"People say, ‘It’s so nice, you have a school,’ but education is not like selling food. This is a lifelong commitment.”
FOR many, owning a school sounds like an enviable enterprise defined by quiet hallways, colorful classrooms and children eager to learn.
But for Sarah Singson-Acierto, director of Brentville Montessori School, education is not a business built for convenience or quick returns. It is a calling shaped by years of study, personal sacrifice and an unwavering belief in the power of early childhood development.
From media to Montessori
Singson-Acierto’s journey did not begin in the classroom. She originally studied mass communications and briefly worked at ABS-CBN before realizing her professional path lay elsewhere.
“I realized early on that it wasn’t my calling,” Acierto told The Manila Times.That realization led her to her first teaching job at a Montessori preschool, an experience that decisively altered her life’s direction. Singson-Acierto went on to pursue education units, eventually teaching at a Montessori school in Mission Viejo, California, and later earning an associate degree in education in Texas.
This international exposure deepened her appreciation for child-centered learning. Eventually, she returned to the Philippines with a clear purpose: to bring home the methodologies and values she had mastered abroad.
Encouraged by her mother-in-law, Dr. Rosario Acierto, and supported by her husband — both members of a family deeply rooted in the Casa del Niño Montessori School System — she decided to start small. Seventeen years ago, in the quiet Brentville community, Brentville Montessori School opened its doors with only two or three students. It was a modest beginning grounded in conviction.
Building a school culture
Located in a homey, village-like environment, the school initially raised questions even for its director.
“I remember thinking, ‘Am I going to be a student here?’ It felt isolated,” Singson-Acierto recalled. “But eventually, I realized that this environment was exactly what children needed.”
Through word of mouth, parents discovered the school’s pillars of integrity, respect and a deep understanding of developmental psychology. Enrollment grew steadily, driven by results rather than aggressive marketing.
“They saw our passion,” she said. “They saw that this was a safe space where every child was accepted.”
While the school was originally named Montessori Children’s House of Brentville, Singson-Acierto rebranded the institution three years ago for better recall. “Brentville Montessori School was simpler and easier to remember,” she explained.
Today, the school caters to four levels: toddler, nursery, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. Classes run for three hours a day with a maximum of 15 students per class. Each session is guided by two Montessori-trained teachers, a ratio that ensures close attention and meaningful interaction.
Different way of learning
Unlike traditional preschools, Montessori education emphasizes freedom of movement and hands-on work. In Singson-Acierto’s classrooms, children are not confined to desks. Instead, they navigate a “prepared environment” where shelves are lined with materials designed to teach practical life skills, sensorial awareness, math and cultural understanding.
“Children learn how to pour, sweep, water plants, and even take care of pets,” Singson-Acierto said. “These aren’t just activities; they’re life skills.”
Sensorial materials allow children to physically experience concepts like size, weight and texture, teaching concrete understanding before moving to the abstract. “We don’t just show pictures,” she added. “Children need to touch, lift, feel and experience.”
Perhaps most striking is the philosophy of calling activities “work” instead of play. “We want children to value what they do,” Singson-Acierto explained. “Respect for materials, for people and for themselves starts early.”
Resilience through a pandemic
When the Covid-19 pandemic forced schools across the country to shut down, many preschools closed permanently. Brentville Montessori survived through creativity and adaptability.
“Online learning for preschoolers is very challenging; you really have to capture their interest,” Singson-Acierto said.
The school integrated interactive platforms like Seesaw and Schoology, paired with live Zoom classes. However, technology was only half the battle. To keep engagement high, teachers innovated constantly.
“I’d wear funny wigs or hats — anything to make the kids excited to log in,” Singson-Acierto laughed.
Online sessions were filled with storytelling, singing and simple cooking lessons, such as making sandwiches or colorful pancakes. These activities were designed to be safe and easy for parents to facilitate.
“Parents became our partners,” she noted. “At the end of the day, they were the ones guiding their children.”
The strategy was successful. Despite the general hesitation toward online preschooling, the school maintained stable enrollment throughout the health crisis.
Depth over size
With steady growth, expansion is a frequent topic of conversation. Many parents have requested the addition of Grade 1 and Grade 2, but Singson-Acierto and her husband have intentionally chosen a different path.
The family already manages multiple schools across Laguna and Isabela — including campuses in San Pedro, Calamba, Biñan, and Santa Rosa — many of which offer K–12 education. Brentville Montessori, however, remains small by design.
“My passion is really in preschool,” Singson-Acierto said. “So instead of expanding vertically, I want to expand in curriculum development, program enhancement and innovation.”
The couple is currently planning to open a tutorial center nearby, envisioned as a one-stop learning hub for children beyond their regular preschool hours.
Lifelong commitment
For Singson-Acierto, running a school is fundamentally different from any other business enterprise.
“People say, ‘It’s so nice, you have a school,’ but education is not like selling food,” she said. “This is a lifelong commitment.”
Her advice to aspiring school owners is uncompromising: “If you want to enter education, make sure you are equipped as an educator first.”
She emphasizes that training is nonnegotiable, especially in Montessori education, which is grounded in philosophy rather than trends. Her final counsel is to “dream big but start small,” likening a school to a seed that requires time and nurturing to grow naturally.
“Money will come when people see your sincerity,” Singson-Acierto said. “When they see that you love what you do and that you serve from the heart.”
Seventeen years after opening with just a handful of students, Brentville Montessori School stands as evidence that in education, small beginnings can shape big minds.
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Quick questions
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
What scares me is how fast the world changes, especially with social media influencing so much. I worry about the impact on my children — their values, their confidence, their sense of identity. I fear that they might forget to slow down and connect to simple meaningful moments with family.
WHAT REALLY MAKES YOU ANGRY?
Injustice — when people take advantage of others to serve their own needs.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO WORK HARD?
As a mother, my children motivate me to work hard. As a preschool director, I am motivated to nurture and shape young minds under my care.
WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH THE MOST?
My children’s dance moves and silly jokes before going to bed.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTO?
Build my dream preschool and build daycares in far-flung barrios in the country.
IF YOU COULD SHARE A MEAL WITH ANY INDIVIDUAL, LIVING OR DEAD, WHO WOULD IT BE?
My parents.
WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?
“Raising a Strong Daughter in a Toxic Culture” by Dr. Meg Meeker.
WHICH CELEBRITY WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET FOR A CUP OF COFFEE?
It would be Michelle Obama because of her commitment to education, and Maria Montessori, whom I want to be trained by personally.
WHAT IS THE MOST DARING THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE?
Rode the highest roller coaster in Las Vegas which operated at the top of the Stratosphere Tower.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU WILL NEVER DO AGAIN?
Joining a beauty pageant, hahaha!
