Every organization has a beginning – but some begin with a bold idea that changes lives for generations.
For Family Star, that idea belonged to our founder, Dr. Martha Urioste.
More than four decades ago, Dr. Urioste saw what many others overlooked: children thrive when they are given opportunity, respect, and the right support from the very beginning of life. As an educator, advocate, and visionary, she understood that every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential, regardless of their family’s income, neighborhood, or circumstances.
Her work began by bringing authentic Montessori education to a Denver public school, creating an environment where children from diverse backgrounds learned and grew together. While the school flourished, Dr. Urioste recognized an even greater opportunity. She realized that if children could begin learning not at preschool, but at birth – and if families were supported alongside them – the impact could be transformative.
That belief became Family Star.
Today, Dr. Urioste’s vision is alive in every classroom, every home visit, every family partnership, and every child who walks through our doors.
Family Star has grown into much more than an early childhood education program. We are a community where children from birth through age six are nurtured through authentic Montessori education while families receive the comprehensive support they need to build stability, confidence, and long-term success.
Every day, our educators prepare beautiful learning environments that encourage independence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning. Our family support teams partner with caregivers through home-based services, parenting education, mental health resources, health and developmental screenings, food access, and connections to community resources. Together, we believe that when families thrive, children thrive.
That two-generation approach – supporting both children and the adults who care for them – was innovative when Dr. Urioste envisioned it, and it remains at the heart of everything we do today.
Her legacy reaches far beyond Family Star’s walls. Her advocacy helped expand access to Montessori education across Colorado, opening doors for thousands of children to experience high-quality, child-centered learning. Yet perhaps her greatest legacy isn’t measured by schools opened or awards received. It is reflected in the confidence of a child who discovers they are capable, the strength of a parent who feels supported, and the hope that grows within families as they build brighter futures together.
More than 40 years after Family Star was founded, we continue to carry Dr. Urioste’s vision forward with the same belief that inspired her from the beginning: every child deserves an exceptional start, and every family deserves the opportunity to flourish.
As we look toward the future, we remain committed to expanding access to high-quality early childhood education, strengthening families, and ensuring that children furthest from opportunity have every chance to succeed.
Thank you, Dr. Martha Urioste, for believing that the earliest years matter, for seeing possibility where others saw barriers, and for creating a legacy that continues to change lives every single day.
Your vision lives on – in every child, every family, and every future we help shape together.