At Illuminate Montessori South Riding, we provide an authentic Montessori education that nurtures the whole child while fostering independence, confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning. Our carefully prepared environments are designed to support each stage of development and empower children to learn at their own pace.
Our experienced and dedicated educators create a warm, welcoming community where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to reach their fullest potential. Through hands-on learning, meaningful exploration, and individualized instruction, students develop the academic, social, and practical life skills needed for future success.
Located in South Riding, Virginia, our campus offers thoughtfully prepared Montessori environments that support children as they grow into confident, capable, and compassionate individuals. Families benefit from a nurturing school community that emphasizes strong relationships, individualized learning, and a partnership between home and school to support each child’s growth and development.
We are proud to partner with families in creating a joyful educational experience that encourages children to become lifelong learners while building the independence and confidence needed to thrive both in school and beyond.
Schedule Your Visit to South Riding
See our prepared environment for yourself. We host weekday tours by appointment for families considering Illuminate Montessori.
Programs Offered
- Ages served: 16 months - 6 years
Nido
A nurturing Montessori environment designed to support infants during the earliest stages of development.
Ages: 6 weeks to 18 months
Toddler
A carefully prepared environment that encourages independence, language development, movement, and exploration.
Ages: 16 months to 3 years
Children's House
A multi-age Montessori classroom that fosters concentration, confidence, social development, and academic readiness.
Ages: 3 to 6 years
Kindergarten
A comprehensive Montessori kindergarten experience that builds leadership, independence, and advanced academic skills.
- Certified Montessori Lead Guides with exceptional tenure and experience
- Dedicated stage for performances and community events
- Expansive playground
- Track and field area
- Blacktop play space
- Large multipurpose gathering area known as The Great Room
- Authentic Montessori learning environments
- Strong family-school partnerships
- Mixed-age classrooms that foster leadership and collaboration
Montessori Curriculum
Practical Life
Children build independence, confidence, and coordination through real-life, hands-on activities that encourage responsibility and self-care.
Sensorial Exploration
Beautiful Montessori materials help children refine their senses, make observations, and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Mathematics
Concrete Montessori materials introduce numerals, quantity, operations, and problem-solving in ways that make abstract concepts meaningful and accessible.
Language & Literacy
Rich vocabulary development, phonetic awareness, writing, reading, and communication skills emerge naturally through purposeful work and exploration.
Cultural Studies
Children explore geography, science, nature, history, and global cultures, fostering curiosity, respect, and appreciation for the world.
Art & Creativity
Daily opportunities for artistic expression through art, music, and movement encourage imagination, creativity, and fine-motor development.
Grace & Courtesy
Children learn kindness, empathy, respect, and peaceful problem-solving—core values that strengthen our Montessori community.
Shamaila Javaid
Shamaila Javaid is a dedicated education professional with experience in Montessori and elementary school environments, bringing a student-centered, collaborative approach to school leadership. With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, she combines her understanding of child development with hands-on experience supporting students, educators, families, and school operations.
Throughout her career, Shamaila has worked across a variety of educational settings, including Illuminate Montessori, Guidepost Montessori, Fairfax County Public Schools, and Pinebrook Elementary School. Her experience includes classroom support, student supervision, administrative and office responsibilities, school-wide coordination, and event planning. Working across different classrooms and age groups has strengthened her ability to adapt to the needs of students while supporting positive, organized, and welcoming learning environments.
As a school leader, Shamaila is committed to fostering an environment where children feel supported and encouraged to grow academically, socially, and personally. She values strong relationships among students, families, educators, and staff and believes that thoughtful collaboration and effective school operations are essential to creating a thriving school community.
Shamaila brings warmth, organization, and a genuine commitment to children and education to her role as Head of School. She looks forward to supporting both students and educators while helping build a positive school culture in which every child has the opportunity to learn, develop, and succeed.
Admissions
We welcome families year-round based on program availability. We encourage interested families to schedule a tour to experience our Montessori environment firsthand, meet our leadership team, and learn more about our programs.
During your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to explore our classrooms, learn about the Montessori approach, and discuss your child’s unique developmental needs and educational goals.
Our admissions team is committed to making the enrollment process smooth and supportive, and we look forward to partnering with families as they begin their Montessori journey.
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