Clifton now has a new educational option with the opening of Lavender Bee Montessori School, founded by Lexi Brown and Megan Gil. This PreK-5th grade school aims to provide diverse learning opportunities for families in eastern Mesa County, an area that previously lacked such a combination of exploratory learning and methods to nurture natural curiosity. The school represents an expansion of Montessori options across the central valley, offering a new choice for parents in the community.
Both founders have deep roots in local education. Megan Gil is known in Mesa County for her involvement in the opening of Cactus Bloom Community School in Grand Junction in 2024, which also expanded Montessori options. Before co-founding Lavender Bee, Gil taught with School District 51 at Clifton Elementary School. Lexi Brown, a former teacher at Bookcliff Middle School, initiated the collaboration when she felt compelled to launch a new school in the fall of 2025 and reached out to Gil to co-found the project.
As founders of a micro-school, Brown and Gil operate without the large budgets typical for extensive staffing. They fulfill multiple critical roles simultaneously, serving as teachers, principals, administrators, and community liaisons. Their daily responsibilities extend far beyond classroom instruction. After lesson planning, their hours are dedicated to navigating accreditation standards, ensuring compliance with building codes, and engaging with parents.
The success of micro-schools like Lavender Bee Montessori relies on voluntary enrollment, meaning the founders' work continues into their weekends. Instead of resting, Brown and Gil dedicate this time to building community connections and fostering relationships that support the school's mission. Their collaborative effort, managing numerous tasks as mothers of young families, is highlighted as a model of community and partnership.
The establishment of Lavender Bee Montessori is seen as a significant accomplishment by individuals on behalf of the wider valley community. It provides families an opportunity to see their children's love for learning nurtured in an environment designed with their specific needs in mind, potentially leading to "futures rewritten." A ribbon-cutting event is planned to celebrate the school's opening and the effort put into its creation for Clifton residents.
