Who We Are
There is a moment every Fulbright parent talks about. It is not the first day of school, though that day is full of its own emotions. It is the morning, a few months in, when you pull up to drop off, and your child opens the car door, says goodbye, and walks straight in. No hesitation, no looking back, just a small person who knows exactly where they belong and cannot wait to get started. That feeling does not happen by accident. It happens because at Fulbright Montessori Academy, every decision made inside our classrooms begins with the child in front of us, not with a schedule, not with a standardized expectation, and not with a system that asks your little one to conform to fit. For more than 20 years, families in Lake Forest and across Orange County have trusted us with the years that matter most, and we have never taken that trust lightly. What you will find here is an authentic Montessori environment thoughtfully designed around the way children naturally learn. Through hands-on discovery, independence, mixed-age learning, and carefully prepared classrooms, your child is supported academically, emotionally, and socially as they build confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.
Parent Reviews
Ashley P.
May 8, 2025
The staff!! Maha is amazing, teachers are phenomenal, all around great experience
Payam O.
September 12, 2024
Very friendly environment. Staff so nice and helpful. My son is new to the school and has been excited since the first day.
Annie I.
July 3, 2024
I absolutely love Fulbright Montessori. The staff and teachers are incredibly caring and genuine, and it's evident just how much they care about the little ones. They dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to ensuring that the Montessori experience is a positive one for both the children and the parents. The school's events and activities are particularly special, bringing together a community of families with their inclusive approach. These events foster a sense of belonging and connection among everyone involved, creating a warm and welcoming environment. Fulbright Montessori's dedication to creating a nurturing and supportive atmosphere is truly commendable, and I feel fortunate to be a part of such a wonderful community.
Jewel D.
May 14, 2024
Nurturing environment. Teachers who really care and a Director who is phenomenal!
Our Story
Fulbright Montessori Academy opened its doors in Lake Forest in January 2003 with a clear conviction that childhood is not something to rush through on the way to kindergarten readiness benchmarks, but something to protect and honor in its own right. More than two decades later, that conviction has not softened. If anything, it has only been strengthened by joining the Endeavor Schools community.
What sets our school apart is our authentic Montessori foundation and the way we thoughtfully adapt learning to support each child. While Montessori principles guide everything we do, we also weave in elements of Reggio Emilia-inspired creativity and Conscious Discipline to meet little ones where they are emotionally, socially, and academically. This allows your little one to build independence through hands-on Montessori learning while also benefiting from creative exploration, emotional support, and personalized guidance that reflects how they learn best.
Research from the Institute of Education Sciences shows that high-quality early childhood education supports social-emotional development, executive functioning, and emotion recognition, helping children build confidence, self-regulation, and positive relationships from an early age. This research describes what Fulbright families see every day. Children who arrive uncertain leave sure of themselves, and those who arrive unable to name their feelings leave with the words, tools, and a community to help them work through anything.
Our mission is to develop confident, adaptable, and joyful learners by supporting the whole child, not just academics. We are intentionally preparing your child for a rapidly changing world. A world that will ask them to think critically, create boldly, and collaborate with empathy. At the same time, we fiercely protect the magic and joy of their childhood.
We want every child who comes through our doors to leave Fulbright not just academically prepared but genuinely ready for life. School Leader Maha Beydoun, who brings more than 15 years of experience in early childhood education to her role, believes that great education is not about fitting your child into a model. It is about building an environment flexible enough to meet your child where they are and help them rise. Your family will see this vision lived out every morning, in every work cycle, in every gentle adjustment a guide makes because your child is deeply engaged and deserves more time.
Step into a Fulbright classroom, and your little one will find a world prepared specifically for them. Carefully arranged Montessori materials encourage exploration in practical life, sensorial development, language, mathematics, science, and geography. Open-ended creative spaces welcome expression without a predetermined outcome. Circle time, outdoor play, and shared meals foster connection with peers. None of this is accidental. Every element has been developed with your child's developmental needs in mind.
One of the most distinctive offerings at Fulbright is our Mandarin Immersion Program for children aged three to six. Through daily conversation and cultural experiences, your little learner will develop real confidence in a second language during the window when language acquisition tends to come most naturally. Throughout every program, our guides observe, adapt, and respond in real time. If your child is deeply focused on a piece of work and the schedule says it is time to move on, our guides have the wisdom to let that concentration continue. That responsiveness is not a small thing. It is one of the most powerful gifts we can offer your child during these years.
What Makes Our Montessori School Different?
Most schools are built around a system that asks children to fit inside it. Fulbright was built the other way around. Your child comes first, and the environment grows to meet them. This philosophy shapes everything from how our classrooms are arranged to how our guides respond when your child is struggling, thriving, or somewhere in between.
When a child needs extra support at Fulbright, we do not push or rush. Our guides adjust the environment, modify the lesson, and change their approach, so your little one can build confidence and experience success at their own pace. Research from Harvard's Center on the Developing Child shows that these responsive, back-and-forth interactions between children and caring adults build the brain architecture that supports healthy development and lifelong well-being. Our guides understand this deeply. They know that a child who feels safe and understood can learn almost anything.
Fulbright families also tell us about the confidence they see their children develop over time. They describe a quiet child who finds their voice, a toddler who masters something independently and looks up with pure pride, or an older child who begins leading a group with patience and empathy. These are the moments School Leader Maha and her team carry with them, and make clear why this work matters so much.
Early Childhood Leadership and Staff
Before you enroll your child anywhere, you want to know who will be in the room with them, whether they genuinely care, and whether they will know your child not just by name but by what makes them tick. At Fulbright Montessori Academy, the answer begins with a team of guides who chose this work because they love children. Our educators are Montessori-trained and continue deepening their practice through ongoing professional development in Conscious Discipline, child development, and individualized instruction.
Maha Beydoun
School Leader, Fulbright Montessori Academy
Maha Beydoun has spent more than 15 years in early childhood education and serves as School Leader at Fulbright Montessori Academy. Her approach is rooted in the belief that protecting childhood and preparing children for the future are not competing goals.
Achievements and Accreditations
At Fulbright Montessori Academy, our Montessori approach is rooted in the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori and supported by more than 20 years of providing early childhood education to families in Lake Forest. In our nurturing private school community, your child will learn at their own pace, developing social skills, independence, and confidence as they grow academically and emotionally. By the end of their first Montessori cycle, 98% of students meet or exceed national first-grade readiness benchmarks, highlighting the lasting benefits of a Montessori early childhood education.
"Too many schools follow systems instead of children, and when that happens, children can fall through the cracks. Here, every decision we make starts with the child in front of us. That is what we have always believed, and it is what we will always do."
- Maha Beydoun, School Leader, Fulbright Montessori Academy
Endeavor Schools is a community of more than 100 schools across the country, brought together by a shared commitment to caring for children during the most important years of their lives. Each school is thoughtfully connected to its local community, creating environments where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow. Behind every classroom is a team of educators and parents who understand how much these early experiences matter, and who are dedicated to helping children build confidence, develop essential skills, and find a genuine love for learning. At the heart of Endeavor Schools is a focus on one simple goal: to give every child the support and foundation they need to thrive, both in school and in life.