The Early Childhood Program
Located in Preschool Buildings 1 & 2
Teaching Fundamentals
At Joseph Bruno Montessori Academy, primary students interact with a rich and engaging environment. The Montessori Approach for early childhood encourages children between ages 3 and 6 years old to learn through interest, observation, and play. Young children learn at an incredible rate, and primary students are often intensely interested in what the classroom environment offers. They discover from the start that learning can be fun. Our teachers give lessons to each child individually or in a small group. After lessons are given, the child can then choose materials to practice alone and to eventually gain mastery.
Each Early Childhood classroom is a community of approximately 20 children. The children remain within the same classroom community for three years. This means that every year, only one-third of the children will be in the learning environment for the first time. The older and more experienced children assist the teachers in caring for and helping the new children, which helps them develop self-esteem as they become the leaders in the classroom. Over the course of the three-year program, the teachers will learn each child’s strengths and goals. They monitor each student’s progress and cater instruction for each child individually and appropriately for their growth.
Meet Our Early Childhood Teachers!
Jennifer and Andrea's Class
Jennifer Pope is from Birmingham, Alabama. She has been employed at JBMA since 2004. She received her bachelor’s degree in 2004 from the University of Montevallo in Family and Child Studies. She attended The Barrie School in Silver Spring, Maryland and earned her Montessori Certification for the 3-6 age group in 2006. She received her teaching certificate and Master’s Degree from UAB in 2011 in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She and her husband have a son, Liam.
Andrea attended Central Michigan University and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a concentration in youth studies. She is currently training to become a Montessori Certified Teacher at Seton Montessori Institute. Andrea has been involved with Montessori Education since she was two years old. She is excited to share this wonderful philosophy with a new generation of children.
Sarita and Kathy's Class
Sarita has her Bachelor’s in Literature and Travel and Master’s in Early Childhood Education. She has been teaching in Birmingham for more than a decade where she has taught in both public and private school settings. She received her American Montessori Society Certification in Early Childhood Education from Memphis Montessori Institute. She has always enjoyed working with children and their individual needs and believes the ‘Differentiated Instruction and Assessment’ approach helps them grow to their fullest potential. She enjoys traveling and reading.
Kathy thoroughly enjoys teaching at JBMA. She grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and attended Birmingham Southern College. She received her B.A. degree in 1986 in Early Childhood Education. She is the mother of four children, all who attended JBMA. She is proud to be a part of the JBMA community and teaching young children is her passion.
Kim and Leeann's Class
Kim is a Montessori Certified early childhood educator that has almost 30 years of classroom experience. A long term resident of Benton Harbor, Michigan, Kim is excited to bring her many years of teaching to JBMA’s Preschool. She attended a Montessori Training Program associated with Indiana University, and gained a variety of expertise in all areas of Montessori instruction.
Leeann is so excited to be a part of JMBA! She has her Master’s Degree in Education and she is a certified elementary teacher, with additional graduate coursework in applied behavior analysis. She previously worked in special education and also taught at a private school in the Philadelphia, PA suburbs. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her daughter, running, and being involved with her church.
Preschool Support Staff
Cristina Riascos
Kimberly Pierce