Joseph S. Bruno Montessori Academy's First Class Of Elementary Students

History

The Joseph S. Bruno Montessori Academy was founded in 1982 by Joseph S. Bruno and Theresa Sprain. It began as Whispering Pines School and accepted children 3-6 years old. The original campus included ten acres of beautiful wooded land, meadows, and a small house, eventually used as a classroom. A small building was erected for the first classroom of four children. Because, we wanted the children to enjoy the beauty of nature, and become familiar with farm animals, we accepted the gifts of two sheep, two goats, already lived on the pond which was home to bass and catfish.

In 1983, Theresa Sprain received Montessori Certification and the school became Whispering Pines Montessori School. By 1989, the number of children attending the preschool increased to ninety. In 1984, Ms Sue Richards joined her as a preschool teacher. Margaret Lewis , already a certified Montessori teacher from New Orleans, became our third preschool teacher in 1985. After Sue Richards took Montessori Training in Chicago Illinois, she became the first certified teacher of the 6-9 year olds. The lower elementary / office building was constructed in 1989, and the first classroom for children 6-9 years opened with Sue Richards as the first teacher. Our first 6-9 classroom enrolled twenty-two children. The school was renamed The Joseph S. Bruno Montessori Academy .

As the number of children increased, additional classroom space was needed, especially for the one hundred preschoolers. The decision was made by the administrators to build two new preschool buildings in 1990. Major expansion occurred again in 1992, when the fine arts building was constructed on the site of the first preschool building. The upper elementary and gymnasium/ cafeteria buildings were built to accomodate a growing student population. As teachers were added to our faculty, the school sent them to training centers in Chicago, New york, and Washington D.C. for Montessori education and certification.

In 2002, the middle school building was opened and additional land was purchased. The increased acreage allowed space for a running track, two tennis courts, beach volleyball, and an outside basketball court.

The School faculty worked diligently to receive accreditation from the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges in 1994. High standards in education have always been our goal so that every child has the opportunity to achieve his potential in all areas of development. In 2009, the Joseph S. Bruno Montessori Academy became accredited with the American Montessori Society.