About Us
About the Founder
Mrs. Iranganie Rosemary Weerasuria came to the United States in 1965, when Father McLesh
and Jim Steinstrager accompanied her from Sri Lanka to Austin, TX to open the first Austin
Montessori International School.
Mrs. Weerasuria was working with the children patients in the International Red Cross Hospital in
Ceylon, Sri Lanka when she became interested in the Montessori method of teaching young
children. Before coming to Austin, TX Mrs. Weerasuria had many years of teaching experience
and visited many Montessori schools all over the world. She attended the 19th Congress of the
International Year of the Child in The Netherlands in 1979 and Dr. Mario Montessori personally
signed her diploma.
Mrs. Weerasuria opened her first school on 30th Street in Austin. When the school grew to 70
students, she decides to meet the demand for another Montessori school in North Austin and
opened her second school at Chimney Corners in 1977. Mrs. Weerasuria opened her third
school in November 1980 on Jollyville Road, which was officially opened by the former First Lady,
Mrs. Lady Bird Johnson, whose grandchildren have attended the Montessori schools.
According to Mrs. Weerasuria: “Montessori schools are not day care centers. Montessori schools
are learning centers. Here we offer the child a prepared environment in which the child can learn
independence, cooperation, freedom and responsibility. Progressing at his/her own pace gives
child the satisfaction of achieving the real constructive work, which is necessary in order to
develop character. Here the children are given individual attention in a scientifically prepared
environment. The work begins with children doing things like washing tables, folding napkins,
putting together various puzzles. Every exercise is geared to coordinate certain muscles, which
are all aimed at learning to write. The children are taught to be sensitive to touch and to sight. The
Montessori schools have distinguished international reputation for excellence and all our schools
maintain the same high standards of teaching instruction”.
Now we have two schools, and teachers at both the locations are trained & certified by
The Association Montessori Internationale in The Netherlands.
Copyright © 2007 International Montessori – House of Children, Austin, TX. All rights reserved.
Mrs. Iranganie Rosemary Weerasuria came to the United States in 1965, when Father McLesh
and Jim Steinstrager accompanied her from Sri Lanka to Austin, TX to open the first Austin
Montessori International School.
Mrs. Weerasuria was working with the children patients in the International Red Cross Hospital in
Ceylon, Sri Lanka when she became interested in the Montessori method of teaching young
children. Before coming to Austin, TX Mrs. Weerasuria had many years of teaching experience
and visited many Montessori schools all over the world. She attended the 19th Congress of the
International Year of the Child in The Netherlands in 1979 and Dr. Mario Montessori personally
signed her diploma.
Mrs. Weerasuria opened her first school on 30th Street in Austin. When the school grew to 70
students, she decides to meet the demand for another Montessori school in North Austin and
opened her second school at Chimney Corners in 1977. Mrs. Weerasuria opened her third
school in November 1980 on Jollyville Road, which was officially opened by the former First Lady,
Mrs. Lady Bird Johnson, whose grandchildren have attended the Montessori schools.
According to Mrs. Weerasuria: “Montessori schools are not day care centers. Montessori schools
are learning centers. Here we offer the child a prepared environment in which the child can learn
independence, cooperation, freedom and responsibility. Progressing at his/her own pace gives
child the satisfaction of achieving the real constructive work, which is necessary in order to
develop character. Here the children are given individual attention in a scientifically prepared
environment. The work begins with children doing things like washing tables, folding napkins,
putting together various puzzles. Every exercise is geared to coordinate certain muscles, which
are all aimed at learning to write. The children are taught to be sensitive to touch and to sight. The
Montessori schools have distinguished international reputation for excellence and all our schools
maintain the same high standards of teaching instruction”.
Now we have two schools, and teachers at both the locations are trained & certified by
The Association Montessori Internationale in The Netherlands.
Copyright © 2007 International Montessori – House of Children, Austin, TX. All rights reserved.
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