Bright Futures Preschool

As soon as Jessica bought the school from Hailey and changed it from a Montessori school, everything has gone down hill. There is new staff that don't make sure the kids are going home with the right people, they don't make a point to get to know you, including Jessica. My kids aunt came in to get the kids one day (it was her first time since change in ownership and new employees hired) and no one check to make sure she was who she says she was or anything. No one said hi or tried to talk to her when she got there, Jessica just told her where the kids were at and didn't say anything more. The school used to be very organized and had amazing day to day activities for the kids but now it is disorganized, understaffed (only have one caregiver around during nap time), and very unprofessional. If you want your kids safe and cared for like family take your kids else where.

We loved SMCC. My son and daughter both attended from when they were almost 3 until they started transitional-kindergarten. Ms. Lisa and Ms. Nacole are excellent teachers and the additional staff are all very friendly and good with the kids. My kids learned so much and were more than prepared for school. Ms. Haley, the director, is very passionate about the school. She always looked out for my family and made sure my kids were safe, even though the school is not in the best location. We had a really great experience with SMCC and would recommend it to our friends and family.

My daughter attended Sierra Montessori for two years (she graduated this year), and in her time at this school, I watched her grow academically and socially. We chose Sierra Montessori after a horrendous experience at CSUB's daycare (story for another day...), and the only regret we have is that we didn't just enroll our daughter at SM from the beginning. The Montessori curriculum is amazing. Our daughter went from only recognizing a few letters and numbers to writing her full name within the first week of attending SM. After two years of attending SM, our daughter has already mastered skills (counting, speaking, spelling, reading, phonetics, etc) that she isn't supposed to know/learn until Kindergarten. The atmosphere at SM is amazing. The teachers and director are caring and attentive towards every student and their needs. One of the things I appreciated the most was that the teachers from the other classrooms took the time to get to know my daughter (even though she wasn't in their classroom) and always had a kind word or story about my daughter when I picked her up or dropped her off. That being said, my daughter was in classroom C, and her teacher, Miss Nacole, was amazing and we will miss her awesome teaching ability and personality. My daughter is extremely shy, but with Miss Nacole, Miss Haley (the director), and the other teachers, my daughter blossomed into an extremely social and outgoing 5 year old. I credit the teachers, and director, for helping my daughter be comfortable in group settings, and fully preparing her for Kindergarten. The school itself is extremely clean (we were in awe when we did our walk through at how clean and well kept the school is), and the playground is a great size for the kids to run off all their energy. Over the summer our daughter took swimming lessons at the school (they have a pool that is completely fenced and locked so there are no safety worries there), and she loved it. One of the things I appreciated is that the kids would help clean up. They had to roll up their mats from play time, put different works away, picked up after themselves from the tables, and helped make sure the classroom stayed clean. It was nice to see that SM taught the kids to be responsible for themselves and their space, which is important to understand as they grow older. All of our interactions with Miss Haley (the director) were extremely pleasant and she always had an update or report on our daughter. If we had a concern or question, Haley answered/investigated it immediately and would contact us right away with whatever she found out. If Haley wasn't there, she would call me immediately the next time she was in to make sure my question(s) were answered. I never had a rude conversation/interaction in the two years we were there. I can't speak for the other parents, but I never heard/saw a negative comment or interaction with Haley. Compared to the director at CSUB, Haley is attentive, kind, and knows what she is doing. Haley was hands on, and just like the teachers, she knew every student and had amazing relationships with all of them. Sierra Montessori is a great, well rounded school. From the curriculum to the staff, your children will be well prepared for kindergarten, and social interactions. While I'm excited to see my daughter start kindergarten, we are sad we won't be seeing the staff at SM. I have recommended SM every time someone asks about preschools, and will enroll my son once he turns two.

We love Sierra Montessori! Our son thrives in the Montessori environment. I highly recommend this school, they have an excellent learning program, a huge playground area and even offer swim lessons in the summer at the school. There is so much diversity at the school, the teachers treat the children like family. They've helped potty train my son as well. This is not a glorified daycare, Montessori teaches your children life skills to launch them in the real world. Ms. Haley is an amazing Director and all the teachers are amazing! I'm thankful to have found this school in Bakersfield!

