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About Us

A Mission Rooted in Community

For over 40 years, St. Albans Montessori has been Queens' most trusted Montessori institution — built by this community, for this community.

Our Mission

Nurturing the Whole Child

Our mission at SAMDCC/SAMAOL is to nurture children from infancy into adulthood, beginning with a strong early childhood foundation — cognitively, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.

In partnership with each child's village, we invite students and families to explore, examine, and engage both academically and creatively through scholarly curiosity.

Our Montessori Blended classrooms continuously inspire innovative, creative, and self sufficient exploration — cultivating solution driven individuals prepared to thrive in an ever evolving society.

SAMDCC/SAMAOL is a Black woman led institution deeply embedded in the cultural and historical fabric of Queens, NY — a multigenerational legacy of Black educational excellence spanning over four decades.

Circle time
Performance
Holiday
Farm to Table

Life at SAMAOL

Community Event
Community Awareness WalkThe whole SAMAOL village — students, families, and staff — standing together
Circle Time
Art
Performance
Farm to Table
Materials
Graduation
Holiday
Graduation Ceremony
SAMAOL Community Awareness Event

"Together we are tougher than this"

SAMAOL Breast Cancer Awareness Community Walk · 118-49 Montauk St
Inside Our Classrooms

A Glimpse Into the Prepared Environment

Every corner of a SAMAOL classroom is intentionally designed — each area invites exploration, independence, and joy. This is what the Montessori prepared environment looks like in practice.

Practical Life
Practical Life
Children develop independence and fine motor skills through purposeful, real-world tasks.
Science Corner
Science Corner
Curiosity-driven exploration of nature, stars, and the living world around us.
Dramatic Area
Dramatic Area
Storytelling, roleplay, and creative expression build language and social skills.
Library Corner
Library Corner
A warm, inviting space where a love of reading and language flourishes.
Botany & Materials
Botany & Materials
Children engage with authentic Montessori materials and living things side by side.
Student Art Display
Student Art Display
Children's work is celebrated and displayed with pride throughout our classrooms.
Our Pillars

Six Pillars of Whole Child Education

🧠

Cognitive

Individualized Montessori curricula meeting each child at their exact developmental stage

💪

Physical

Farm to Table nutrition program and movement-integrated learning environments

❤️

Social-Emotional

Cultivating confidence, empathy, and healthy self regulation from the earliest years

🌱

Spiritual

Rooted in cultural identity, stewardship, and deep community belonging

🎨

Arts + STEAM

Project-based learning integrating the Arts, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

🌍

Global Citizenship

Preparing children to thrive as independent, culturally fluent global citizens