Great River School History
Great River School had its genesis in
April, 2002, when a representative from the Center for School
Change of the Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota,
approached leaders in our local Montessori community and
challenged them to submit a proposal for a public charter
Montessori high school.
The proposal would compete for a Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation Start-Up Grant. In early June, the
Montessori high school was one of the five schools selected.
Over that summer, a start-up Board of
Directors was formed. Larry Schaefer was named project director
and Ben Moudry was named project manager. That July the name,
Great River School, was chosen.
That fall, Hamline University agreed to be
the school’s sponsor and the State of Minnesota approved
its application for Charter School Status.
The year 2003 was absorbed in training
staff as Montessori teachers and as stated licensed teachers,
planning the school, writing curriculum, and producing the
recruitment and enrollment literature. In November 2003 at J.J.
Hill Montessori School, Great River School made its public
debut.
Great River is enrolling students for the 7th through 10th grades. Come join us in making history.
