Testimonials

"Barbara has been instrumental to my family and myself in several ways. My oldest daughter was lucky enough to have Barbara as her teacher when she was four years old and attended Brush Creek Montessori. We had just spent half a year in Sweden, where I am from, and my daughter had completely forgotten all her English while there. She could understand it but not speak it anymore and it was very scary for her. Barbara assured us that this was absolutely normal, and in fact something positive, since Mia now had two languages she would be familiar with. Barbara worked with Mia every day in a tactile Montessori setting and slowly but surely Mia started speaking English again and soared through the days at her Montessori preschool with Barbara. I am a teacher myself and always marveled at the calm Barbara presented whenever the students and parents were around. She made everyone feel like they really mattered and was always approachable. As a teacher I have now found myself teaching the Kindergarten Academy level at my Elementary school. I moved from 6th grade to this level and it felt daunting to make such a big switch. This is my first year of full in-person teaching and I am so happy to have come across Barbara’s website with all of her amazing resources as well as her podcast which I just have started listen to. It is all helping me so much with my own teaching and I feel that she is giving me the tools I need to reach all the students with all of their various abilities in my classroom."

"Barbara is the consummate teacher. She is a total professional who brings her training and years of experience to work with her each day. The children thrive under her thoughtful and clear explanations whether it’s in math, language arts, practical life, sensorial, or all the cultural subjects. She constantly seeks ways to modify the classroom environment and activities to accommodate her student’s current needs. Barbara is remarkably aware of each child’s development, making keen observations of their skills and interests. Her ability to communicate a child’s achievements and difficulties with parents is extraordinary. In all interactions Barbara is always fair, honest, and helpful. Barbara brings exceptional personal attributes to her role of teacher. She is the kindest and calmest person I have ever met. She is a person of unquestionable integrity, patience, and clarity. Barbara is an outstanding role model for the children she teaches."

"Mrs. Barbara Pappas is a well-rounded educator with a strong commitment to the needs of early learners. Under her guidance my daughter has developed a strong foundation of social and emotional confidence which is critical for academic success. She brings a litany of strengths and unique perspective to ECE."

"I have never met another teacher who had such a remarkable sense of each child’s development, strength, and challenges. Her intuition and empathy remain unparalleled. Mrs. Pappas’ kindness, patience and clarity made her an outstanding role model for children, as a teacher and as a person."

"We are thankful our first daughter Ava has had the opportunity to study under Barbara for the first three years of her education. In our communications with Barbara she has always been honest, forthright, refreshing, and insightful. Barbara’s teaching is apparent in all Ava does. She is excited about learning, jumping up and down she she sounds out a word or counts to one hundred. She has learned some great conflict resolution skills. When my wife and I get into a heated discussion, Ava will remind us that only one person can talk at a time. Barbara has created a nurturing and creative environment for our child to grow and explore. We know that Ava will bring the things she has learned in these last couple of years throughout her life. We are grateful for the opportunity Barbara has provided Ava, and will seek her out for the education of our second daughter Laurel."