I recently had the pleasure of visiting Greenfriends Montessori for the day on 8/22/25. I was very…read moreimpressed with everything I witnessed. I am a Montessori mom with three grown children who all went through a Montessori school (starting in preschool and some stayed as long as middle school). We also briefly tried public school, Waldorf, and home schooling. So I feel I am in a good position to assess the current Greenfriends school. The school is located in a rural peaceful setting with a large outdoor play space with gardens and fruit trees. The interior space is absolutely beautiful - light, sunny, homey, cheerful and clean. The materials are so well cared for. The teachers are kind, compassionate, intelligent, loving and patient with the children. All the children were happy and engaged. There was a nice balance of intellectual/academic stimulation, reading/writing, play, relaxation, listening to stories, moving their bodies, relaxing during snack and meals, and social engagement with peers. I was especially impressed with Lakshmi Mohan, who is not only a seasoned Montessori teacher with a history of having run her own thriving Montessori school in another state for years, but also a wonderful leader to the entire Greenfriends school community. I have known her for 20 years. Honestly, my children had mixed experiences in their Hawaii Montessori school. But we had very limited options, and this was the best we could find. The academics were solid, but the character of some of the teachers was very poor. Character of a teacher is critical, especially in the younger years when the children are learning to bridge the gap between home life and school. So a teacher needs to be very loving, patient and show integrity because children are so affected by the vibe of the adults they are around. If only our kids had been able to have Lakshmi in their lives. I can only imagine how amazing that would've been for them. When I met her 20 years ago I wished we lived in her area. She has a very thorough understanding of the Montessori teaching methods which is very important. But to me in the most important part is her heart and character. She teaches the children with so much patience, love, kindness and joy. It was obvious to me that she cares so much about each child. Some people were born to work with children. Lakshmi is one such person. The other teachers were also wonderful and caring. This created a sense of calm, order, joy and happiness. School was fun! It was very heartwarming to see a three year-old little girl telling me how excited she was to learn and how much she loved MATH! The children went outdoors and had a lesson about trees on the grounds. They enjoyed finding a caterpillar. They worked on counting and writing. They were kind to each other. If there were any issues whatsoever, (all I saw was interrupting) they were redirected very patiently. When a teacher is very calm and loving, it sets the tone for the entire classroom culture. These Greenfriends teachers set such a beautiful tone for learning in school. The qualifications of the teacher comes through their teaching skills. Greenfriends is a gem, this is one of the most amazing schools I've ever visited. I highly recommend it. You will not be disappointed.

These are my personal observations, but if you're seriously considering sending your child to this…read moreschool, I strongly encourage you to do two things: look into Discovery Montessori in Ohio--specifically its license revocation--and speak directly with families whose children attended Green Friends in Elburn during the past two years. This school was once a truly special place. Unfortunately, that changed dramatically starting in 2023. While Lakshmi Mohan may have had a positive impact elsewhere, her involvement--along with the actions of the school board--coincided with a period of significant disruption and decline at the Elburn location. The result was a mass exodus of students by 2025. In 2023, two highly respected and beloved teachers either resigned or were dismissed mid-year. When concerned parents asked for transparency, they were met with dismissive, evasive, and at times manipulative responses from the board. While the new teachers who stepped in were wonderful, it was evident they were operating under strain--likely due to board-level dysfunction. I believe most of those teachers have since left as well. Several parents witnessed teachers being treated with extreme rudeness and condescension during board meetings. Meanwhile, board members repeatedly made commitments to parents only to later deny ever making them. Communication was marked by stonewalling and an alarming lack of accountability. The behavior of the majority of the board exemplified toxic power dynamics. If I had to sum up their attitude toward parents, it would be: (these are not direct quotes) -We never said we'd do that. Be grateful we even let you enroll your child here. We should charge you more. You're lucky to be here, and your opinions don't matter. Despite this, we are grateful for the time our family spent at the school--specifically for the wonderful teachers and fellow families we got to know. The teaching staff was truly exceptional, and we will always appreciate their dedication to our children. I don't know how many families plan to return, but it's possible that a new cohort could offer a fresh start. Still, I feel compelled to share our experience--not because I expect change (which feels unlikely), but because families deserve to know what they may be stepping into. Transparency and honesty should be the bare minimum from a school administration. Unfortunately, I don't believe this board values either, nor do I believe they take parents' concerns seriously. For further context, here's an excerpt from a June 7, 2021 article in the Akron Journal Star regarding Discovery Montessori in Ohio, where Lakshmi Mohan was named as the administrator in the article: "Over the four years of inspections, the state documented 30 infractions, including: Class sizes exceeding legal limits Unsupervised toddlers Unsafe playground equipment Hazardous substances accessible to children, including pesticide Medication administered without prescriptions Dangerous furniture setup in toddler rooms Many of these issues were noted repeatedly in prior inspections and went unaddressed." Source: https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/06/07/copley-montessori-school-appeals-state-revocation-day-care-license/7549735002/ I encourage all prospective families to do their research and speak with those who've had recent experience with the school before making a decision.

If you have a child with an iep you will have trouble here. Terrible program they try to put them…read morein highly restrictive program away from general education students. This is taking away a childs rights. They over diagnose kids so that they dont have to deal with them in a general education class. Leaders pressure parents and bully. Several dropped ieps of kids who need a little extra help because of how they handle things. I used to speak nightly of kaneland schools. Now I'm embarrassed that my children have to be in this district.

