SPRUCE PINE — Jennifer Rambo is the new Head of School at Spruce Pine Montessori.
Rambo has lived in Mitchell County for 19 years and has been involved with Spruce Pine Montessori for a decade. The school will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year.
“The Montessori approach is a really hands-on approach to learning,” Rambo said. “It is very child-centered, following the child, as to where they are in their academic, social and emotional development.
“In essence, for those who are familiar with the public school IEP, every child in a Montessori classroom has their own IEP where their lessons are meeting them where they are in their period in their development.”
The Montessori School was started by a group of parents who desired a unique kind of preschool experience for their children and saw the teachings of Maria Montessori to be the best approach.
“They got together and have alumni almost back that far that are still in our community,” Rambo said. “We bring people into the world that are movers, thinkers, shakers and doers and it’s pretty amazing.”
Rambo’s own children attended SPMS. Both her son and daughter attended all the way through sixth grade.
“It wasn’t just their education, it was also mine as both a human being and a parent,” Rambo said. “I think I learned as much if not more than they did in being here just through the community, the Montessori philosophies and their approach to children.”
Rambo has been involved in every aspect of the school, including cleaning, being a board member and substitute teaching in every classroom. She is passionate about creating an educational experience for the children where they can grow into themselves.
“The philosophy, of course, and the children are what I am most passionate about,” Rambo said. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about— providing the children a place to learn, grow and being an advocate for them so that they learn to be an advocate for themselves.”
Children at SPMS are taught peaceful problem and conflict solving in every classroom, catered to their age group.
“They learn how to communicate,” Rambo said. “Even as little as toddlers, they are taught a peaceful way of resolving conflict. Through each classroom and through each stage of development, they have their own way of addressing that.”
There is a peace table where the children learn how to resolve the conflict, learn how to find words and learn how to tell people how it makes them feel to work through their feelings.”
Rambo is an educator, mother and an active member of the community.
“Meeting all these amazing people and making those connections for me is what it is all about,” Rambo said. “The town is just a bunch of buildings but the people in it are what make the town, county and the community.”
Rambo said she is excited to be serving as the new Head of School and hopes that more parents will follow a child-centered education.
“It is an honor to serve in this role knowing all those that came before me,” Rambo said. “I have been honored with the task of carrying that torch forward.”