montessori school.

As he realized how many parents were unfamiliar with Montessori, he added the author to his resume and penned “Montessori Madness: A Parent to Parent Argument for Montessori Education.”

Eissler uses his experience as an airplane pilot to draw connections between what children learn in a Montessori classroom and how careers use those principals in real life.

Carol Hiler, principal of Providence Montessori, said she is seeing an increase in parents interested in learning about Montessori teaching methods.

“With the challenges in today’s educational environment, Montessori education is experiencing a resurgence of interest by families exploring educational opportunities,” she said.

“This is putting Montessori at the forefront of educational alternatives.”

April Pottorff, chairwoman of the fair, is also the parent of a third-grade Montessori student.

She enrolled her daughter when she was 3 after hearing success stories from other Montessori parents. She also visited a local school.

She hopes the Fair will be a chance for parents to learn more about alternative education methods in one convenient stop.

“We have wonderful Montessori options right here in Lexington and in the surrounding counties,” Pottorff said.

“This event offers parents the opportunity to explore and learn what Montessori is all about, to glean information on Montessori programs in our area and the surrounding counties without feeling the pressure of visiting any particular school.”

The fair is hosted by schools in Fayette, Scott and Jessamine counties.

Participating schools include:

  • Children’s Montessori School of Georgetown
  • Community Montessori School
  • Creative Montessori School in Nicholasville
  • Harmony Day Montessori School
  • Holding Hands Montessori School in Berea
  • Keystone Montessori in Georgetown
  • Lexington Montessori School
  • Montessori High School of Ky.
  • Montessori Middle School of Ky.
  • Providence Montessori School
  • Southern Hills Montessori
  • St. Agatha Academy in Winchester
  • Versailles Montessori School
  • Victory Heights Montessori in Winchester.

Info: 255-7330.