Sunrise Montessori of Napa Valley

It all began in 1978 when a group of Montessori teachers and parents formed a small preschool. Now a beautiful campus with toddler, primary, and elementary programs through the fifth grade, Sunrise Montessori is a respected educational leader in the Napa community and beyond. We continue to strive to create a challenging, safe, and rewarding environment for our students. Led by dedicated staff and teachers, and supported by a long tradition of parental involvement, we have achieved our goals of providing superior educational and developmental opportunities for our students coupled with a positive impact on the surrounding community. Sunrise Montessori nurtures each child’s unique potential while encouraging appreciation for other people, cultures and the environment. The teachers serve as guides in each child’s quest for knowledge, inner discipline, problem solving skills, and meaningful personal relationships. Hand in hand with our dedicated parents, we are proud to be a part of the Napa educational community for over 40 years.

Sunrise was originally founded by Bonnie Sauer and Janice Tres, who ran the school until 2021. During Covid, the school faced many challenges and was able to weather the storm. Many private schools closed during Covid due to unprecedented enrollment and financial challenges. However, with the support of the family community that has always been such a unique part of the Sunrise experience, the school did endure these challenges and is once again thriving. It was also during this time that Sunrise Montessori officially transferred ownership to Roger Gribbins and Amber Hutton. Roger and Amber are lifelong educators, and relocated to Napa (Amber’s home town) in 2019 after a decade of living and teacher overseas. They are proud to continue the rich legacy of Sunrise Montessori, and to be such an integral part of the next chapter in this historic Napa Valley business.