Ivybrook Academy Winston-Salem

Ivybrook Academy Winston-Salem Where Your Child Will Thrive

A Reggio Emilia + Montessori
Half-Day Preschool

During Global Investigation at Ivybrook Academy Winston-Salem, children are encouraged to wonder, explore, collaborate, ...
09/22/2026

During Global Investigation at Ivybrook Academy Winston-Salem, children are encouraged to wonder, explore, collaborate, and make meaningful discoveries through hands-on, project-based learning.

Inspired by both Reggio Emilia and Montessori philosophies, our teachers thoughtfully prepare the environment, observe children’s interests and ideas, and provide intentional guidance as students work together to investigate, create, problem-solve, and deepen their understanding of the world around them.

One of the most powerful tools an early childhood educator has is a well-placed question.Not a question with one right a...
09/21/2026

One of the most powerful tools an early childhood educator has is a well-placed question.

Not a question with one right answer. An open-ended question that invites a child to think, wonder, and investigate further.

At Ivybrook Academy, our educators are trained to resist the impulse to give answers and instead ask: What do you notice? What do you think would happen if? How might we find out?

This practice does more than build curiosity. It teaches children that their ideas have value, that investigation is worthwhile, and that not knowing something is the beginning of learning, not a reason to stop.

If our students could leave us Google reviews… we have a feeling they’d have some very specific feedback. 😂⭐️What would ...
09/18/2026

If our students could leave us Google reviews… we have a feeling they’d have some very specific feedback. 😂⭐️

What would your Ivybrook Academy student put in their review? 👀

A Montessori work cycle is a protected block of uninterrupted time in which children choose their own work, engage with ...
09/14/2026

A Montessori work cycle is a protected block of uninterrupted time in which children choose their own work, engage with it deeply, and return it when they are finished.

It sounds simple. The developmental impact is not.

When a child is allowed to work through a task at their own pace, without being redirected by a bell or a transition, they build something that cannot be taught directly: sustained focus. The ability to start something, stay with it through difficulty, and see it through to completion.

The Reggio Emilia approach deepens this further. While a child is engaged in that sustained work, our educators are observing, documenting, and using what they see to design what comes next. The work cycle is not just time for the child. It's information for the teacher.

That capacity for focus, supported by intentional observation, shows up later as academic persistence, frustration tolerance, and the kind of attention that makes learning last.

Sharing doesn't come naturally to a three-year-old. Neither does waiting, compromising, or understanding a situation fro...
09/07/2026

Sharing doesn't come naturally to a three-year-old. Neither does waiting, compromising, or understanding a situation from someone else's point of view.

These are learned skills, and preschool is where that learning begins.

At Ivybrook, our educators guide children through real social moments as they happen. When two students want the same material, that is not a disruption. It is a learning opportunity. Children are coached to use their words, to listen, and to work toward a resolution that considers everyone involved.

Over time, these guided experiences build the empathy, communication, and self-regulation skills that research consistently links to long-term academic and personal success.

September is here, and we have so much to look forward to at Ivybrook Academy Winston-Salem! 🍎🍂Be sure to save our Septe...
09/01/2026

September is here, and we have so much to look forward to at Ivybrook Academy Winston-Salem! 🍎🍂

Be sure to save our September calendar so you don’t miss a thing!

We can’t wait for another wonderful month with our Ivybrook Academy families. 💚

Every child learns differently. Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences is one of the frameworks that shapes o...
08/31/2026

Every child learns differently. Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences is one of the frameworks that shapes our curriculum at Ivybrook Academy.

Some children process the world through movement. Others through music, spatial reasoning, or interpersonal connection. Traditional classrooms tend to favor linguistic and logical-mathematical learners. Our blended curriculum is designed to honor all of them.

In practice, this means a single concept might be explored through building, drawing, group discussion, and hands-on experimentation within the same classroom.

💚 Meet the Owners: Jay & Jessica Springthorpe 💚As we introduce—and reintroduce—the wonderful people behind Ivybrook Acad...
08/31/2026

💚 Meet the Owners: Jay & Jessica Springthorpe 💚

As we introduce—and reintroduce—the wonderful people behind Ivybrook Academy Winston-Salem, there’s no better place to begin than with the two people who helped bring Ivybrook Academy to our community: Jay and Jessica Springthorpe!

For Jay and Jessica, Ivybrook Academy has always been about more than opening a school. It began with a vision for their own growing family and a desire to give back to the community they call home.

Jay was born and raised in nearby Mount Airy and is a proud Western Carolina University alumnus. With a background in technology and more than a decade of experience as a software developer, Jay brought his problem-solving skills, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit to their Ivybrook Academy journey.

Jessica has called Winston-Salem home since she was 12 and is a graduate of R.J. Reynolds High School and Queens University of Charlotte, where she studied Psychology. Her years working with children through aquatics, childcare, and curriculum development helped spark a passion for early childhood education that would eventually become an important part of their family’s future.

As Jay and Jessica thought about raising a family of their own, they recognized a need for more high-quality preschool options in the Winston-Salem community. They wanted to help create the kind of nurturing, intentional educational environment they would want for their own children.

And that dream became Ivybrook Academy Winston-Salem. 🌿

Today, Jay and Jessica are proud parents to Jett and Julia, making the mission behind Ivybrook Academy even more personal. When they aren’t supporting the school, they love spending time together as a family and enjoying the outdoors. You might also find Jay woodworking or gaming, while Jessica loves crafting and event planning.

We are so thankful for the vision that brought Ivybrook Academy to Winston-Salem and for the families, teachers, and children who have become part of that vision. 💚

Address

1391 Plaza West Rd
Winston-Salem, NC
27103

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