NBA MVP Stephen Curry A Shining Example of Success from Christian Montessori School System

By Isaiah Narciso
Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry with his daughter Riley and mother Sonya.

NBA Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors to their first NBA championship since 1975 on Tuesday, beating LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-97. His educational background within the Montessori school system left him with essential skills to succeed both on and off the court.

In a YouTube video posted by the American Montessori Society back in October 2013, Curry explained how a Montessori education helped shape his outlook on life. His mother, Sonya Curry, is the head of the Christian Montessori School at Lake Norman in Charlotte, N.C.

"Montessori has been a good fit for my children simply because it allows each one of them to be themselves," Sonya said. "[Stephen is] really a task-oriented person, [Seth] is really quiet, shy, and reserved, and [Sydel] is really a social butterfly."

Curry explained on how the Montessori system changed his life.

"I think Montessori's helped become the person I am today," Curry said. "Montessori gave me a lot of confidence at a young age. I actually love to come to school because there was something new I was going to learn every day."

Curry contended that the Montessori system "was a good fit for anybody."

"You can go at your own pace," Curry said. "You can take your time and each kid can find a way to learn the best they can."

Curry's mother elaborated on her "passion" for teaching children.

"I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be able to have a school of my own," Sonya said.

Curry's father, Dell, talked about the upside of adhering to the Montessori system. Curry's siblings also chipped in with comments.

"As a parent, what I appreciated most about Montessori is that it allowed the children to learn at their own pace," Dell said.

"Every child is different and learns in different ways," Curry's brother, Seth, said.

"[Montessori system] allowed me to really get to know what kind of person I was," Curry's sister, Sydel, said.

Curry's mother loved that the Montessori system emphasized the values of "fundamental aspects in children's education," including independence, an intrinsic love for learning, responsibility, and respect for oneself and others. Curry pointed out how the methods worked for him.

"I harness my strengths and work on my weaknesses as I went through school," Curry said. "For any kid to experience that at some point allows them that sense of confidence that they can achieve anything."

Curry's mother emphasized that under the Montessori system, "every child can learn."

"The underlying spirit to that message is that if children are given an opportunity in the right environment to learn, they will learn," Sonya said. "Finding it for my children was like finding a gold mine."

The American Montessori Society has posted information on its website on how their methods work to prospective clients.

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.