Montessori’s Move, Milestones, and New Beginnings
- montessorioffice
- Oct 16
- 4 min read
A Season of Change
It feels like we’ve lived a whole year in just a few months. From the outside, it might’ve looked like we went quiet for a bit - but behind the scenes, it’s been a full-on, all-hands-on-deck, “we can do hard things” and "everything is figure-out-able" season for The Montessori School of Pullman.
We packed up our entire school, built out a brand-new space, and somehow managed to get an entirely new facility licensed in just 15 days (for perspective: it usually takes 90).
Goodbye Gladish, Hello Pioneer Center
Our move from Gladish happened on a very short timeline. After years of heating and facility challenges, it became clear that the building was no longer a sustainable home for our program.
At the end of August, we learned the power would be turned off - leaving us just one day to relocate our classrooms and children. It was chaotic, exhausting, and absolutely unforgettable - but our staff, families, and volunteers pulled together and made it happen.
Building out our New Home
From empty rooms to thriving classrooms, we transformed our new space at the Pioneer Center into a warm, functional Montessori environment.
Because we were working with a very limited budget, this move was powered almost entirely by our own hands - my family, our teachers, and a few amazing volunteers who showed up again and again. My husband, Tyler, and our kids, Houston, Cash, and Maxwell, (who are all MSoP Alumni) spent their summer working alongside me and our teachers to make this dream a reality.
We built desks, installed sinks and cabinets, painted walls, refinished rusted bathroom stall walls, made our sign, organized storage, and assembled every piece of this school ourselves.
It was truly an “all (well, most) hands on deck” effort - Tyler was due for wrist surgery at the end of August and couldn’t lift more than five pounds, so I threw on my unofficial general-contractor hat and got to work. The teachers were right there beside me - drilling, painting, scrubbing, and somehow still showing up each morning with smiles and patience for the kids who would soon fill these rooms.
And then there were the volunteers - parents, board members, and friends of the school who popped in with tools, food, and caffeine at just the right moments.
Every helping hand made a difference.
Community, Board, and Staff
None of this could have happened without our incredible Board of Directors. Our board president, Ashley Wilson, stepped in as interim director before I fully took over in September and helped keep us steady when things were anything but. Our entire board worked tirelessly to keep us moving forward.
We didn’t just move into a new building - we built it. With drills, paint rollers, late nights, and maybe a few “what did we get ourselves into?” moments. Now we get to teach in it and that’s the best kind of full-circle magic.
Gratitude for PSD
We also want to give a huge thank you to Pullman School District for welcoming us into the Pioneer Center.
There were days of loud drilling, construction dust, and hallway chaos - and they were endlessly patient and supportive.
We’re still working on organizing and cleaning our storage spaces, but PSD has met every stage of this move with kindness and flexibility.
The Playground
We owe a big apology to the surrounding community for taking out the playground and swings. We really tried to keep them, but during the licensing process we learned they weren’t approved for ages 2–5.
The swings needed 18 feet of clearance behind them and were too close together to meet requirements, so out they had to go too.
I know we broke a few hearts as Tyler excavated them out of the ground. But we’re already working with a playground design company to create something incredible - a new play space that will serve both our students and the community for years to come.
This will be one of our biggest fundraising projects yet, and we can’t wait to build it together.
A Note from Ms. Crystal
I owe a huge thank-you to my family. They didn’t exactly agree to this project - they just did it. They showed up every single day, supported me through long hours and jumped in whenever and wherever they were needed.
I’ll be honest - there were moments the chaos caught up with me. (Like missing my daughter’s picture day… whoops. There’s always retakes, right?)
I promise you, our summer wasn't all work and no play, even if it meant I was still working while playing. We got to sneak away for two Mariners games, road trip down the coast to the Redwoods and ride roller coasters at Silverwood!
Looking Ahead
Now that we’re open and licensed, our focus turns to fundraising, community events, and rebuilding our beloved traditions - together.
This next phase is all about sustainability and connection. We’ll be launching new fundraising efforts, building community partnerships, and creating more volunteer opportunities to strengthen our roots here at the Pioneer Center.
Our goal? To create a school that will continue to thrive for the next 50 years - with transparent communication, community involvement, and a whole lot of heart.
With love and (still) a power drill in hand,
Crystal Helenske
Director of Operations
The Montessori School of Pullman