Founder of LGM
Lenore G. Briggs
Lenore Briggs founded Lefferts Gardens Montessori School. Her interest in Montessori education began as a young teacher in Grenada, where she was born. Lenore’s energetic, vivacious, can-do, dedicated nature finds expression in her love for humanity—especially in the enjoyment of teaching young children.
After immigrating to New York City in 1965, many years later in 1973, she opened a home daycare center which grew into a preschool and kindergarten. Affectionately called “Mom” she named the daycare center, which was located in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens neighborhood, Mom’s Center for Early Childhood Development (“Mom’s”). In 1986 after graduating from New York University with a master’s degree specializing in Montessori education she renamed Mom’s, Lefferts Gardens Montessori School (“LGM”).
Her vision for LGM was to serve the Prospect Lefferts Gardens community with a highly qualitative, moderately priced, early childhood Montessori school. Soon after the school was formed the parents created the Parent Activity Group (“PAG”) to support their children’s education and to promote fundraising. PAG operated as an independent group in order to provide an open forum for parents, as well as to create proposals for the school year. Today, PAG continues to serve the LGM community of parents and teachers.
With the support of its staff and Ms. Vera Louison, who worked closely with Lenore for 22 years, LGM grew very quickly as word of mouth spread throughout the community and beyond (children attended from as far as Long Island). Soon new space was needed because the school was bursting at its seams. Conveniently, LGM acquired space a block away at 527 Rogers Avenue.
LGM is now a family-owned business since Lenore’s passing in 2015. Her son and daughter, Anthony Briggs and Meryl Thompson, are Co-Executive Directors. Together they brought LGM into a new era by renovating both schools and launching the Lefferts Gardens Elementary Program.
LGM continues to thrive vibrantly, to make a difference, and is a model school in the community.
A parent’s experience with Lenore.
“Lenore Briggs inspired her students to dream big and opened her home to many who needed shelter. “She was a dear soul among souls, who swept me off my feet and into her joy for bringing out the best in others and herself. I am immeasurably blessed for having danced in her light.”
— Rudy Gaskins, parent of LGM alumnus.
Lenore’s Co-naming
Due to Lenore’s contribution to the community, she has been recognized and has received many awards and honors from various organizations, including a citation from the office of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce in 1994 and in October 2017, Rutland Road was co-named Lenore G. Briggs Way.
“If you can do anything,
show kindness.”
— Lenore G. Briggs