OUR HISTORY

Founded on a Dream

Martin Luther King Montessori School was started after the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Three Fort Wayne women -  Dottie Fitchey, Dorothy Holt and Mary Hoban – had a vision to do something positive in their community out of something so negative in our country.  Dr. King believed in equal education for all children with no consideration given to their economic background or the color of their skin.  In 1968, these women continued Dr. King’s dream by starting the Martin Luther King Montessori School at St. Mary’s Catholic School.  With the space of one room donated by the church, 18 children attended the first classes.

For 38 years MLK Montessori School served the families of Fort Wayne from three separate sites located in churches throughout the city.  Over 5000 students graduated from our school during this time.  In October 2003, Lincoln Foundation generously offered their Great Beginnings Daycare building on Lewis Street to MLK Montessori School.

For 4 years, the MLKMS program operated 6 classes for preschool and kindergarten age children, in the spacious and beautiful child care facility right in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne. In 2006, the City of Fort Wayne decided to build a ballpark in downtown Fort Wayne, and our school just happened to be in right field!  After much discussion and negotiations, MLKMS temporarily moved into Village Elementary School (East Allen Community Schools) until the school could find a new home of its own!

In the spring of 2009, the MLKMS Board of Directors approved the purchase of an 8,500 square foot building located in southeast Fort Wayne.  By purchasing the property in this location the Board upheld the original commitment of the school’s founders to serve all children regardless of economic background and race.  Today, MLKMS has a permanent new home at 6001 South Anthony Boulevard and remains committed to keep Dr. King’s dream of equal education for all alive.

In the new location, MLKMS will offer a full day, full year Montessori preschool program with before and after care for children and their families.  Transportation is provided at no extra cost to all children living within specific boundaries and food is catered in through a local vendor.  MLKMS has an expansive outdoor playground and a library.