041326 ~ Christian Montessori School of Ann Arbor - Joe Henkel

The Christian Montessori School of Ann Arbor, led by head of school Joe Henkel, offers a rare fusion of faith-based education and the Montessori method—a hands-on, child-led learning model that begins at age zero. Unlike traditional classrooms, Montessori environments eliminate desks and textbooks, replacing them with tactile 'works' that teach math through beads, reading through sandpaper letters, and language through immersive Spanish instruction starting as early as age three. Children as young as four can read, and by third grade, they're speaking in full Spanish sentences—skills cultivated not through rote memorization but through movement, independence, and real-world responsibility. The school’s tight-knit community of 42 families, combined with outdoor learning on a campus featuring gardens, wetlands, and a planned chicken coop, fosters deep ownership and pride in learning. Henkel emphasizes that Montessori’s secret isn’t just curriculum—it’s culture: when children are trusted to choose their work, curiosity becomes contagious, and even reluctant learners are drawn in by peer inspiration. Despite a tuition starting at $18,000, the school offers financial aid and open enrollment, inviting families to experience the method firsthand at an upcoming open house.