Our History
A second-generation family-owned school serving the Riverside community for more than four decades.
Riverside Montessori Academy’s story began in 1975 when Mrs. Lalitha Chandrapala earned her AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) certification and opened her first Montessori school in Sri Lanka, serving 15 children.
Her passion for Montessori education and dedication to nurturing young minds laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to children and learning.
The Beginning
In 1982, Mrs. Chandrapala moved to the United States and became Director of Riverside Montessori Academy’s Pachappa campus. Inspired by her vision, her husband, Mr. N. H. Chandrapala, left his career in banking to join her in educating children.
Together, they built a thriving Montessori community and expanded the school with the opening of the Indiana Avenue campus in 1994.
Our Journey
Mrs. Lalitha Chandrapala earned her AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) certification and opened her first Montessori school in Sri Lanka, serving 15 children.
Her passion for Montessori education and dedication to nurturing young minds laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to children and learning.
Mrs. Chandrapala moved to the United States and became Director of Riverside Montessori Academy’s Pachappa campus.
Inspired by her vision, her husband, Mr. N. H. Chandrapala, left his career in banking to join her in educating children.
Together, they built a thriving Montessori community and expanded the school with the opening of the Indiana Avenue campus in 1994.
In 2013, their daughter, Dr. Amila Chandrapala, assumed leadership of the school, continuing the family’s commitment to Montessori education and educational excellence.
Although Mr. Chandrapala passed away in 2020, his legacy lives on through the school he helped build.
Mrs. Chandrapala remains an active presence on both campuses, sharing her experience and wisdom with teachers and students alike.
Today, Riverside Montessori Academy is a second-generation family-owned school that has proudly served the Riverside community for more than four decades.
The school fosters independence, confidence, compassion, and a lifelong love of learning in generations of children.
Executive Director | Second-Generation Montessori Educator
Dr. Amila Chandrapala is the Executive Director of Riverside Montessori Academy and a second-generation Montessori educator. She is proud to continue the legacy established by her parents, Mr. N. H. Chandrapala and Mrs. Lalitha Chandrapala, who founded the school in 1982.
Having grown up within the school community, Dr. Chandrapala developed a deep appreciation for Montessori education from an early age. Over the years, she served in a variety of roles throughout the school, working with students across multiple age groups and gaining firsthand experience in the classroom before assuming leadership of the organization.
These experiences, combined with her lifelong connection to the school, have shaped her belief in the power of a child-centered education that nurtures independence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.
After earning her bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside, Dr. Chandrapala pursued a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy in Santa Barbara before continuing her graduate studies in Pasadena, where she earned both a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Multicultural Community Psychology.
She went on to build a career in psychology before returning to Riverside to lead the family school. Since assuming ownership and leadership in 2013, she has remained committed to preserving the authentic Montessori principles on which the school was founded while fostering innovation and educational excellence.
Deeply invested in social-emotional learning, Dr. Chandrapala believes that empathy, resilience, self-awareness, emotional regulation, and respect for others are essential foundations for lifelong success.
Guided by a strong commitment to social justice, equity, and inclusion, she strives to create a school community where every child and family feels welcomed, valued, and inspired to reach their fullest potential.
Family Leadership
For more than 30 years, the Chandrapalas devoted themselves to serving Riverside families and creating a nurturing environment where children could grow academically, socially, and emotionally.
In 2013, their daughter, Dr. Amila Chandrapala, assumed leadership of the school, continuing the family’s commitment to Montessori education and educational excellence.
Although Mr. Chandrapala passed away in 2020, his legacy lives on through the school he helped build.
Mrs. Chandrapala remains an active presence on both campuses, sharing her experience and wisdom with teachers and students alike.
Riverside Montessori Academy Today
Today, Riverside Montessori Academy is a second-generation family-owned school that has proudly served the Riverside community for more than four decades, fostering independence, confidence, compassion, and a lifelong love of learning in generations of children.
Riverside Montessori Academy has proudly served the Riverside community for more than four decades.
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