Larry Page and Sergey Brin - founders of Google

"We both went to Montessori school, and I think it was part of that training of not following rules and orders, being self-motivated, questioning what's going on in the world, and doing things a little bit different that contributed to our success."

Gabriel Garcia Marquez - Nobel Prize winner for Literature

"I do not believe there is a method better than Montessori for making children sensitive to the beauties of the world and awakening their curiosity regarding the secrets of life."

Will Wright - maker of SimCity

“Montessori taught me the joy of discovery. It showed you can become interested in pretty complex theories, like Pythagorean theory, say, by playing with blocks. It’s all about learning on your terms, rather than a teacher explaining stuff to you.”

Jeff Bezos - founder of amazon.com

"I went to Montessori school [for] about a year and a half, starting probably at age 2 1/2. ... I have these very clear visual images of tracing out letters on sandpaper. I remember having a little special board that you can use to practice tying your shoes."

Anne Frank

Attended a Montessori school from age 3 - 11. She went to a Montessori high school for a year until Jewish children were forbidden from attending the same schools as Christian children

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis - former first lady

Attended a Montessori school where she was initially described as a “headstrong child”. Through her time there, she learned to focus her behavior and academic pursuits.

Stephen Curry - professional basketball player

"Montessori gave me a lot of confidence at a young age. I used to love it when I'd come to school because there was something new I was going to learn every single day."

“Montessori helped me become the person I am today.”

Julia Child - chef and author

“Influenced, perhaps, by my early experience at a Montessori school, and surely by living in a clan full of carvers, painters, carpenters, and cooks of all ages, I am all for encouraging children to work productively with their hands."

Katherine Graham - owner/editor of the Washington Post

The Montessori Method-learning by doing-once again became my stock in trade"

Friedensreich Hundertwasser - Austrian visual artist and architect

Attended a Montessori school in 1936. The experience influenced both his affinity for vibrant colors and respect of nature

Prince George of Cambridge

His parents chose a Montessori Education for him because they wanted an atmosphere that puts an emphasis on a child’s independence, freedom and social development.

Yo Yo Ma - cellist

A former student himself, talks about his daughter’s Montessori experience: “Structure is an absolutely important part of the creative life, and Emily got this from her Montessori experience.”

Dakota Fanning - actress

“I learned to read at two. I was in a Montessori school and they teach you to read really, really young.”

Beyoncé - singer, songwriter, and actress

Attended St. Mary's Montessori School, where she also enrolled in dance classes and won a school talent show at age seven.

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs - rapper and CEO of Bad Boy Records

“I feel like I was nurtured into wanting to be somebody special,”

Taylor Swift - singer-songwriter, Grammy award winner

Attended the Alvernia Montessori School in Wyomissing

David Blaine - illusionist, endurance artist, and extreme performer

Was a four-year old Montessori student when he fell in love with magic.

Prince William and Harry

Both attended Montessori schools growing up

Morgan Saylor - actor

Attended Montessori schools through grade 8.

Joshua Bell - violinist and conductor

Helen Hunt - actress and filmmaker

Alexander Graham Bell - inventor and founder of The Montessori Education Assoc.

Provided financial support directly to Dr. Maria Montessori and helped establish the first Montessori class in Canada and one of the first in the United States.

14th Dalai Lama

Helped EstablishTibetan Children’s Villages (TCV) which implements Montessori education.

"Children are born mindful and with wisdom we can keep this skill alive: Montessori is wonderful in this way."

Mahatma Gandhi

Upon Meeting Dr. Maria Montessori: "You have very truly remarked that if we are to reach real peace in this world and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with children"

Woodrow Wilson - 28th President of The U.S.A.

Had a Montessori classroom in the basement of the Whitehouse during his term. His daughter trained as a Montessori teacher.

Jean Piaget - Swiss psychologist known for his work on child development

He served as Head of the Swiss Montessori Society for many years

Thomas Alva Edison - inventor

”I like the Montessori method. It teaches through play. It makes learning a pleasure. It follows the natural instincts of the human being … The present system casts the brain into a mold. It does not encourage original thought or reasoning.”

Buckminster Fuller - American architect, designer, inventor

"There will come a time when the proper education of children, by a glorified system of spontaneous education of choice, similar to the Montessori System, will be made possible."

Peter Drucker - management consultant, educator, and author

"...the answer was obvious: It is not teaching. It is, of course, learning. And then the same educator, the great Italian doctor and teacher Maria Montessori (1870-1952), began to apply systematic analysis of the work and systematic integration of the parts into a process."

Sigmund Freud - neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis

“If everyone had your schools, they wouldn't need me!”

Alice Waters - chef, restauranteur, activist, and author

“I was 22 years old when I first trained to be a Montessori teacher, and Maria Montessori's philosophy has remained vital to me all my life."

Erik Erikson - Developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst

Had a certificate in Montessori Education and became a Montessori instructor.

Lady Diana

Was an assistant at a Montessori school. Which is likely why she decided her children would attended Montessori schools as well.

Steve Wozniak - co-founder of Apple

Talking about independent thinking: "Some schools like Montessori schools get around doing better job at that."

Maya Angelou - Poet, educator, journalist, historian, dancer, best-selling author, actress, playwright, civil rights activist, producer, and director.

Montessori parent

Bill and Hillary Clinton - former President and Secretary of State

Montessori parents