Upstate Montessori Academy - UMA

Elementary Certification through MEPI (Montessori Educational Programs International). She taught Lower Elementary Montessori at Hickory Tavern Elementary in Laurens District 55 for seven years. This was a multi-aged classroom consisting of first, second, and third graders. While instructing her students, Jennifer was granted her Early Childhood Certification with the State of South Carolina. During her seven years at Hickory Tavern, Jennifer also pursued her Master’s degree from Columbia College and graduated in 2004 with a degree in Divergent Learning. Her thesis research compared parental involvement versus student achievement in a Lower Elementary Montessori classroom. In August 2008, Jennifer moved to Anderson School District 4 and taught one year of traditional third grade. In November 2008, Jennifer was awarded National Board Certification in the area of Early Childhood Generalist. Throughout her first year at Pendleton Elementary, her principal noticed the Montessori approaches she used in her classroom and became interested in the Montessori philosophy. The following school year (2009), Jennifer was moved to teach kindergarten at Pendleton Elementary. Her principal thought it would be more beneficial for children in kindergarten to learn about the life skills and necessary Montessori concepts that Jennifer had been teaching her third grade students. During 2011 and 2012 Jennifer took the proper coursework and after completing a yearlong internship within her current classroom she was awarded in 2013 with her Primary Montessori Certification thorough AMS (American Montessori Society). This certification covers teaching Montessori to children from the ages of three through five. While also working on her Primary Montessori Certification, Jennifer attained her Masters +30 with a focus in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment through Walden University. In the spring of 2012, Jennifer ordered the materials and set up four Primary Montessori classrooms at Pendleton Elementary. The school opened their new Montessori Program to parents in the fall of 2012. Since then Jennifer has been one of the Primary Montessori teachers for the program and has created assessment pieces and report cards to ensure they cover South Carolina state standards that remain true to the Montessori philosophy. On her South Carolina state teaching certificate, Jennifer is highly qualified in the subject areas of Early Childhood and Elementary education. She has National Board Certification, and is Gifted and Talented Endorsed. Jennifer works full time as Upstate Montessori Academy's director.