About Us
A Child's Choice Montessori School serves children ages 3 through Kindergarten. We are committed to providing individualized education in a loving, respectful environment. We guide each child toward developing independence, self-discipline and a life long love of learning.
Established in 2014, A Child’s Choice Montessori School is a private nursery school and kindergarten licensed by the PA department of Education. We adhere to the Montessori Philosophy of instruction. The classroom is equipped with a full range of Montessori materials. Our classroom has 18 children, mixed-ages, 3-K with 2 licensed teachers.
"Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world.
~Maria Montessori
Erin Vavra, Directress and Head Teacher
Erin Vavra is the founder and head instructor at A Child's Choice Montessori School. Erin earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary and early childhood education from Temple University and a master’s degree in education from Cabrini University. Erin also competed her Montessori Teaching Certificate and is a certified by the American Montessori Society (AMS). She has holds an Early Childhood Reading Certificate from the AMS. Erin has over 15 years of experience teaching early childhood education in public and private schools. Erin has taught Montessori Philosophy and Educational Theory in the Montessori teacher training program at Chestnut Hill College.
Her interest in teaching began naturally at a young age as an older sister teaching her brother. She pursued it as a career, because she truly enjoys helping children develop their individual personalities, talents, and independence.
After teaching first grade in an inner city school, Erin (Ms. Vavra) found that many of her students were below basic skill levels and researched methods to build their foundational skills. She found the over 100 year old Montessori Method to be a natural fit for her teaching style and a proven method that translates well to the modern child and family.
In her experience, she has found that the hands-on approach of the Montessori Method creates an environment that nurtures growth and faster cognitive development compared to other early education teaching methods.
Jessica Thompkins-Morgan, Head Teacher
Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree in health and Wellness with a minor in Psychology from Cedar Crest College. She also holds a master’s degree in special education from DeSales University.
She began at A Child’s Choice Montessori School in 2018 in the role of assistant teacher. Jessica has worked in Early Childhood Education for over 10 years, working with children ages infant through elementary school age. Jess also has experience as a special education teacher with grades from kindergarten to grade 12.
Jessica enjoys coaching cheerleading. She currently coaches a middle school cheerleading team. She also enjoys singing and music, taking voice lessons and participating in local choirs since 3rd grade.
Jessica’s favorite part about the Montessori method is that it presumes competence as it aligns with her work as a special education teacher.
Lily Hadeed, Assistant Teacher
Lily joined A Child’s Choice Montessori School last school year and has quickly developed a deep appreciation for the Montessori philosophy. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a certificate in early childhood education from Moravian University and is currently pursuing her MBA. Lily is currently participating in a Montessori assistant teacher training course at the Princeton Center for Teacher Education.
Introduced to Montessori during her undergraduate studies, Lily became fully inspired after experiencing the method in practice at A Child’s Choice. She values how Montessori nurtures independence, curiosity, and confidence in every child, and she continues to expand her knowledge of the approach each day.
Originally from Antigua and fluent in Arabic, Lily values drawing on her diverse background to connect with both students and their families. Outside the classroom, she enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with loved ones. She is committed to creating a warm, supportive environment where children feel encouraged to explore and motivated to grow.