At the heart of Town & Country Children’s Montessori is a deep connection to the origins of the Montessori method. Our school founder, Amitha Goonetileka, was a pioneer of Montessori education in the United States. She paved the way to nurturing children and guiding families in the Montessori way since 1966. After administering and guiding over 25 schools in Minnesota, Ms. Amitha moved to Austin, Texas, and established Town & Country Children’s Montessori in 1979.

Today, the legacy continues under the leadership of our Head of School, Ms. Surangi, who is AMI-certified and trained by Joyce Goonesekera, a direct trainee of Dr. Montessori, and also mentored by Ms. Amitha. Through this lineage, the traditional Montessori approach remains at the foundation of Town & Country Children’s Montessori.

With over 40 years of experience, Ms. Surangi brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to Montessori education. As a pianist and composer, Ms. Surangi integrates a deep appreciation for music into our Montessori environments, allowing children to experience rhythm and harmony as part of their education. Through her signature philosophy, the Pillars for Life, every child’s uniqueness is nurtured and allowed to blossom to its fullest potential within a multicultural environment and a holistic and humanistic lens.

Ms. Surangi also upholds traditional Montessori with a modern approach. She developed Tour the World Projects, which invite children to explore the world’s cultures, diverse landscapes, and the natural wonders and beauty of the world beyond the classroom’s walls.

For more than four decades, Town & Country Children’s Montessori has continued to follow traditional Montessori principles while also adapting to the needs of the 21st-century child with a modern approach. This legacy inspires every aspect of our work, creating a nurturing environment where each child can blossom and reach their full potential, just as Maria Montessori envisioned.