Summit Montessori School invites you to celebrate and honor the extraordinary legacies of Children’s House teachers Marian Wallace and Liz Love as they retire in Spring 2026.
For twenty years, Marian Wallace has shaped the lives of hundreds of Summit students, inspiring a deep connection to the natural world and championing outdoor learning as an essential part of childhood. For fourteen years (more if you include her years as a parent and volunteer!), Liz Love has brought wonder and discovery into the Children’s House—guiding children through the life cycle of monarch butterflies and leading the beloved tradition of tapping our campus sugar maples to make maple syrup.
In recognition of their lasting impact, Summit will dedicate two spaces within “Raising the Future Forest,” our Master Campus Plan in their honor.
Ms. Marian’s Follow the Child Path will extend from the learning pavilion into the forest, featuring a log amphitheater and an “adventure path” of stepping stones and balance beams—an embodiment of Marian’s belief in exploration, connecting the classroom to the outdoors, and learning in nature.
Ms. Liz’s Maple Grove, located just behind the pavilion, will expand our stand of sugar maples, planting new trees alongside the tall maples already rooted on campus. These trees will continue Liz’s tradition of sweetness, discovery, and seasonal rhythm for generations of children to come.
These spaces will stand as living tributes—rooted in the land, alive with children’s laughter, and enduring reflections of two remarkable educators. Thank you for supporting these gifts in their honor. Each project will be accompanied with a sign that points viewers to a list of donors and their messages, leaving a tangible way for future generations to appreciate the impact these teachers have had on our community.
