5 Things Montessori School Leaders Should Do Before the End of the Academic Year

As the school year draws to a close, Montessori leaders across the country are wrapping up lessons, celebrating milestones, and preparing for a well-earned summer break. But before you pack away your planner and head out for some rest and reflection, there are a few important steps you can take to end the year on a high note and set your school up for even greater success in the year ahead.

Here are five key things every Montessori school leader should do before the academic year ends:

1. Get Feedback from Families

The end of the school year is a golden opportunity to gather valuable feedback from your parent community. Families have just experienced a full year of your school’s programs and are well-positioned to share what worked well—and what could be improved.

Send out an end-of-year survey to capture insights on curriculum, communication, community engagement, and overall satisfaction. Be sure to include a space for testimonials and glowing quotes from happy families make fantastic content for your website and social media.

Graduation ceremonies also offer a unique chance to record powerful stories. If you’re already hosting a celebration, consider asking a staff member or videographer to capture short snippets of students and parents reflecting on their Montessori journey. These clips can become compelling marketing tools that speak directly to future families considering your school.

2. Show Your Teachers and Staff Appreciation

Your teachers and staff have poured their hearts into the school year, and now’s the time to show them just how much they’re valued. Staff appreciation doesn’t have to be elaborate to be meaningful.

Consider writing personalized thank-you cards to each member of your team. Host a staff lunch or breakfast to celebrate their hard work, share gratitude, and reflect on the year’s successes. You might also create a slideshow of student photos and memories or share uplifting messages from parents collected in your end-of-year surveys.

Recognizing your team’s dedication helps build a positive culture, supports retention, and reminds your staff that their efforts don’t go unnoticed.

3. Stay Connected with Families Moving On

Montessori education offers lifelong value—and your relationship with families doesn’t need to end just because a student is graduating or moving on to a different school.

Make sure you have a plan in place to stay in touch with alumni families. This might include adding them to a separate alumni email list, inviting them to future school events, or simply checking in from time to time. Some may be eager to share long-term success stories, such as high school achievements, college acceptances, or career milestones.

Others may be happy to return as volunteers, guest speakers, or donors in the future. Keeping those connections strong supports your school’s community and credibility for years to come.

4. Keep Families Engaged Through the Summer

Just because school is out doesn’t mean Montessori learning has to stop. Whether your families are attending your summer program or not, you can help them stay engaged with simple, valuable resources.

Send home or email age-appropriate summer activity lists, recommended toys or projects, or curated reading lists by age level. You could also create a blog or downloadable guide with ideas for local, Montessori-friendly outings around your city or town.

Sharing these resources helps parents support their child’s development year-round and keeps your school top of mind even during the summer months.

5. Set Yourself Up for a Strong Start Next Year

The end of the academic year is a natural time to look back—but it’s also the perfect moment to look forward. Summer break offers a window to step back from the daily rush and focus on long-term planning.

This is a great time to:

• Review and update your marketing strategy

• Refresh or audit your school website

• Analyze your enrollment pipeline

• Review school operations for efficiency

• Set goals for community growth and engagement

Ask yourself: Where do we want to grow? What systems could be improved? Do we need to revisit our messaging or outreach strategies? Use this quieter time to plan ahead—so you can hit the ground running when the next school year begins.

Montessori education is built on intentionality—and the same should be true for how we end the school year. By taking these five proactive steps, you not only close out the current year with gratitude and grace, but also position your school for continued growth and community impact.

Finish strong, plan smart, and keep telling your Montessori story.

Do you need help with your school growth strategy? This summer, take the opportunity to start growing your enrollment. 

Schedule a FREE Montessori Marketing consultation call today!