Staff Spotlight: Kyla Knight
Kyla has taught at West Side for the past 10 years and she believes that Montessori education isn’t just about how smart your child can be and achieving the best grades. It is about finding out who your child really is and nurturing them to be the best they can be.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Your background, your interests, your dreams.
I grew up in Whitehouse, Ohio, and graduated from Anthony Wayne High School. My childhood home was on 5 acres of woods and this is where my love of exploring nature really started. I used to spend hours in the woods hunting frogs and building tree forts. I was a very active child and also really enjoyed sports. I played travel soccer and travel softball throughout grade school and high school. I graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's degree in Education. I have two daughters and they both attend Notre Dame Academy. Nina is a junior, and Joy is a sophomore. Both my daughters graduated from West Side Montessori. I also have three sons. Two of them attend West Side; Kevin is in 7th grade and George is in Little House. My third son, Joey, is 8 months old. Obviously, I love children and this is why I chose to be a teacher.
What’s your favorite Montessori quote?
“My vision of the future is no longer of people taking exams and proceeding from secondary school to University but of passing from one stage of independence to a higher, by means of their own activity and effort of will”
What do you love about Montessori?
Montessori education is truly about nurturing the whole child.
What would you tell a prospective family about West Side?
Montessori education isn’t just about how smart your child can be and achieving the best grades. It is about finding out who your child really is and nurturing them to be the best they can be. Montessori education creates a love of learning that will last an entire lifetime.
What advice do you have for new parents trying to incorporate Montessori at home?
The biggest thing to incorporate at home is independence. Teach your children to do things by themselves. An independent child entering a Montessori classroom will be prepared. Independence is a gift you give them.
What's the most important life lesson you'd like to share with your students?
Choose kindness and look within yourself if you want to see change.
Back
I grew up in Whitehouse, Ohio, and graduated from Anthony Wayne High School. My childhood home was on 5 acres of woods and this is where my love of exploring nature really started. I used to spend hours in the woods hunting frogs and building tree forts. I was a very active child and also really enjoyed sports. I played travel soccer and travel softball throughout grade school and high school. I graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's degree in Education. I have two daughters and they both attend Notre Dame Academy. Nina is a junior, and Joy is a sophomore. Both my daughters graduated from West Side Montessori. I also have three sons. Two of them attend West Side; Kevin is in 7th grade and George is in Little House. My third son, Joey, is 8 months old. Obviously, I love children and this is why I chose to be a teacher.
What’s your favorite Montessori quote?
“My vision of the future is no longer of people taking exams and proceeding from secondary school to University but of passing from one stage of independence to a higher, by means of their own activity and effort of will”
What do you love about Montessori?
Montessori education is truly about nurturing the whole child.
What would you tell a prospective family about West Side?
Montessori education isn’t just about how smart your child can be and achieving the best grades. It is about finding out who your child really is and nurturing them to be the best they can be. Montessori education creates a love of learning that will last an entire lifetime.
What advice do you have for new parents trying to incorporate Montessori at home?
The biggest thing to incorporate at home is independence. Teach your children to do things by themselves. An independent child entering a Montessori classroom will be prepared. Independence is a gift you give them.
What's the most important life lesson you'd like to share with your students?
Choose kindness and look within yourself if you want to see change.
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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.
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.