As directress of Montessori classrooms for children aged 2 1/2 - 12 for over twenty years, Jan is pleased to be an active participant helping students be involved with integrated arts and sciences. She diligently strives to build a school which contributes to and benefits from community.

She believes that the Montessori Curriculum provides students with a comprehensive and organized framework, where an individual child is encouraged to explore all content areas with hands-on materials, experiments and activities which lead to development of abstract thinking and skill development. She is continually inspired by the integration of subjects, which results in looking at subjects from a range of perspectives. When this occurs, learning is enhanced and strengthened. Jan Taylor enjoys providing opportunities to be creative in sciences and arts. Her students are nurtured to take personal responsibility and mentored to make a difference in the community.

Jan has been working in the education field since she started as a Teacher's Assistant at age 13. She has taught at all levels and with special needs students in both public and private schools in New Zealand and California. She assisted in development of library resources and administration in New Zealand. She taught English as a Second Language for Volunteer Services Abroad, New Zealand in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. She coordinated with United Nations Development Program in Tonga.

Through her career, Miss Hayden has worked with students and community in a variety of learning environments while developing strategies that affect students effectively according to need or preference.

The Montessori Curriculum provides scope for Miss Hayden to connect with the student's imagination. Then, with her guidance, the child is mindfully led to acquire skills and knowledge through exposure to resources and experience using equipment and materials. Julia is creative and is inspired to develop interrelated learning.

Miss Hayden works deliberately to help each child individually. Yet she has the ability to manage students to build an inspiring and effective learning environment.

Love of the outdoors and nature leads Julia to interests in biking, gardening and a passion to conserve and preserve natural resources. Julia enjoys travel and adventure, yet she follows the principle of thinking globally and acting locally.

As an energetic and dedicated educator, Jessica Scheetz is committed to providing a strong well-balanced Montessori program for her students. She enjoys providing inspirational resources and guiding students to explore, discover and analyze materials in the life sciences, physical sciences, history, and literature.

Presentations with Montessori math and geometry equipment allow Miss Scheetz the opportunity to develop a 'math community' in which a child's foundation can be developed and nurtured in a collaborative situation. Reinforcement of skills is also encouraged under her direction.

Miss Scheetz is an eager student herself as she researches the topics and participates in learning along with her students, whether it be Civil and Human Rights, the opera "Romeo and Juliet" or electromagnets.

Having played IUP Women's Rugby, worked with the New Orleans Hornets during Hurricune Katrina and organized fitness for youth in camps, Ms. Scheetz is a wonderful team member who is helping our students develop good physical fitness and life choices.

Mrs. Denise Buccola has been a member of the Montessori Arts and Sciences School community for over twenty years. Denise has career experience with office management with which she keeps the school's office organized and welcoming to parents, children and professionals. Denise has a strong interest in education of cultures, science and facilitating creative expression. She has the ability to help promote an idea into reality.

Mrs. Denise Buccola has made it her life's work to create textile art, oil painting, graphic design, sculpture and mosaic. With collaborative and networking talent, she designs and produces costumes, sets and props to showcase our students in music and theatrical programs.

Senora Isabel De Anda has twenty-two years of teaching experience facilitating children to become more proficient in both English and Spanish. She has worked as a bilingual teacher, tutor, translator and instructor for Latino parents helping their children to be successful in school.

Using Montessori materials to provide hands-on experiences with Spanish is a preferred method of teaching for Ms. De Anda. Her children attended Casa Montessori de Carlsbad School and Ms. De Anda has taught at Montessori Arts and Sciences School in previous years.

With insightful understanding about the joys and needs of children learning language, Ms. De Anda develops lessons that integrate with the core subjects as well as literature and field trips. Her classes are fun, while incorporating conversation, games, reading, writing and exposure to culture.

Plato said that music is a more potent instrument than any other for education. Now scientists know why...Music, they believe, trains the brain for higher forms of thinking. The last decade has been full of studies of how early music training increases math scores and spatial reasoning in students. We use this information to justify music education. Although, Mrs. Spencer is interested in brain research and would not discount improved mathematical skills as a benefit of music training, she believes that music should be an essential part of a child's education for the enjoyment that it brings to life.

Children love to create music. It is Mrs. Spencer's goal to give children the tools through classes on rhythm and pitch to be life-long music makers. The music program at Montessori Arts and Sciences is one that encourages children to improvise and compose. The students use pitched and non pitched percussion for song and movement. Musical skills are taught through imitation and games. The music classroom is lively and engaging.