Bellevue Discovery Center, 9625 NE 8th St, Bellevue, WA 98004, US

The dream became a reality in 1979 when Laurie, Roslyn and her husband, Vincent Duffy, opened the doors of the Learning Tree Montessori Childcare in the basement of a Capitol Hill church. For 17 years the three of them managed all aspects of the school including a major transition in 1981 when the school moved into its current location, a four-story house on 15th Avenue. Over the years this house constantly has been modified to make it an ever more ideal environment for children without losing the warm and homelike atmosphere that only a house can provide. On March 1, 1996, Vincent became co-director with Laurie, when Roslyn went on to focus on parenting issues through writing, counseling and giving workshops ( www.roslynduffy.com ). The Learning Tree is not just a wonderful place for children. Part of our early vision was to create a true community for families, so that parents can actively participate in the program. Parents are encouraged to spend time at the school and are given many opportunities to get to know each other. Parents are hungry for these connections and appreciate The Learning Tree for providing a space where they always feel welcome, receive lots of support and form friendships with other parents of young children. An important part of this support is the ongoing parent education component of our program. Children from our early years are adults now. We are pleased to hear about their college, career and life choices and are proud to have played a role in their development. That role is a crucial one.