Our History & Alumni

College Oak Montessori School was founded by Rebecca Ault in 1987
During the years that Rebecca owned COMS, she also managed a Montessori campus in Sebastopol. Between the two campuses, she was able to offer Montessori education to toddlers through junior high school aged children. In 1997, due to personal health concerns, Rebecca turned the school over to a small group of teachers and parents who established the school as a non-profit organization.

For a few years, non-profit COMS utilized just two classrooms with Jerry and Jeannette as head teachers of Primary 1 and Primary 2. In 2001, COMS was able to expand to offer a Primary Prep program with Jeanne as head teacher and the following year, a third primary classroom opened with Michelle as the head teacher.

Summer and Fall 2020 brought changes to COMS. Our long-time, beloved head teachers Jerry, Jeannette and Jeanne retired. In the midst of the COVID pandemic, a small group of dedicated staff and guides opened campus for three small cohorts of children. The names of the classrooms were changed to honor our past teachers and the next generation of COMS lead guides. In 2021, our Primary 2 classroom was transformed into our Willow class, allowing us to welcome children as young as 18 months onto campus. The four classrooms were named after trees found on campus - Sequoia, Maple, Mulberry and Willow

New Head of School In Summer 2023

When beloved Michelle Gleed was ready to leave College Oak to other leadership, she and the Board of Directors reached out to Jed Burchett. Jed has seen Montessori from many different perspectives, beginning as an Assistant Teacher, then Lead Guide, to Head of School and ultimately as a Montessori Teacher Trainer. Jed is excited to work with the students, families and staff at COMS, and with help from all stakeholders, steer COMS into the future.

Throughout COMS’s history, we have enjoyed the support of numerous people including our landlord, Patrick, who bought the property with Rebecca in the 1980’s. Our board of directors, alumni and current families have offered generous guidance, expertise and financial backing to help make our campus the incredible place it is today.

Over the years as a non-profit organization, a lot has happened including:
• designed and built our large play structure and play yard
• planted redwoods, fruit trees, grass and willow structure
• installed irrigation systems
• designed, built, updated the school’s website
• added a sunroom to Sequoia (formerly Primary 3) classroom
• obtained a grant to build the nature trail
• designed and built a commercial kitchen to provide wholesome food
• constructed new fencing, chicken coop, gardens boxes and compost area
• planted native plants in courtyard, front of school
• installed energy efficient lighting in all classrooms
• re-carpeted, refloored, repainted – many times!
• ongoing care for rose bushes planted by Rebecca when school was established