FMSL has been a really good fit for our kids. They have thrived in this environment. The way materials are presented and the way they get to work independently with support from their teachers has fostered a love for learning. One of our children has remarked that they feel school days are not long enough! This method has worked well for our daughters and our family. Each day, they want to come to school and learn more.
Our daughter who graduated from the school last year was prepared socially, academically and emotionally for her transition. Her teachers have observed that she goes above and beyond with her creativity and is able to flex her intellectual muscles.
The sense of community is very strong. The school nurtures opportunities for families to be engaged during the school day, as well as outside of it. We are grateful to have long-lasting family friends that we met through the school.
When we were looking for a school to send our child to close friends of ours recommended Foothill Montessori of Salt Lake. They described the positive experiences they had as a family and it planted the seed. We then looked into the Montessori method, and what appealed to us was not the content being taught but how it was being taught. We felt that the teachers would meet the needs of our child and allow them to be self-driven and inspired. The idea of smaller classrooms, and supporting our child in building functional life skills, not just academics. We feel like the place we were at before simply “watched” our child; FMSL fostered his intellectual curiosity. Very interested in the Dual Language program as well.
The teachers have loved my children and have shown constant caring about their education, well being, and overall environment. I had no idea how much I would value this type of education, but I can tell you now that having all four of my kids at FMSL was one of my greatest decisions I’ve made as a father.
Our daughters’ have made very close friends and have remained close over the years. From the perspective of a parent, the teacher community is very tight knit, and there has not been much turnover in the past.
FMSL has been a central part of our family for over 13 years. What started out as a solution for daycare has turned into a beautiful community that has helped me raise four children with the assistance of Montessori methodology. The school has been a rock for us through difficult family times and throughout turns in the economy and the pandemic. They have made an effort to know my family and our specific needs and truly be a partner in providing whatever they can for our situation.
Elise was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she found her passion for dance music and self-expression from a young age naturally and continued in two decades of professional dance training into her adulthood.
Elise explored many different career opportunities, from motherhood to business management to human resources, and serendipitously she found her way into teaching a few years ago.
Elise is now in her third year at Foothill Montessori of Salt Lake and has enjoyed so much of guiding young curious minds.
In her free time, Elise enjoys collecting new hobbies. She loves finding new activities that inspire movement, music, creativity, and nature. Elise enjoys roller skating, rock climbing, dancing, life music, hiking, kayaking, and just enjoying life. She is an avid reader and writer who has been working on her first young adult novel this year.
Elise is excited to continue to play, learn, and grow with the students of FMSL.
Karey Smith was born in Lehi and is the oldest of five girls. She was an “Army Brat” and traveled all over until her family settled in New Jersey. She lived in England for a while and then returned to the U.S. to complete her Montessori Infant and Toddler training in Princeton, New Jersey. She then moved to Utah for her Early Childhood Education Montessori training. She has been working in Montessori since the age of 16! She loves to read, listen to music, watch movies, cross-stitch, and spend time with her family. Little known fact about Karey: her sisters are all named with K’s: Krissy, Krisha, Kendra, and Kimberly. Her mom’s name is Karen. Her dad’s name: Bob!! She has been a certified Montessori Guide in Early Childhood for over 27 years and has been at Foothill Montessori since 1997.
Administrators from Utah Montessori Council member schools around our state gather each Fall for a weekend of activities and conversations that strengthen our connections, our craft and our souls.
Vernal
This year we traveled to Brandi’s hometown for Valor in Vernal! Brandi facilitated the opening ceremony at her family’s yurt. She held space for us to begin our work for the weekend- a deep dive into the concept of valor. The Mirriam-Webster dictionary defines valor as, “strength of mind or spirit to encounter danger with firmness.”
Brandi’s yurt
Amiee Di Brienza presented our keynote where we explored valor in our schools and our careers.
Petroglyphs
We hiked and explored Dinosaur National Monument. A highlight of our time was the opportunity to meet with and learn from a National Park ranger. Ranger Mason Runs-Through patiently answered our endless questions about paleontology and archeology in this special place.
Ranger Mason Runs Through @Dinosaur National Monument
At the closing ceremony, Emily Squadroni deftly closed the circle on our conversation while providing us with work for our hands as we processed all that we had explored.
Hey fourth graders you can get a FREE pass valid for the duration of your 4th grade school year (September-August). Visit https://www.everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm to learn more.
We all left the retreat with renewed trust in our network of colleagues and empowered to lead with valor.