This church is SO friendly! My wife and I felt welcome the first time we walked in the door! Pastor…read moreMatt preaches and teaches the Gospel and remains true to scripture. We have been going there for several years now and still LOVE Lord of Life and it's family of believers. If you are looking for a church, this is the one!

Wonderful curriculum. Great hands on sweet teachers. Kids thrive here. Daughter loves going to…read morepreschool. Lots of learning through songs, fun and structure. Highly recommend.

KCCC has been exactly what my family has needed for years! My nephew went there 10 years ago and my…read morekids have been going there for 3 years now. The facility is clean, organized and friendly. Its really nice that they provide multiple different activities throughout the week along with meals. The best part is that they make you feel apart of their family and realy makes it an easy choice to trust your kids will be taken care of. We love KCCC!! -Maddie

All of my children have attended here thru the years! The teachers loved them like their own kids…read moreand helped them to feel comfortable while we were at work. They have a wonderful play-based program that prepared my boys for Kindergarten!

We love everything about Swing Set! We have three children that are going/have gone through the…read moreprogram starting with their 2.5 yr old classes. We've watched our children blossom, thrive and establish solid foundations for their journey into elementary school. The staff is incredibly supportive, effective and they really take the extra steps to connect with each child. We can see the teachers and director love what they do and are invested in each child's development. We're going to be sad when our youngest moves on to Kindergarten because that means leaving Swing Set behind, but we know that each child has been set up for success. And as food allergy parents, we are very grateful to have found this school where his allergies are taken very seriously. We highly recommend this preschool to all the families in the local communities. We love Swing Set Preschool.

From the owner: Swing Set Preschool began in 1972 as a community outreach program of the Congregational United…read moreChurch of Christ. We are one of the oldest preschools in St. Charles. As the years have gone by and locations have changed, Swing Set Preschool still believes in the same values, but has adapted to the ever changing society around us. Statistics say that children learn best through play, which is why we are still a play-based program. However, with the option of attending a full day or half day kindergarten program, we have begun incorporating more academics to make sure we are adequately preparing all of our children for kindergarten. We truly found the happy medium that best meets the needs of children.

Kids Connection is awesome!!! We had tried other preschools and we are so happy we found kids…read moreconnection. It is easy to see everyone there loves their jobs and care about our kids. Our kids have excelled at Kids Connection. Big shout out to Mrs Murphy and Mrs Carani. They are two of the happiest most loving teachers I have ever met. They have flexible plans for every family. Your defiantly get what you pay for here.

Really kind folks that work here! My son is thrilled to go to preschool each day, and is…read moreconsistently happy when I pick him up. They have also handled the Covid pandemic with professionalism and grace, taking all necessary precautions. I highly recommend!!

Before Cadence we used two other daycares, and none of them were as professional, caring and…read moresupportive as Cadence. If I would have found Cadence first, I would have saved myself a lot of headaches. My daughter was always thrilled to go there, and she never wan to leave at the end of the day. Also we never had any problems of her getting hurt. I highly recommend Cadence. I will be taking my daughter there every summer.

From the owner: Cadence Academy is a preschool and daycare in Saint Charles, IL. We provide parents with peace of…read moremind by giving children an exceptional education every fun-filled day in a place as nurturing as home. We offer childcare and early educational programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners. We also have before & after school care and summer camp for school age children.

Our son has been going to EduCare for almost a year, and we're extremely happy with their daycare…read moreservices. It's incredibly hard to leave your baby with anyone, but watching my little guy make friends, hug his teachers, and run into the classroom each day to begin playing reassures us that he's in the right spot. We also appreciate the blend of new and old school: EduCare is screen-free but encourages growth through STEAM curriculum. I've already recommended EduCare to my friends with kids!

This is an absolutely wonderful daycare! My daughter has been here for a year and I am so thankful…read morefor the care she receives. The staff are so kind, loving, and really make an effort to accommodate any and all of my requests. Miss Sonia & Mr. Robin have been the owners for almost 2 years, but they seem to have done a wonderful job taking over. Miss Kim was the original owner, but is still the director there. My daughter loves Miss Kim, Miss Sonia, Miss Jen, & Miss Carol. The highlight of my day is getting pictures of my daughter and getting her report card at the end of the day. Their hours are huge to me, because I work long hours sometimes. The price is so reasonable for the area as well. I definitely recommend this place!

Shannon is a great addition as the new director of our daycare, and her many years of expertise in…read morethe early childhood education industry is noticed and appreciated. In the few months she has been with Kiddie Academy, she has made strides in bettering the center that include changes to the menu, and ensuring we have quality teachers for the kids attending. What sets her apart is her hardworking nature and genuine willingness to listen. From our own experience, parents can bring any concern, big or small, directly to her, and she gives you her full and undivided attention. She does her best to work with you and your family on whatever the matter may be. Above all, you can truly tell that she cares about every child. I only hope as time goes by that she continues to be supported and that she can continue to use her experience to progress the center as a whole

From the owner: Kiddie Academy of St. Charles, an educational daycare in St. Charles, offers age-specific child…read morecare programs. Our flexible, standard-based curriculum encourages children to progress in school and in life. We pride ourselves in providing a daycare that focuses on developing positive character traits for kids, while providing a nurturing learning environment. Our programs can range from infant and toddler to kindergarten and school age. Read our child care reviews, take a virtual tour and learn more about Kiddie Academy to find the best "daycare near me" for you and your child.