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Founder's Story
Monika Agarwal
Global’s founding is deeply rooted in the life story of Monika Agarwal. Her guiding belief—that a nurturing, family-centered environment is the foundation of quality care—remains at the core of Global Children’s Center. Proud to have built Global from the ground up and later entrusted it to her own family, Monika continues to stay closely connected to the community and the warm, supportive family that Global has become over the years. What began as a dream in a Catholic school in India has grown into a living reality within Montgomery County, shaping young lives within the walls of its classrooms.
"Having a nurturing family environment is the most important to me."
- Monika Agarwal
Origin
Starting Over
How Global
Came to Be
Born in 1968 in Lucknow, India, Monika was the oldest of five children, with three younger sisters and one brother. She grew up in Lucknow and attended a Catholic school, where she developed a passion for education. The strong influence of her teachers inspired her to pursue a career in teaching.
In September of 1979, Monika’s parents immigrated to the United States. Unable to speak English and arriving with little financial security, they remained determined to build a new life in an unfamiliar country. For Monika, this meant starting over at a new school. Throughout her high school years, she continued to face the challenge of not being able to speak English. Barely graduating with a 2.0 GPA and marrying at the age of 22, it appeared that her dream of becoming a teacher had been overshadowed by the responsibilities of being a wife and a mother of two.
That trajectory changed when Monika made the courageous decision to return to school at Montgomery College. There, she gained confidence in both herself and her English-speaking abilities. This renewed belief in her potential ultimately led her to pursue and earn a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Monika opened her first day-care in her own home, marking the birth of Global—a project that would soon grow into her true passion. After five years of persistent bidding and determination, she secured her first school location.
Today, Global operates in 13 different elementary schools within Montgomery County and remains proudly family-owned. What began as a small dream has since flourished into the thriving and intricate childcare organization that stands today.
