Silverwood School is deeply rooted in the vision and dedication of its founders, Peggy Iverson and Patty Sleasman. In 1984, as Montessori preschool teachers, they recognized the need to extend meaningful, hands-on learning experiences beyond Kindergarten. With this passion, Silverwood School was born.

Their goal was clear: to create a learning environment with small class sizes, interactive and engaging curriculum, environmental stewardship, and a commitment to fostering independent, self-directed learners. Most importantly, they sought to inspire a lifelong love of learning in every student.

From our first class of just six students to the vibrant community we are today, Silverwood continues to thrive because of the foundation Peggy and Patty built. Their vision still guides us, as we proudly celebrate 40 years of challenging and cherishing our students.

Eric’s father, Mike Bortel was at the schools everyday. He worked nights so was a volunteer for every event, activity, and trips for 8 years. As parents, we are grateful to Patty and Peggy for providing the endless integration of learning and whole child development.

My husband and I chose Silverwood for our two children, Andrew and Grace Palmer, following recommendations from local educators and alumni families. Between 2001 and 2008, I volunteered with fundraising, admissions, field trips, classrooms, and more, including serving on the Board and several committees, before I was hired as the Assistant Head of School. I appreciate that Silverwood provides parents with ways to engage that match their interests, expertise, and time constraints. One important takeaway is that the happy and engaged students you see at Silverwood reflect the happy and engaged faculty and staff. The adults challenge and cherish each other as much as they do the students, making for a very healthy learning and working environment. We have lifelong friends from our Silverwood days. Our grown children credit Silverwood, including their time playing in the woods, for providing the foundation they needed for their future pursuits. After graduating from college, our son worked in Costco's Chicago regional office, earned two Master's degrees, and now is a buyer at its Issaquah headquarters. Our daughter, after graduating from college in NY and studying for two years in Seoul, is now completing a Master's in NYC, and will return to Seoul later this year. Most importantly, at Silverwood, both practiced how to engage well with others and their world, for which they and we parents are deeply grateful.

I have so many sweet memories from Silverwood, including some from these pictures - the Mariner's game at the end of third grade, and a play we did, although I don't remember what the play was. I remember some of the projects we did, like the mammoth project where we spent time digging in the garden, and our sixth grade trip to the Florida Keys. My teachers were warm and engaging, and the class material was endlessly fun and interesting. My favorite class was writing with Miss Jane, where she fostered a love of creative writing that I maintain to this day. I absolutely attribute my lifelong love of learning to the teachers and staff at Silverwood. The small class sizes, individualized attention from teachers, and the school's commitment to outdoor learning helped me thrive as a student, giving me skills that have been helping me for a long time since I graduated.

Silverwood School will always hold a special place in my heart.  Everyone worked together to create a magical place for children to learn, and in the process, I changed and became a better person also.  My favorite memories include playing sports with the kids at recess, teaching math,  and collaborating with parents during community events (especially Halloween Fest and community work days).  My best years in education were spent on the Silverwood campus.