I have been sending my daughter to SMCC since she was 2 years old, and cannot say enough positive words about this school and all the teachers. Before deciding to send my daughter here, we toured many pre-schools in town (~6 or so). What stood out to me about SMCC when we first met the director, Ms. Haley, and toured the school is her perceptiveness and attentiveness to my daughter, her skills, her personality, how she would do in the Montessori environment. We also immediately noticed how well run the classrooms were, how organized everything seemed, and how polite all the students were (especially compared to other pre-schools who claimed to have lower student to teacher ratios, but appeared chaotic and out of control)! From day one we had an amazing experience. They take such good care of my daughter, potty trained her, taught her to eat independently. They have an amazing yard/playground and outdoor play area. Ms. Liza, Ms. Nicole, Ms. Crystal, Ms. Marissa -- the whole staff is fantastic. When we pick up my daughter, Ms. Haley gives us the run down of how the day went, recalling lots of details that let me know my daughter is paid attention to. When my daughter started school, she only spoke a few words. Her vocabulary is incredible now. She is confident and learning a lot of new skills. I credit the team at SMCC for doing a fantastic job. Ms. Haley is an extremely experienced educator. She is passionate about the school and the Montessori method. After more than a year at SMCC, another spot opened up at a different Montessori school in town, and we thought we'd give it a try because they boasted daily Spanish classes. It was a terrible decision. Our daughter started disliking school. She was unhappy, wasn't eating her lunch anymore (one of the signs we noticed). She constantly told us how much she missed the "old school". She told me the teachers at the "old school" loved me. A 3 year old! We pulled her out and put her back at SMCC, and immediately things went back to normal, a happy daughter who absolutely loves school! Honestly, don't think twice about sending your child here. They really, really care about all their students. They pay attention to each student's individual needs, their personality, what they need to thrive. They are loving and professional. We are moving to Redondo Beach soon, and I'm so sad we won't be able to send our 1.5 year old son here when he turns 2. This place is a gem! We will be forever grateful for the amazing Montessori experience you have given our daughter and can only hope that other schools live up to the high standard you have set!

Love Sierra Montessori school for so many reasons. My son loves to go to Montessori every day; he feels each teachers care and he enjoys learning in the positive environment they set up for them. He's learned his ABCs, numbered to 30s, shapes, planets, how to respectfully and collaboratively play with others, how to be patient with others, and so many more good things. The teachers genuinely give each children their best, and I have also been impressed with the high regard to hygiene and cleanliness that the school has exhibited during this COVID19 season. They make sure each child washes their hands as they come in and muktiple times during the day, and when they leave for the day. They also make sure they are kept hydrated during the summer months. They have taught my son great fundamental skills, and good hygiene at school that he's carried more energetically at home. I'm also appreciative of the school has provided hand sanitizer for all parents as they pick up/drop off their children. My son hasn't been sick since all the COVID19 started, and he has been able to continue being happy and safe at school while playing and learning with his friends safely.

I have never written a yelp review before, but I created this account just to write this review about how pleased I have been with the quality of education and care that my two children have received at Sierra Montessori in the past year plus. My son started over a year ago after I toured many child care/ education facilities in Bakersfield. They ranged from in home day care providers to facility based, price points were the highest to the median priced care. Sierra Montessori by far stood out from the rest. The children seemed so happy and engaged at Montessori. Right of the bat, my son was interested in the school and the set up of the classrooms caught his attention, no other facility or provider sparked his interest in this way. I also found their pricing to be well priced whereas some of the other providers in Bakersfield were outrageous.Some of the things that I really have found to be gens at this school: extra fee add ons like amazing athletes, spanish class with the wonderful Miss Marisa, Swim lessons on site with Miss Margarite in the summer, the special summer program (field trips, magic show, polynesian dancers), my children have made some really great friends and been invited to some awesome birthday parties and playdates, philosophy of integrated ages in the classroom (big kids teach the little kids maturity and the little kids teach the big kids how to take care of the little ones), play is work (therefore builds work ethic), personal space using a rug!, potty training at no additional cost, educational concepts start at age 2!, and diversity.At Sierra Montessori they allow your child to develop through independence. During the school year a student of the week is picked to be featured on the school board and of Friday your child gets to do a speech in front of the class and present a poster board "all about myself" with pictures from home. My husband was very impressed with this because it introduces public speaking from an early age. They also allow you to celebrate your child's birthday and bring in cupcakes or cookies for the class and it is very special. The class gets to do a special presentation about the life story of your child and sing a song about them and it is such a beautiful celebration.I felt that my children were always nurtured and loved at Sierra Montessori. Ms. Haley, the Director and Administrator made many accommodations for my family when were faced with a challenge because she said it was for the best interest of my children. She seemed to always think first if it was the best interest of my son or daughter then she would lean in favor of that direction. I have appreciated all the kindness from the school, teachers, aides, students, and the parents at Sierra Montessori.

This used to be a great school until the business was sold to Hayley (Tan) Simon. My son attended the school for three years and loved it. My daughter started attending as soon as she turned two (three years ago). Hayley is all about $$$ and the children are not her priority. As soon as we complained about the unsafe playground, she served us with a 30 day notice to get our daughter out (two months shy of her graduation date). The great teachers there have left or already looking to escape her. PARENTS BE WARE...

My son loves it here !! Clean, friendly environment. Staff really loves their students, Children are well cared for

5 LOVE it here my kids love it as well they always want to come back everytime I pick them up from school . they both have speech delays and they talk a little more then they would now and learned so much just from going to school for almost 2 months now . everyone there is super nice and welcoming , I wouldn't want my kids anywhere else . they also answer any questions you have , they'll talk with you about your child if there's any problems so that we can fix it and that I love . appreciate your guys service!