My 2-year-old son went to LSM for the 2016-17 academic school year (we have since moved out of the city and had to switch schools, much to our disappointment). It was his first experience at a school and he attended three mornings a week. When I picked up my son after his first day of school, his face was bright and alive. He gave Ms. Keena a big hug and couldn't wait to come back again the next day.

Keena's intimate, loving, and stimulating school environment is exactly what a young child needs to flourish. She is patient and kind, but firm in her expectations. In true Montessori form, she gives her students the space to explore the things that interest them, and she allows them to make mistakes over and over because this is how children gain true self-confidence and mastery. She takes many photos and videos of the students to share with their parents, and I loved getting to see how my son was growing in her care. One video sticks in my mind - my son was putting different sized pegs into their respective holes, and the video lasted about 5 minutes as Keena watched and waited for my son to complete the task all by himself. It was almost excruciating to watch, due to his slowness in finishing the work, but when he did finish, the pride on his face was infectious. What an inspiring teacher to give him that gift of self-satisfaction!

Keena is sensitive about the various developmental stages children go through, and knows how to handle them all. When conflicts arise between the children, she finds ways to positively work through them without overstepping her role as guide. Her approach to all behavior is to allow the child to be himself, without loosening her expectations of appropriateness. In other words, she strikes the perfect balance of structure and flexibility. And her ability to work with children over long periods of time towards behavioral goals is truly amazing.

I can't imagine a better teacher for my son. He loves Keena, respects her, and she has taught him so many things that have enriched his life. She never tires of including the parents in the journey too, from welcoming suggestions to giving advice, to making personalized "yearbooks" for each child at the end of the school year! Her school is a little oasis of creativity, love, fun, learning, and growth. Lucky are the children who get to spend their preschool days with Keena!! ~K.E.