History of The Berkeley School
2009 – The Name Change
Since many of you may be wondering why we changed our name, let’s talk about that first. The Berkeley School was known until the summer of 2009 as Berkeley Montessori School (BMS). We changed our name for a variety of reasons, perhaps mostly because, while we are big believers in many of the concepts and ideas that underlie Maria Montessori’s legacy, we felt that there were other important pedagogic ideas that had been incorporated into our curriculum and program, and so keeping that name led people to believe that from preschool to middle school, Montessori was the dominant teaching philosophy, which was really no longer the case.
Furthermore, the use of strict Montessori methods naturally ebbed as children moved from preschool, through elementary school. By the time they reached fourth grade, and certainly by middle school, the Montessori methods were used infrequently. Our teachers and administrators had naturally developed curricula intended to ensure that our kids were prepared to enter competitive academic programs wherever they went to high school.
Last, since Montessori is not a well-known educational approach among the general public, many prospective parents would make assumptions or jump to conclusions about what Montessori schools were all about. We found ourselves spending a lot of energy explaining what it meant, countering misunderstandings, and so on.
So, in the end, the Board of Trustees felt it was time to make a change. We hope you like it, and that you will join our community.
Why The “Berkeley” School?
Well, for one thing, just dropping “Montessori” from the school’s name was the simplest solution to the naming problem. For another, we thought it would be a nice way to signal that many of us aspire to represent and promote the best parts of the city of Berkeley and the University: the relentless innovation, the drive for positive change, a commitment to progressive values and innovative thinking. Last, as you’ll see here, we have been a part of Berkeley for 45 years, and with the move of our elementary and middle school from the hills to University Avenue, we are even more squarely located in the heart of the city.
The History of The Berkeley School
1963 – Founding the Preschool
The first Montessori program in Berkeley, BMS was founded in 1963 by parents who wanted to provide an education for their children based on the Montessori method. In 1964, the first class opened with 20 children at Temple Beth El in Berkeley. The following year, the school moved to 2030 Francisco Street and leased two buildings (now known as the Magnolia and Live Oak / Eugenia classrooms), gradually growing and leasing more space there. The Early Childhood Campus was purchased in 1980.
1972 – Expanding to an Elementary School
The first elementary class was established in Kensington in 1972. Six years later, the elementary school moved to 1940 Virginia Street. In 1990, the Strategic Planning Committee began developing plans to expand the Elementary program and add a Middle School. However, in early August 1994, a fire destroyed the building that housed the elementary school and administrative offices. Committed staff and parents quickly located and leased a new site, opening the academic year on schedule in September 1994 at the Hillside School, located at 1581 LeRoy Avenue.
Adding a Middle School
In 1995, a second elementary classroom was added and the Middle School was founded for 6th and 7th grade students. The Middle School program changed to 7th and 8th grades in 1996. In 2000, Head of School Curt Chamberlain retired after 26 years of service and Laroilyn H. Davis joined BMS as the new Head of School.
2001 – Moving to the center of Berkeley
In 2001, the school purchased property at 1310 University Avenue that contained Berkeley’s historic Santa Fe Railroad depot. Pfau Architects of San Francisco was selected to design a new “green” Elementary and Middle School campus on the site. Groundbreaking took place in February 2003 and, exactly one year later, on February 27, 2004, our beautiful new campus was opened on time and under budget.
The new campus is enhanced by a space-sharing relationship with Congregation Netivot Shalom next door, which allows us to use their multi-purpose space and sanctuary for selected programs and events. With the new site opened, the school turned its attention to other matters, adopting a three-year strategic plan in 2005. In July 2006, Janet Stork succeeded Laroilyn H. Davis as Head of School. Janet was a visionary change leader for our school, but her tenure was cut short by her death from cancer in the spring of 2010. TBS Middle School Director Mitch Bostian, an experienced and dynamic educator, was appointed Head of School by the TBS Board of Trustees after Janet’s death.
For more than four decades, throughout the growth of our school and facilities, TBS has steadily built a strong reputation for the excellence of our program, which places a high value on both academic achievement and the healthy social development of each student.
