• Steamboat Montessori –  Steamboat Springs, CO
• Public Charter School
• Grades Served: PK-5th
• Students: 144

Challenge Overview: As a Montessori school with multi-age classrooms, limited IT staff, and a nontraditional grading philosophy, Steamboat Montessori needed a student information system that was both user-friendly and highly flexible. Their previous system was too complex, and their workaround – building and emailing individual Google Docs for progress reports – was time-consuming and inefficient.

Solution Overview: Alma offered Steamboat a streamlined, intuitive platform that was easy for staff to adopt and simple to navigate. The standout feature? A customizable progress report tool that aligned with Montessori principles, replacing the school’s old manual process and cutting staff time in half. Combined with responsive, real-time customer service and a clean interface, Alma made data and reporting management accessible to all staff – not just those with technical experience.

Results Overview: With Alma, Steamboat Montessori reduced progress report creation and distribution time by over 50%, improved attendance tracking, and empowered their team to manage state reporting without IT support. The platform’s flexibility supports the school’s individualized learning model while creating more time for what matters most – teaching and connection.

“We needed something our front desk managers could pull reports from and input data into. Alma made that possible – without overwhelming anyone.”  

About Steamboat Montessori

Steamboat Montessori is a tuition-free public charter school serving students in pre-K through 5th grade. Nestled in Colorado’s Yampa Valley, the school delivers an authentic Montessori education guided by kindness, curiosity, and a commitment to global citizenship. The Montessori method is deeply embedded in the school’s daily rhythms – supporting individualized, multi-age learning in a peaceful, prepared environment that values discovery and joy.

The school began onboarding with Alma in April 2023 and launched for full use in the 2023–24 academic year.

The Challenge

Steamboat’s previous setup was far from efficient. Teachers created progress reports in Google Docs, then downloaded and manually emailed them to each family. The process was exhausting, inconsistent, and unsustainable for a small school without a dedicated IT team.

“Our old system was just too complex. We’re a small school – we don’t have a tech department,” said Head of School Emily Barnhart. “We needed something that worked for everyone, especially those unfamiliar with tech tools.”

Even basic tasks like taking attendance or pulling state reporting data were difficult. Steamboat needed a SIS that allowed flexibility in how they structured classes, managed records, and reported learning – especially given the school’s Montessori foundation.

The Solution

Alma delivered a platform that felt intuitive from day one. The customizable progress report tool was a game changer, allowing the school to create reports that reflected Montessori-style feedback rather than traditional letter grades or rigid standards-based grading.

“The report card build tool cut staff work time by over 50%,” Emily noted. “Creation, entry, and distribution – every part of the process is easier.”

Reports are now sent directly to families via email in just a few clicks, eliminating the patchwork of folders, PDFs, and manual follow-ups that plagued the old system.

Other highlights include:

• Attendance is now easier and faster to manage, especially compared to Infinite Campus.
• Data input and reporting can now be handled by front office staff – no tech expertise required.
• Real-time support from Alma’s customer service team makes every interaction helpful, human, and easy to understand.
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“Customer service is a big highlight. There’s always someone real to respond, with real answers, in a way that’s accessible.”

Alma’s alignment with Montessori pedagogy also stood out. Emily emphasized that they don’t use Alma’s traditional gradebook, but the system’s flexibility allows them to report on learning in a way that feels authentic to their mission.

“Alma supports how we teach and how we work. That makes a huge difference for a school like ours.”

The Results

By mid-year, Steamboat Montessori was seeing significant time savings and a more confident, capable staff.

• Progress reports that once took hours now take half the time or less.
• Staff feel empowered, not overwhelmed, even those with minimal tech experience.
• Families receive clear, meaningful communications that align with the Montessori model.
• Front desk managers can manage compliance and data entry with ease – freeing up instructional time for teachers.
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“Alma just works. And it works for schools like ours – small, passionate, mission-driven,” says Barnhart.

The leadership team sees future value in expanding the parent portal. In the meantime, Alma’s tools have allowed Steamboat Montessori to focus on what they do best: supporting each child’s curiosity, growth, and joy.