Our Story
1976 - The Beginning
Montessori Children’s Center (MCC) has been part of the San Francisco school community since 1976. Founded by Judith Flynn and Jean Nugent, the school became a cherished place in the lives of generations of children and families. From the beginning, it offered something lasting, a calm, thoughtful environment where children could grow in independence, confidence, and joy.
Over the decades, under the continued leadership of Judith Flynn, MCC became known not only for its Montessori education, but for the feeling families carried with them after being there. It was a place where children were known as individuals, where early childhood was approached with deep respect, and where community was built with care.
Among the families shaped by that experience were Nikolas Eristavi and Kerstin Karu. As parents at the school, they came to know MCC not simply as a preschool, but as a place that left a lasting mark on family life. They experienced firsthand the kind of care, steadiness, and foundation that made the school so meaningful.
2026 - The Reopening
When the opportunity arose to carry MCC forward after Judith’s passing in 2024, it felt deeply personal. Reopening the school was not just a professional undertaking. It was a commitment to preserve something precious, to honor a school that had meant so much to so many families, while thoughtfully renewing it for the children and parents of today.
In 2026, MCC reopened under Nik and Kerstin’s ownership, with Kerstin simultaneously studying to become a Montessori teacher. With a seasoned team of Montessori educators and Judith’s son, John Flynn-York, as part of the team, they stepped into this new chapter with reverence for Judith’s vision, gratitude for the decades of trust families had placed in the school, and a strong sense of responsibility for what MCC could continue to be for a new generation.
At the heart of MCC is the same belief that has guided it from the beginning: children thrive when they feel secure, respected, and deeply known. Nik and Kerstin are committed to carrying that belief forward by building a school where each child’s evolution is nurtured individually, where families feel proactively supported, and where teachers are consistently well cared for.
MCC exists to help children feel that they belong in the world, and that the world belongs to them. That purpose began nearly fifty years ago, and it continues to guide the school today.