About Montessori Living
Inspired Children. Strong Families. Connected Communities.
For more than three decades, Crossway Community has cultivated environments where children, families, and communities can grow and thrive.
Today, this work lives through Montessori Living, an intergenerational campus in Kensington, Maryland where learning, living, and longevity unfold across generations.
Through The Nature School, The Residences, and The Wellness Studio powered by The National Center for Montessori and Aging, we apply Montessori principles to early childhood education, community life, and caregiver learning.
Our Mission
To nurture learning, creativity, and belonging by preparing environments where children, adults, and elders grow together in community.
Our Vision
We believe meaningful social change begins locally, through communities that cultivate curiosity, dignity, and connection across generations.
Our work is guided by three commitments:
Hope for social change
Innovation in policy and practice
Community building across age and culture
Our programs draw on research in early childhood development, aging, poverty prevention, and community development to create environments where families can flourish.
Our Model
Montessori Living integrates Montessori philosophy across three interconnected spaces:
The Nature School
A nature-centered Montessori learning environment for young children.
The Residences
Community-oriented housing where adults and families live within a supportive campus environment.
The Wellness Studio
Programs and caregiver education focused on longevity, memory care, and lifelong well-being.
Together, these spaces create a living model of intergenerational community.
Montessori Principles
Montessori Living is grounded in several key principles that guide how we prepare environments for learning and growth.
Self-Education
People are naturally curious. Thoughtfully prepared environments invite exploration, discovery, and independence.
Individualization
Each person develops at their own pace. One-on-one interaction supports individual strengths and interests.
The Guide
Educators and mentors serve as thoughtful guides, modeling curiosity, respect, and responsibility.
Meaningful Materials
Simple, purposeful tools support learning that becomes increasingly complex over time.
Prepared Environments
Spaces are intentionally designed so individuals can make thoughtful choices, explore freely, and learn within a secure community.
A Brief History
Crossway Community began in 1990 with a bold vision rooted in social justice, community organizing, and service to families in Montgomery County.
After renovating a formerly abandoned elementary school, the organization created a community hub that combined adult education, Montessori-inspired early childhood programming, and gathering spaces where people connected across cultures and generations.
One of the organization’s earliest initiatives was The Family Leadership Academy (FLA), an innovative residential program designed to help women pursue higher education and career advancement while raising young children.
By integrating supportive housing, adult education, strength-based resources, and Montessori early childhood education, the program created a pioneering two-generation model focused on long-term family stability and opportunity.
These ideas, supportive housing, family-centered services, and Montessori-inspired community, continue to shape our work today.
Over time, this model evolved into what is now Montessori Living, an intergenerational campus where education, housing, caregiver training, and community life come together in one place.
Today, children in The Nature School, residents in The Residences, and community members participating in wellness and caregiver programs are all part of a vibrant and connected campus community.
For more than thirty years, Crossway Community has remained a place where families throughout Montgomery County and the greater Washington region find stability, belonging, and opportunity.
Recognition
Crossway Community’s work has been recognized nationally, including:
National Bridge Builders Award
African American Infant Mortality Coalition
The Aspen Institute
Migrant Heritage Commission
Kathleen Guinan, CEO of Montessori Living, recognized by WETA as a “Hometown Hero.”