Our Educational Programs
In Montessori classrooms, teachers individualize instruction to keep each child optimally challenged. Children have choices; there is no one-size-fits all curriculum. Students are encouraged to be curious, solve problems, and think critically, and a love of learning is fostered and nurtured.
They are given the opportunity to find their strengths and passions. In the mixed-age environment, children learn with and from each other. Instead of competing with one another, they grow into a community. All-important social skills are practiced each day. Additionally, the teacher to child ratio in our classrooms is higher than average, allowing our staff to provide quality education in a low-stress environment.
Our Learning Environment
Quincy Montessori School is located in the beautiful and historic Salem Evangelical Church of Christ, at 435 S. 9th St. in Quincy. Our classroom and curriculum are designed to assist children in acquiring social and academic skills, as well as self-confidence. We do this by building on interests, nurturing enthusiasm, and making activities available to fit individual needs. Work spaces are arranged to allow students a variety of choices and the option to work independently or collaboratively.
Primary Classroom
Elementary Classroom
Our Staff
The Quincy Montessori School classrooms are run by a dedicated team of teachers who work together to provide a quality education for all students.
Becca Jennings- Elementary Teacher
Becca earned her Bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an emphasis in conservation education and English from Missouri State University. While completing her degree, she gained experience with an extensive internship in a kindergarten classroom and her student teaching experience was in a second grade classroom. She has earned endorsements for grades 1-6, English Language Arts 5-9, and K-12 Library Media.
Becca has ten years of prior teaching experience that include having taught 3rd and 5th grade, middle school ELA, and she served as a K-12 Library Media Specialist. Becca has received training for Visualizing & Verbalizing language comprehension interventions. She is also a certified AutPlay play therapist.
Becca is married and has a 12 year old daughter, orange tabby cat named Penny, and a yellow lab named Falcon. Her family loves to be outside and camp. In her spare time, Becca enjoys reading, crafting, and learning more about the world around her.
She is a huge proponent of the Montessori method and how it empowers children when it comes to their own learning. Being able to help foster student interests and assist with helping them to make choices based on individual need is so powerful and necessary for development. She is looking forward to helping children grow as their facilitator and guide.
Jessica Pittman - Primary Teacher
Student-centered learning drew Jessica to the Montessori method. She loves that Montessori taps into children’s natural curiosity and developmental interests to maximize their learning and discovery potential. After seeing her own son and now daughter blossom under the Montessori method of education, she can’t imagine teaching anywhere else!
She earned her Bachelor of science degree in Middle Level Education from Illinois State University and is certified to teach K-9th grade with endorsements in language arts, social studies, and science. Before coming to Quincy Montessori in 2018, she taught junior high language arts and science full time for 4 years and had been a substitute teacher from the Pre-k to 8th-grade levels. She spent 3 years on staff at her church and coordinated programming for birth-5th grade. During that time, she was also the president of the board for their on-site preschool. She used that experience during her 3 years as the part-time administrator of Quincy Montessori School, but is excited to focus fully on being in the classroom this year!
Jessica is married to her high-school sweetheart and is a proud mom to 11 and 3-year-old daughters and a 7-year-old son. She loves to cook and bake in her free time. She and her husband grew up in the Quincy area and after living in the Peoria, IL area (Washington, IL) for 12 years, they moved back in 2017 to be closer to their family.
Mackenzie Kammerer - Primary Teacher
Mackenzie was drawn to the Montessori way of learning because it imparts practices which facilitate a lifelong love of learning. The program allows for students to make mistakes and learn from them in order to become more self-sufficient problem solvers. She enjoys the strong sense of community that is built upon with groups of students who present different interests and talents to the group.
She earned her Bachelor of science in elementary education from Quincy University as a certified K-9 teacher, while earning endorsements in biological sciences, language arts, and social science. Before joining the Quincy Montessori community, she taught 6th and 2nd grades and has been a substitute teacher from the Pre-k to 8th-grade levels. She volunteers time in the childcare area at her church as well as partaking in other volunteer opportunities within the community.
Mackenzie is mom to 3 daughters, 10,9, and 4 as well as a 6 year old son. She and her husband love music and art. They love to travel, hike and bike as a family. In her spare time Mackenzie enjoys observing nature, outdoor activities, reading and learning about our world.
Meggie Koch - School Administrator
Meggie serves as the administrator for Quincy Montessori School, supporting the Quincy Montessori School Board of Director’s to fulfill the School’s mission. She works closely to support the teachers, parents, and students with daily operations, enrollment, fundraising, and development.
She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary/Special Education for grades K-12 and also had a reading endorsement from Quincy University. She is currently working towards her EBLI certification and is especially passionate about the Science of Reading and bringing awareness to evidence-based literacy in her community. When she is not helping Quincy Montessori School run smoothly, she spends her time operating Sprout Literacy with Meggie where she works as a reading interventionist with children in person and online. She is experienced in working with the children’s programming at her church, participating on local boards, and other worthy community endeavors.
Meggie, her husband and three children reside in Quincy with their bernedoodle, Daisy. In her spare time, Meggie enjoys reading, playing volleyball, learning, and spending time with family & friends.
Katie Smith - Teacher’s Aide
Katie serves as the teacher’s aide at Quincy Montessori School. She is an incredible support in the classroom and plays a crucial role in supporting the primary teacher in facilitating student learning.
Olivia Holt - Teacher’s Aide
Olivia serves as the teacher’s aide at Quincy Montessori School. Her role supports the primary classroom with facilitation of learning and a variety of other important tasks necessary for a school environment.
Racially Nondiscrimination Policy
The Quincy Montessori School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It doesn't discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions, policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.