About IvyCrest

The History of IvyCrest

IvyCrest Montessori Private School, originally named Montessori Child Development Center, was founded in 1970 by Mrs. Doris Ivy Smith and is still a family-owned and operated learning center that has grown to three campuses. The schools serve infant, toddler, primary and elementary children, with each facility maintaining its own focus.

The schools promote the teachings of Dr. Maria Montessori, who believed that each child deserves the opportunity to become the most complete person possible. Continuing her work, IvyCrest is dedicated to growing confidence, creativity and strength in each of the children entrusted to their care. At IvyCrest, children are respected as individuals and encouraged to develop their total personality at their pace and within their individual growth styles. This provides a foundation for a lifetime of creative and artistic learning that includes art, music and dance, in addition to academics.

The schoolīs original campus was the home of one of Fullertonīs first mayors and is now included on the National Register of Historic Buildings. The building is surrounded by over two acres of beautifully landscaped property. Many school activities still take place within the original structure, which retains much of its architectural integrity.

Assisted by her husband, Kenneth Smith, and her good friend and educator, Frances Obler, Mrs. Smith opened the school in the main house with only three children, and was licensed to accept 89 students. The reputation of the school grew quickly because of her love for students and their families. She always went out of her way to help others, and that spirit still remains an integral part of IvyCrest Montessori Private Schools. Children, then and now, come first.

Because the school had a continuous wait list, plans were made during the 1980īs to enlarge the campus. By 1987, new buildings increased capacity to 214 students. Just as they do today, parents believed in the school because they saw results and a commitment by Mrs. Smith to reinvest continually in the schoolīs programs, equipment, and buildings.

Mrs. Smithīs daughter, Holly Smith-Constantin, became involved in the school at an early age. When Mrs. Smith decided to retire in 1990 she sold her beloved school to her daughter. Mrs. Smith, who remembered many students as infants and toddlers, often returned to the school to visit and lend a helping hand.

Continuing her motherīs legacy, a brand new elementary campus was built adjacent to the original campus, increasing enrollment to 450 students. During the April 2005 debut of the Elementary campus, Ms. Holly renamed her school "IvyCrest" in honor of her mother. The elementary classroom building was dedicated as "Fran Obler Hall" to honor her high school English Teacher, friend, and mentor. The Elementary expansion includes state of the art classrooms, new playgrounds with rubber surfacing, and the KenDor Hall of Arts. KenDor Hall includes multi-purpose rooms and a stage, furthering our commitment to integrate academics with the Arts. Offering diverse Arts curriculum, such as Martial Arts, Theater, Music, Art, Dance and Chess to the students, IvyCrest's School of the Arts also represents the integral commitment to providing a "full service" environment to IvyCrest's families. 

IvyCrest is prepared to provide a whole new generation of Montessori children with educational opportunities in a loving and caring environment, just as Mrs. Smith envisioned 40 years ago.