Athena Montessori Academy
free the child's potential
About Athena
Our Vision
It is our goal to provide a loving, diverse, holistic educational and experiential environment for children in order to nurture, stimulate, and cultivate healthy minds, bodies and souls. We aspire to attain this vision through the direction of experienced Montessori guides and strong role models, and through an understanding and practice of healthy, active lifestyles. We seek to provide a rich community environment for the families and extended family of Athena Montessori Academy through community festivals and events, parent workshops, and classes and programs in our Community Resource Center for children and adults alike.
Athena History
From 1974 to 1978 Lisl Friday, owner and Director of Athena Montessori Academy, attended Athena Montessori School in Austin, directed by Leo Nitch and Mary Ann Torrence. These early years spent at Athena Montessori shaped her academic, athletic, spiritual, and interpersonal life experiences. There will forever be fond memories and a bond between the community of children and families who shared the experience. After obtaining her Bachelors in Psychology and Masters in Education, acquiring years of experience in business and education, and developing a strong network in the Austin community, Lisl pursued her vision of carrying on the tradition of Athena Montessori for a new generation of children and their families. With a dedicated team of teachers, friends and family, and with permission from Mary Ann to revive the name “Athena” for a new kind of school, the new Athena Montessori Academy was created to serve the children. Who better to watch over them but the Greek Goddess Athena: Goddess of Wisdom and the Arts, and the Protectress of Children.
What To Expect
Typical outcomes of a Montessori education are academic preparation and readiness; intrinsic motivation; internalized ground rules and the ability to work with external authority; social responsibility; autonomy; confidence and competence; creativity and originality of thought; and spiritual awareness.
Behind all of Dr. Montessori’s educational efforts was her continuous desire to create a better and more peaceful world by nurturing the spirit of each child. This nurturing helps children to see that they are called to a higher purpose than self-service or self-satisfaction. It includes time for silence and reflection, cultivating awe and wonder, respecting nature, caring for the earth, understanding and accepting others and fostering virtues such as love, peacefulness, kindness and compassion.