Amanda Bolton, GC'19, opens Montessori school in North Chesterfield

Amanda Bolton, a 2019 graduate of the SPCS Educational Leadership & Policy Studies (ELPS) certificate program, successfully opened the Village Montessori Academy (VMA) in June 2021 in North Chesterfield, Virginia.

The VMA offers an inclusive, high quality, early childhood program that promotes independence, confidence and curiosity. The academy's mission is “To empower children and families to build inclusive and sustainable communities using a comprehensive model of education,” according to the school website.

Bolton graduated from Longwood University with a B.S. in Business Administration, but her interest in Montessori education stems from her discovery of a Montessori school while she was living in the Outer Banks. In pursuit of a new path, Bolton completed her Master's in Education at VCU and then earned the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Graduate Certificate at SPCS.

The ELPS graduate program is designed for educators seeking an administration or supervision endorsement for leading a public school in Virginia along with those who seek positions of leadership in non-public schools. The ELPS program offers a master’s degree track (M.Ed.) for students who have already earned a bachelor's and a graduate certificate track for those who have already earned a master’s degree in any discipline.

Bolton has worked in early childhood through post secondary education for over 10 years in both public and private school settings, according to her VMA biography. As the founder and director of the VMA, she is combining best practices she has learned from her professional experience into an inclusive Montessori program.