Husband-Wife Team Leads LG Park's First Montessori School: Business Spotlight

Business: The Children's House Montessori School, 1015 E. 31st St. in La Grange Park 

Head of School: Jamie Archer

Founded: November 2012

Write a review of the Children's Montessori School in our business directory. 

How did the business come to be?

Jamie began her teaching career as an elementary assistant in a 6-9 classroom at Brickton Montessori School. Eighteen months later she was offered an opportunity to take the 3-6 training and be a self-directed intern in Brickton's early childhood program.  She simultaneously completed her post graduate work earning a Master of Arts in Teaching at Dominican University (formerly Rosary College), a k-9 Illinois State teaching certificate, and was credentialed in 3-6 at Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center.  

Jamie has presented many staff and parent workshops, including a workshop, Addressing Unique Needs in a Montessori Classroom, at the American Montessori Society national convention in Houston.  

Steve's interest in teaching began at Rosary College where he completed the coursework for teaching before switching majors.  Steve earned his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.  After exploring career opportunities, Steve enlisted in the United States Marine Corp.  Five years later, after he received his honorable discharge, Steve was in a vehicle accident leaving him permanently disabled.   

This chain of events led the couple to where they are today.  Jamie and Steve are both passionate about Montessori, both in the classroom and the home.  Their commitment to each other and their children has fueled them to this next step, founding a Montessori School.  Together they, with the support of their families and friends, have created a meticulously prepared Montessori environment, and offer a premier Montessori education to the families of La Grange Park.

Why did you choose the area you did? 

We fell in love with the location the moment we saw it.  We are the first and only Montessori School in La Grange Park!

What does your business offer?

We offer a full- and part-time, as well as a Part-Week Transition, Early Childhood Montessori Program in our meticulously prepared authentic Montessori environment.  Our day includes outdoor time and lunch, provided by a local organic caterer, Gourmet Gorilla.  Kindergarten children are strongly encouraged to participate in the Full Day program.  We also offer before- and after-school care, as well as a summer program.

What's something interesting about your business your customers might not know? (Note: answers were submitted earlier in Spring 2013.)

We are a Full Member School of the American Montessori Society and we are registered with Illinoise State Board of Education.  We are currently participating in the Green Education Foundation's Project Greek Week (sustainability education contest that concludes on Earth Day) and we are a Terracycle collection center.  

We also collect pop tabs for The Ronald McDonald House.  We just held a St. Baldrick's fundraiser, with 15 shavees, raised over $2,500 and I personally donated 22 inches of hair.  We have a variety of classroom pets, a representation of each phylum, and plants grown from seed, cuttings, rooted clippings, bulbs, tubers and mycelium.  

What's your most popular product or service?

A quality, traditional Montessori experience in a small authentic Montessori classroom.  Our program provides children with the foundation for a life long love of learning. Children develop and refine a sense of order, concentration, control and independence.  

They begin working in the pre-academic areas on activities like sorting, grasping and transferring and move to the academic areas where phonics and math begin.  They work up to advanced math, reading, geography, natural science and special projects, Handwriting and Diversity lessons are given, and art is an integral part of our curriculum.

Editor's note: Business Spotlight is a regular column featuring information provided by local businesses. If you're a local business, share your information in this form. We also write features about local businesses. To send your ideas, email editor Michael Sewall at michael.sewall@patch.com. Businesses can also blog on Patch or share events in our calendar.