Education is often framed as structure, rules, and systems. But Holly Gold has always seen it through a different lens. For her, schools should feel like neighborhoods, not institutions. They should invite curiosity, not contain it.
Holly is the founder of The Little Schools, a system that includes Rockridge Little School, Berkeley Little School, and a philosophy known as The Little School Approach. Years of experience in social work and community leadership have assisted Holly in creating these learning spaces. In the past, she worked with teens in crisis, children with special needs, and families under pressure. Through that work, she realized one truth: kids flourish when adults take the time to know them as individuals.
That belief is the foundation of The Little Schools. As Holly once explained, “I have always loved children and knew at a young age that my life’s work would be about contributing to their lives.”
Her preschools are warm, light-filled places where children learn through friendships, play, and discovery.
Why Long Hallways Don’t Belong in Little Schools
Inside Holly’s school, there are no age defined classrooms. Instead, children move freely in open airy spaces that feel more like a neighborhood than an institution.
This design choice is not an accident. Holly believes that children learn through connection and that the physical environment must encourage it. When spaces are open, children feel less confined. They interact more. They form friendships that become as important as the lessons themselves. They connect with our shared natural environment.
The Little Schools, are filled with natural light, plants, and materials that encourage children to investigate. This includes the expected blocks, paints, musical instruments and books, but at Little School you will find more. Each day there are new materials to engage. From a teacher-lean to a student inspired deap-dive, the rooms feel more like creative work spaces than classrooms.
This reflects Holly’s larger philosophy, that education should produce joy, not routine.
How The Little School Approach Inspires Daily Learning
Holly’s method does not follow a single educational tradition. Instead, she gains inspiration and guidance from the best of many respected approaches and reshapes them to fit her vision, such as:
Montessori Influence
- The environment is designed with the knowledge of children’s full potential.
- The goal of a Little School education is world peace.
Reggio Emilia Spirit
- Children communicate in hundreds of ways beyond language. Listening is the key.
- Children’s curiosity guides the curriculum.
Waldorf Inspiration
- We are all connected to nature and something beyond ourselves.
- Stories, music, and art bring imagination into daily life.
Integration of Spanish
- Language is connected to culture. Learning Spanish is integrated into relationships.
- Children hear it during songs, games, and daily conversations, not through isolated lessons.
Gardening and Nature
- Each school has gardens where children care for plants and connect with nature.
- As Holly likes to say, “trees and kids grow together.”
Community Connection
- Families are part of the school culture.
- Acts of kindness, giving back, and environmental care are part of everyday life.
This mix produces spaces where children learn by doing, exploring, and asking questions. No one system rules. Instead, curiosity sets the pace.
Teachers Who Care, Families Who Belong
Every cheerful child at The Little Schools is backed by a teacher who feels respected and supported. Holly has made staff well-being a priority. Teachers receive higher wages, healthcare, paid time off, and retirement benefits. They are treated as professionals whose work matters.
This culture of respect flows to the children. Teachers are encouraged to see each child as gifted, responsible, and deeply valued. Families feel this energy too. Parents are welcomed as partners. They become part of the community.
Growing Beyond Walls
Holly’s vision first started in 2005 as one small preschool. It has now grown into multiple locations in Oakland and Berkeley. Each school is closely connected to its neighborhood. Each reflects Holly’s belief that schools should grow alongside the communities they serve.
Her recognition as an outstanding woman of the year in Berkeley, her role as an Early Childhood Education Ambassador for People to People, and her fellowship with LeaderSpring highlight her leadership beyond the classroom. Yet she remains most proud of the daily magic inside her schools… the laughter of children, the friendships forming in the garden, the teachers who arrive every day excited to teach.
For Holly, education is more than preparing kids for the next grade. It is about nurturing peace, creativity, and connection. She often quotes Maria Montessori: “The ultimate goal of education is world peace.
Conclusion
Holly Gold has shown that preschools can be places of wonder rather than routine. She has rejected monotonous spaces, mixed philosophies, and centered community. She has created environments where children feel treasured and families feel at home.
Her story is proof that small schools can have a big impact. As she puts it, The Little Schools are her dream, her challenge, and her way of shaping the future.