Family Star began as a grassroots effort by parents and neighbors of Mitchell Elementary school in the Cole/5-points area of NE Denver to revitalize their neighborhood. It was the mid-‘80’s when poverty was overwhelming in the traditionally black section of Denver. The homes and buildings surrounding Mitchell and Cole Middle School were boarded up and evidence of drug use and gang activities were everywhere.

Into this grim scene Denver Public Schools brought children and families from all over Denver to join neighborhood children at the first public elementary school Montessori in Colorado. The school became the bright light in the community. The beauty of the classrooms, dedication of teachers and the amazing accomplishments of the children-all the children, including the kids living near the school in the worst poverty in Denver-was an inspiration.

Mitchell Montessori in 1985 predated what is almost common practice now: the children started school at age 3. And 5-year olds attended for a full day. But parents and teachers soon could see what research in the 1990’s later documented: children from poor families were already academically behind their middle income peers at age 3. Our most important brain development takes place from birth to age 3. The school community concluded that Montessori education must begin at8weeks!

At the same time, parents were concerned about the 9-plex apartment building across the street from Mitchell. It had been boarded up, but had become a place where drugs were being distributed. The grassroots group of parents and neighborhood activists found a way to purchase and renovate the building which was then named Family Star. Neighborhood residents were recruited and trained at the rigorous Montessori Institute.

The Family Star School opened in 1991 with classrooms for infants and toddlers with funding from foundations for neighborhood families and parents who could pay market rates. Educators were so impressed with the concentration, independence, and language skills of the children that we were encouraged to apply to be one of the first “Early” (0-3) Head Start locations in the country. Our bid was successful.

We opened our second site on Federal Blvd. in 1997. And six years later we had our first Head Start program review, one week of intense scrutiny by five early childhood experts from all over the country. They were amazed to award us a “no citations” report, probably the first in the nation. Since that time, Family Star has earned other awards for excellence, including the El Pomar Foundation award in 2001 and selection by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans as an exemplary program.