About Us

Co-founders Scott Smith and Elizabeth Gilbert Smith currently operate three Montessori schools in neighboring Fairfax County, including Holly Brook Montessori School, which they co-founded in 1999, as well as the Montessori School of Cedar Lane and the Hunter Mill Montessori School, co-founded by Elizabeth’s parents Lance and Joyce Gilbert in 1971 and 1990, respectively.

Certified by American Montessori Society (AMS) to teach the Montessori Method, both Scott and Elizabeth bring to MSGCP a long and successful history of hands-on experience in the Montessori environment. Elizabeth taught at the Montessori School of Cedar Lane from 1995 to 2002, and served as Co-Director of the Summer Camp Program for all three Fairfax County Montessori schools from 2004 to 2015. Meanwhile, Scott both taught and served as Director of Operations at Holly Brook from 1999 to 2007, transitioning solely to management when the school reached full enrollment. For the past 10 years, Scott and Elizabeth have shared all oversight and administrative duties for the three Fairfax County schools.

Together, Scott and Elizabeth will oversee operations at MSGCP, ensuring that each child receives individual attention from a trained Montessori teacher and classroom assistant.