Meet the Founders of Ivybrook Academy

Ivybrook Academy was built on a simple but powerful belief — that every child arrives with natural curiosity, unique strengths, and the capacity to thrive when given the right environment. In this video, co-founders Jennifer and Drew McWilliams share the story behind Ivybrook Academy, what makes our approach to early childhood education different, and why a half-day preschool model built on Montessori and Reggio Emilia principles continues to transform how young children learn and grow.

Ivybrook Academy is a private, half-day preschool that takes an innovative approach to early childhood education — one built around critical thinking, creativity, and a genuine love of learning. Rather than a one-size-fits-all curriculum, Ivybrook uses careful observation of each child to create individualized learning experiences that allow their unique strengths to shine.

The Ivybrook curriculum draws from four proven approaches: Montessori, which builds self-direction and independent decision-making; Reggio Emilia, a child-led philosophy that uses observation to shape individual learning plans; Collaborative Learning, which develops teamwork through small group activities; and the Discovery Program, focused on creative expression, library studies, and music and movement.

At the heart of the Ivybrook approach is an emergent curriculum — topics of study arise from children’s own interests and observations, not from a fixed agenda. Children are seen as natural investigators, and the role of Ivybrook educators is to cultivate that curiosity through meaningful experiences with peers and adults.