Martha Urioste, Denver's 'Godmother of Montessori,' passes away at 85
DENVER — Martha Urioste, the first person to establish Montessori education in the Denver Public Schools system, passed away Dec. 8. She was 85 years old.
Known as “La Madrina de Montessori,” or The Godmother of Montessori, Urioste’s work served as a model for public schools across the country, DPS said in a press release.
“Having been a Denver Public School educator with many assignments and experiences for 45 years, my greatest joy and happiness was to know that I had the honor and privilege to be with Montessorians, parents, and children as well as the entire community launching Education and Peace as Dr. Maria Montessori’s most important vision and mission in the world,” Urioste once said.
Montessori education emphasizes hands-on learning, student independence and more social interactions in the classroom. Most Montessori schools in the U.S. are private, though there are nearly 600 public options.
Urioste, according to DPS, initially introduced Montessori education to Mitchell Elementary School, then expanded the practice throughout the city.
“Martha Urioste weaved the net that saved thousands of children from falling through the cracks in our school system, and propelled all children in DPS. Her life touched everyone she encountered, and her passing is a true loss for all Colorodoans [sic] who have gained so much from her tireless efforts,” DPS said in a press release.
Urioste was born Oct. 2, 1937 in Raton, New Mexico. Soon after graduating from Loretto Heights College in 1958, she started working with DPS as a first grade teacher at Gilpin Elementary.
An advocate for bilingual education, Urioste taught Spanish on channel 6 in Denver (KRMA).
According to her obituary, Urioste was a counselor at West High School, then an assistant principal at North High School. She eventually became the principal of Mitchell Elementary in the 1980s.
“At Mitchell, she was told the school was not in compliance with the court order concerning desegregation. She decided to pursue a different avenue of education and investigated Montessori education,” the obituary reads. “She went to Rome, Italy and met with Montessori colleagues. Convinced Montessori was the way to go, she returned to Denver and courageously sailed forward to bring Montessori education into the Denver Public Schools.”
Urioste helped convert a vacant home across the street from Mitchell Elementary into one of the first early childhood centers in the Denver district. In 2000, she was inducted in the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame.
[Related: Mitchell Montessori: The loss of an integrated school that was working]
“Martha Urioste was a role model to many and is a deeply respected mother-figure who loved teachers in the classroom; the boxer who fought for us in the boardroom; and, the advocate who defended us in the courtroom,” DPS said in the press release. “Dr. Urioste was a luchadora and a trailblazer. Her impact is unprecedented and irreplaceable in her passing. News of her passing has stirred overwhelming feelings of pride in her advocacy, and a deep, profound loss.”
In lieu of flowers, Urioste’s family is asking people to donate to Family Star, which has a scholarship fund named after Urioste.
Kyle Cooke is the digital media manager at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at kylecooke@rmpbs.org.
