Children’s House Montessori Celebrates 35 Years of Learning, Community and Growth
A non-profit, high-quality learning center for elementary-aged students in Rapid City
In the early 1990s, Janell Jewett moved to Rapid City when her husband George was transferred to Ellsworth Air Force Base. She had completed teacher training while living in England through the American Montessori International and immediately saw an opportunity when she learned there was no Montessori education offered in Rapid City.
Her vision began modestly – a classroom for 3 and 4 year olds in her parent’s home on Clark street. Three years later, George and Janell purchased the property at 3520 W. Main Street, where Children’s House Montessori remains today. The property included a home, garage and two-acre backyard.
The school now serves students ages 3–12. Students learn in mixed-age classrooms: Primary (ages 3–6), Lower Elementary (6–9) and Upper Elementary (9–12). The three-year cycles allow children to develop at their own pace while building lasting relationships with their teachers and classmates.
In 2003, CHM became an incorporated nonprofit, purchasing the West Main Street property from Janell. The school continues to operate as a 501(c)(3), managed by a board of directors.
The campus holds many memories. A Rainbow Systems playhouse still stands in the playground woods, with handprints from children in the very first Primary class pressed into its inner walls. Former students occasionally return to see if their handprints remain.
And then there was the moose. Sometime in the ‘90s, a moose wandered into the playground while students were in class. Staff had to call Game, Fish and Parks to help get the unexpected visitor safely off school grounds.
Like many organizations with a long history, CHM has experienced periods of change. One significant turning point came in 2021, when enrollment demand increased substantially as families sought alternatives to public school and new families moved into the Rapid City area. In response, the school purchased a second location in 2022.
The experience taught the school an important lesson: growth matters, but so does maintaining the quality and sense of community at the heart of Montessori education.
In June 2026, the school sold the second building and brought all its classrooms back together at the original West Main Street campus. Today, staff and students are once again sharing one campus, strengthening relationships and focusing on the high-quality Montessori experience that has been the school’s foundation for more than three decades.
Former families continue to support the school through scholarships, teacher training and infrastructure improvements. Local businesses sponsor an annual 5K “Teacher Trot,” while organizations including the Black Hills Area Community Foundation and the John T. Vucurevich Foundation have provided support through partnerships focused on children and early childhood education.
Several people who helped shape the school’s history remain connected today. Founder Janell Jewett continues to serve as an advisor and supporter. Early teacher Cindy Pappel still substitutes at the school and now brings her grandchildren there. Longtime board president Ryan Ryder, whose five children all attended Children’s House Montessori, continues to offer his support and advice.
After 35 years, the school says its greatest lesson is that lasting success comes down to two things: the quality of its classrooms and the strength of its community.
“Montessori education is about so much more than the curriculum, it is about knowing each child, nurturing their independence and curiosity, and creating a community where they feel known, valued, and supported,” the school shared.
Now, Children’s House Montessori is looking toward its next chapter. One of its primary goals is accreditation through the American Montessori Society, an important step the school says will reinforce its commitment to an authentic, high-quality Montessori education.
After 35 years, the little school that began in a family home has become a lasting part of the Black Hills community—and its story is still being written.
Business Information
Join Our Newsletter
Local happenings, helpful information, and Black Hills finds.
