From the very start of her career, Ms. Sonia Johnson was guided by a profound belief in the Montessori philosophy of education. With a passion for nurturing the whole child and a vision of creating schools where children could grow into confident, independent learners, she set out to bring authentic Montessori education to the Tampa Bay community.

In 1970, Ms. Johnson’s dream became a reality with the opening of her first Montessori school in Carrollwood. One of her earliest accomplishments was pioneering Tampa’s first Montessori Toddler Stimulation Center, a groundbreaking program for the youngest learners. Building on this early success, she expanded her vision and went on to open four additional schools in the Tampa Bay area, each continuing her mission of bringing high-quality Montessori education to children and families.

Her dedication to excellence in education continued to grow, and in April of 1998, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by former Temple Terrace Mayor Bob Woodard, a state-of-the-art facility—Montessori Preparatory School, which, for the first time, united both Preschool and Upper Elementary levels under one roof.  Her schools soon became highly recognized in the community for their excellence in early childhood education and served as certified Montessori teacher training and internship sites. They were also featured by Channel 13 and the Tampa Tribune for their outstanding curriculum and achievements.

Through her vision, innovation, and dedication, Ms. Johnson created a legacy of Montessori education that continues to serve and inspire families in our community to this day.