Montessori Learning Center of Fort Walton Beach is proud to announce our first annual “Building the Future Together” Fundraising Event. This event will serve to not only kickstart our campaign for building
funds for our forever home, but also to bring together the alumni of MLC. There are countless leaders in our community who had beginnings at our school and we want to bring the community together to
present our goals of growth in the coming years.

For over 40 years, Montessori Learning Center has been a thread in the history of Fort Walton Beach. It was founded by local families who were passionate about the Montessori philosophy and saw a need in our community. Founded in 1978 by Martha Burkland, Andrew Corbin, John Nelson, Shirley Grace, and Virginia Dennis, the school became an incorporated non-profit and moved to the First Presbyterian
Church on Beal Parkway in June 1982.

In 1984, the Board hired Ms. Fran Alvarez as the school’s director. Montessori flourished for the following years and eventually found a new home on Hospital Drive in 1992. In 2002, Ms. Fran retired
and Ms. Stacey Izer became director. In 2012, the school moved to our current location at St. Simon’s Episcopal Church, and 5 years later, the Board voted to add Lower Elementary. Stacey was instrumental in facilitating the expansion into elementary school, and our program has thrived under her over 20-year leadership, but she will be retiring at the end of this school year. The board voted in the spring of 2023to hire Ann Helton as Stacey’s replacement to begin Fall 2024.

Our Elementary program began in 2017 with the addition of First Grade, and the following years with the addition of Second and Third Grades. We now have over 25 students enrolled in our lower
elementary school program, and over 60 in PreK and Kindergarten; but our goal has always been to be able to serve more families with the unique educational experience only the Montessori Learning Center can provide. In order to do that, we need our own building. With the lease and eventual purchase of property on Memorial Parkway, this dream is closer than ever to becoming reality.
We have worked hard over the last few years to fundraise and in March 2024, we will purchase the land from the City of Fort Walton Beach for $525,000. Plans for our new building are attached and will
include: 8 classrooms holding 25 students each, a library and technology room, a multi-use room for art and music, an indoor play space, a large outdoor play space with picnic tables, and top-notch security. The building will be around 14,000 sq ft and will cost an estimated $2.8m.

The purpose of this event is to raise money to make these dreams a reality. We hope that we can count on you for your support in educating our future leaders. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
The Montessori Learning Center