Alpha Montessori School was founded by Mrs. Alvina M. Rinaldo in August, 1962.
The name “Alpha”, meaning “First or Beginning”, was chosen because it was not only Kansas City’s First Montessori School but it would be the little child’s First experience in school. The Greek wording of Alpha was used because of its traditional association with wisdom and learning.
Alpha Montessori School’s first location was at The Loretto Academy for Girls at 12411 Wornall Road. Alpha moved from The Loretto in 1974 to 109th & Wornall.
Alpha Montessori School has resided in John Knox Presbyterian Kirk since 1978.
Mrs. Jo Kirkpatrick and Mrs. Nancy Koenig-Jones became co-owners upon Mrs. Rinaldo’s retirement. In 1985, Mrs. Kirkpatrick retired and Mrs. Linda Dougherty became co-owner with Mrs. Nancy Koenig- Jones.
Ms. Dougherty, who had first joined Alpha Montessori as a lead teacher in 1982, dedicated decades to both teaching and administration. In 2019, she passed the torch to Ms. Wende Whitcomb, who became the new director. As of 2025, Ms. Whitcomb is owner and director of what is now Alpha Montessori Academy.
Ms. Whitcomb’s journey with Alpha Montessori began in 1995 when she was hired as a classroom assistant. Her love for Montessori education started even earlier, as a kindergarten student at Gabriel Way in New Jersey. After graduating high school in Summerville, South Carolina, she attended Florida State University-Panama and later earned her accreditations from the National Center for Montessori Education (NCME) and the American Montessori Society (AMS) through the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas. She has been a full-time teacher at Alpha since 1995 and was promoted to School Director in 2019. Today, she continues to lead the school while also teaching in the “Friendship Class.”
