Statement on Recent Articles in Augusta Free Press

May 8, 2026

Recently, a departing parent’s story was picked up by the digital publication Augusta Free Press, alleging mishandling of the parent’s health concerns and a lack of transparency.

We welcome parents’ questions and concerns about safety, as the health and well-being of students and staff is our number one priority. As reported in the article, I was in open communication with this family and the entire school for months regarding the roof leaks in our leased building. Over the past year, we have repeatedly involved the landlord, our attorney, and local authorities to protect the safety and integrity of our children’s learning environment.

I can’t share all the details of our response due to ongoing negotiations through our attorney. However, we continue to closely monitor the situation and share updates with families when there is any news. 

Emotions have run high in our community in the wake of these events. We all care so deeply about raising our children in a thoughtful, kind, and peaceful environment, and many of us have made significant personal sacrifices to send our children here. We appreciate the outpouring of love and support the school has received as we navigate this. Understandably, some of us may feel a protective urge to defend our community when it feels misunderstood. 

I invite everyone to remember that peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with conflict by peaceful means. The departing family is a valued part of our community. They are classmates and friends. Please join me in meeting them with compassion and allowing them to move forward with dignity.

We are eagerly looking forward to moving to our new home in the former Statler Brothers Complex in Staunton this summer. Grace Christian School has taken excellent care of the property, and we are excited to finally have a campus to match the caliber of our staff and programming.

Current families who wish to talk or discuss concerns are always welcome to make an appointment to meet with me in person. Members of the public wishing to see our program are always invited to contact us to schedule a tour.

Leanne Gray, Head of School

A note on accountability:

As a nonprofit organization, Staunton Montessori School exists to serve the public trust. Our Board of Trustees, composed of dedicated community volunteers, is responsible for strategic, fiscal, and ethical oversight of the school.  True accountability requires diverse perspectives. As we move to our new campus, we are seeking new members to join our Board of Trustees, especially those with nonprofit governance, finance, inclusion, community-building, and fundraising experience. If you want to join our mission of raising whole humans to change humanity, please contact our office to learn more about board service and our application process.