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.
Jessica Pittman - Teacher Director
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 uses that experience to not only teach our primary students, but also to serve as director of the school.
Jessica is married to her high-school sweetheart and is a proud mom to 15 and 6-year-old daughters and a 10-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.
Lisa Sutton - Primary Teacher
The child-centered educational approach that emphasizes hands-on, self-directed learning within a prepared environment, allowing children to learn at their own pace and explore their interests is what attracted Lisa to Montessori.
Lisa earned her Master degree in Education from Concordia University. She has over 15 years of education experience. She has taught in early childhood, elementary and middle school.
Lisa is married to her husband Greg and they have two boys. Garion (28) and Matthew (18). They have 3 grandchildren and 4 fur babies. Lisa enjoys baking, hiking and volunteering.
Dannon Califf - Administrative Assistant
Dannon serves as the administrative assistant for Quincy Montessori School, supporting Mrs. Pittman and 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 Master’s Degree in Education from Quincy University. She has been a teacher in Adams County for 10 years, teaching middle school and high school science courses. She recently stepped back from teaching in order to be more available to her family. When she is not working at Quincy Montessori School, she is a medical auditor for Medical Audit Consultants, LLC.
Dannon, her husband Jacob, and three sons reside outside of Quincy with their three horses and dogs. In her spare time Dannon enjoys riding horses, camping, and hanging out with her family and friends .
Katie Smith - Teacher's Aide
I am a Montessori Assistant Guide with a passion for supporting children and families in their earliest years of learning. I have been working in the field of Early Childhood Education since 2016 and hold an A.S. in Early Childhood Education. A lifelong member of this community, I briefly lived in St. Louis and Pittsburgh during my college years before returning home. My husband and I have been married since 2016, and together we are raising our three children, two cats, and chickens. Outside the classroom, I enjoy expressing my creativity as a singer-songwriter, artist, photographer, and storyteller. I feel honored to serve families through education and to nurture a love of learning in young children.
Olivia Holt - Teacher’s Aide and After School Care Director
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. Olivia also uses her previous experience of operating an in-home daycare to run the Quincy Montessori After School Care where students have the opportunity for lunch, rest, and unstructured play time following their school day.
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.