amarillo chamber of commerce - HPN Books

AMARILLOMONTESSORIACADEMYImagination, fascination, and explorationare doors to discovering a world of knowledge.At Amarillo Montessori Academy (AMA)children are given the opportunity to walkthrough those doors. The teachers at AMAgive children the tools to empower them todiscover, experience, and explore the worldaround them. They encourage an explosionof fascination by providing resources forlearning rather than teaching from their ownexperiences and knowledge. The Academy’smission is a commitment to providing educationin a Montessori setting, encouragingstudents to develop their potential as selfdirected learners and as active, caring, andcontributing members of society.The Montessori Method of educationemanated from the beliefsand work of Italian doctor, MariaMontessori early in the twentiethcentury. Her revolutionary approachto education is attuned to the child’sinner drives and promotes interactionof the child and his surroundings.That process leads to thechild’s mastery of himself and hisenvironment, and develops childrenwho are confident, competent, andself disciplined.The school, founded in 1968 asthe Wee Wisdom School, becamethe Amarillo Montessori Academyin 1974. It began with a visionby Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Moffittand others. They and communitymembers like Mr. and Mrs. DavidKritser III, Mr. and Mrs. JessBen Latham, and Paul Harpolecontinue to support the Academy. It is a nonprofit,nonsectarian school governed by atwelve member board of directors elected fromparents of students who attend the Academyand interested community members.AMA offers an excellent education in aMontessori environment for preschool childrenand kindergarteners. The Academy’steachers are nationally certified Montessoriinstructors and/or possess a state teachingcertificate. The facility is also licensedthrough the Texas Department of HumanServices as a day care center. AMA’s infantprogram couples quality individual carewith encouragement toward emotional andintellectual independence. Toddlers learnlanguage skills and are introduced toconcepts of independence and self-control.They learn to care for themselves and becomeself-sufficient in a child sized environment.Children attending AMA benefit fromsmall classes with low student/teacher ratio.Early education at AMA introduces childrento the concept of making choices, havingreal world duties, and household chores likefolding socks and matching items. Childrenare encouraged to care for animals andplants, and be aware of the environmentaround them; interaction is encouraged tohelp them be more responsive to theirsurroundings. Children are challenged,learn critical thinking skills, and are directedtoward pursuing their own interests.Teachers guide each child to “do it myself,”satisfying each child’s need for independence.AMA works to ensure that each childexperiences the adventure of discovery andthe joy of accomplishment.AMARILLO - Faces, Places & Open Spaces218