Staff Spotlight: Julie Poure

Julie has been teaching at West Side for the past 18 years and feels that Montessori meets the child where they are and provides the opportunity for them to develop at their own pace and to follow their own path within boundaries, to promote a lifelong love of learning.
𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟?
This is my eighteenth year teaching in the Little House program. I was first introduced to the school when my husband and I enrolled our own children in the Children's House in the late 90's.  I spent a lot of time volunteering on campus, eventually was asked if I was interested in subbing and from there was offered a classroom position. I earned my Montessori certificate from Seton in Chicago and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful families and colleagues.  When I am not teaching, I enjoy playing tennis, practicing yoga and taking long walks.  I also enjoy cooking and love to travel when I can. Spending time with family and friends is also very important to me.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞?
"The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence"

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬?
At the Little House level we focus on fostering independence at a very early age. I feel that our society underestimates the capability and desire of little ones to accomplish tasks on their own. In our classrooms, we are able to offer our students the time and opportunity to help them do it themselves. As we carefully prepare the learning environment we are mindful of how important it is to nurture this desire in our students.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢?
The Montessori Philosophy teaches us to respect ourselves, each other and our environment. What could be more beautiful than that?  We see this manifested at every level and in so many ways in our community. I also feel that Montessori meets the child where they are and provides the opportunity for them to develop at their own pace and to follow their own path within boundaries, to promote a lifelong love of learning.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞?
West Side is a supportive and nurturing community dedicated to providing  high caliber, authentic Montessori programs across all levels.  Our staff is highly qualified, our leadership is strong and we are all united by the teachings of Maria Montessori and the desire to promote a love of learning.
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West Side Montessori is an independent, accredited Montessori school educating children 13 months through 8th grade (preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school). We are one of the leading private schools in Toledo and the nation.

WSM does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability in the administration of its admission policy, educational policy, or any school-administered program.