Jeannine Hanson is a Montessori educator in Bellevue, Washington, best known as the founding director of Chestnut Montessori School, which she opened in 2008 after more than two decades in Montessori leadership . Her career spans school administration, teacher training, and board service across several regional and national education organizations.
Hanson founded Chestnut Montessori School with a stated mission to create a supportive environment where children become joyful, lifelong learners . Before opening the school, she led Bellevue Montessori School, where she oversaw expansion efforts . She also founded the Montessori Center for Teacher Education in 1990, which later became Chestnut Montessori School Teacher Education . That program specializes in Early Childhood Montessori teacher preparation and holds full accreditation from the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) through April 4, 2031 .
Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from the University of Washington and a Montessori Early Childhood teaching credential from Seattle University, completed in 1984 . Her experience in Montessori education has been described as spanning more than 30 years in official school biographies and roughly 40 years in a 2018 local news report, reflecting the passage of time rather than a contradiction .
Beyond her school roles, Hanson has served on the boards of the Washington Federation of Independent Schools, the Pacific Northwest Montessori Association, and the National Center for Montessori Education . She also worked as a Washington State Approved Continuing Education Trainer, providing professional development workshops for educators . Her teacher education program is affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS) and maintains MACTE accreditation, a distinction that signals adherence to recognized Montessori teacher preparation standards .Quick Bio: Jeannine Hanson
In a 2018 interview with the Kirkland Reporter regarding the opening of a second Chestnut Montessori campus in Kirkland, Hanson described her educational philosophy in practical terms. She said her goal was for children to “develop internal discipline and develop independence” as they choose activities with teacher guidance . She also emphasized the role of nature in the curriculum, noting that the Kirkland site was chosen for its animals, plants, and natural beauty because research indicates children benefit from immersion in nature .
The Bellevue campus, located at 10723 NE 38th Place, operates as a small early childhood program. Federal data from the 2023-24 school year listed 26 total students in prekindergarten and kindergarten, with a student-teacher ratio of 0.4 based on 5.6 full-time equivalent classroom teachers . The school is nonsectarian and coeducational, with a school year of 184 days and a daily schedule of 6.2 hours . Enrollment figures reported by different organizations vary slightly, which is common for small private schools and likely reflects different reporting periods or definitions .
A search for the name “Jeannine Hanson Bellevue WA” can surface a Washington court case titled Thompson v. Hanson, a fraudulent transfer dispute that reached the state Supreme Court . Court records from that case identify a Paul Hanson as a witness and refer to “the Hansons” as parties, but the available official documents do not identify Jeannine Hanson as a party or witness . Paul Hanson is identified on the Chestnut Montessori School website as Jeannine’s husband and co-founder of the school, where he served as a general contractor and converted an historic home into the Bellevue campus . The court records therefore concern a separate legal matter involving a person named Hanson in Washington, and there is no verified connection between that case and the Montessori educator beyond the shared surname and state.
For readers seeking to verify details about Hanson or the school, the most reliable sources are the Chestnut Montessori School official website, the MACTE program directory, and the National Center for Education Statistics private school database . The American Montessori Society school directory also lists Chestnut Montessori School as a member institution . Direct inquiries to the school by phone at (425) 822-6001 remain the most straightforward way to confirm current program details, staffing, or enrollment availability.
Hanson’s profile fits a recognizable pattern in independent education leadership: a long tenure in classroom and administrative roles, followed by the founding of a school and a teacher training program that together create a self-sustaining educational ecosystem. Her board service across state, regional, and national Montessori organizations suggests a career oriented toward institution-building rather than public visibility. For families researching Montessori options in the Bellevue area, her name is most relevant as a credential tied to Chestnut Montessori School and its accredited teacher education program, not as a figure in unrelated legal proceedings that happen to share her surname.
Who is Jeannine Hanson?
Jeannine Hanson is the founding director of Chestnut Montessori School in Bellevue, Washington, which she opened in 2008 . She has over 30 years of experience in Montessori education and previously led Bellevue Montessori School before founding Chestnut .
What is Chestnut Montessori School Teacher Education?
It is a Montessori teacher training program founded by Hanson in 1990 (originally as the Montessori Center for Teacher Education) . The program is affiliated with the American Montessori Society and holds full accreditation from MACTE through April 4, 2031 . Hanson serves as its director .
What is Jeannine Hanson’s educational background?
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from the University of Washington and completed her Montessori Early Childhood teaching credential at Seattle University in 1984 .
What organizations has Jeannine Hanson served on?
Hanson has served on the boards of the Washington Federation of Independent Schools, the Pacific Northwest Montessori Association, and the National Center for Montessori Education . She also worked as a Washington State Approved Continuing Education Trainer providing professional development for educators .
Is the Jeannine Hanson in Bellevue connected to the Thompson v. Hanson court case?
No verified connection exists. Court records from that case do not identify Jeannine Hanson as a party or witness . The only Hanson named in available documents is Paul Hanson, who is Jeannine’s husband and co-founder of Chestnut Montessori School, but the case records themselves do not establish that he is the same Paul Hanson .
