Bright Minds Montessori School

My daughter started Bright Minds Montessori at 18 months. We have seen so much growth and she loves to go to school. She's in the pre-k program now and loves it. She comes home sharing all the things she has learned, singing songs and looking for books or toys she can share that goes with their monthly unit. She loves her teachers, all the art projects and fun events they have all year long. My son just recently started in the toddler program and he is loving being at school too. He comes home singing songs, pointing to colors and counting. He talks a lot about his friends and teachers. We love seeing the pictures of the kids working and doing fun activities each month. It is so nice to know that they are safe and taken well care of. It is even nicer that the director and staff go above and beyond for the kids. They truly care about their happiness and growth!

With the world we live in I was nervous about letting my daughter go to school. Nervous about all the things that could happen. After two years I completely trust Bright Minds Montessori with both my kids. My daughter has advanced so much. By the age of three she is potty trained, uses manners, cleans up after herself. Can count and say her ABCs. They've truly turned a skeptic to a believer!

So, I am not typically someone who leaves reviews, because I really am not trying to harm anyone's business or just be a complainer. However, what just happened is so odd and unorganized, if I can save anyone from the mess.. I am happy to. Background: My son will be 18 months in March. I have been calling around for local schools in the area to take a tour, grab information and get on a waitlist. I'm not expecting a miracle or to cut a line. I really am just looking for the right fit for our family. I heard positive feedback on this establishment so I added to my list to review, tour and feel out. So about two months ago, I send the school an email from their website asking about taking a tour and obtaining introduction information. I let weeks go by, nothing. So a couple of weeks ago I sent another email. At this point, I'm still positive, I know things happen I am just trying to get a feel for this place, still nothing.. no reply. I call this morning and speak to someone and the person who answered the phone was named Sydney. I ask Sydney about taking a tour and she tells me they aren't due to COVID. I'm like.. okay that's weird because your website shows you are absolutely open for tours.. and we aren't in the height of the pandi anymore.. and I'm pretty sure parents still need to see a place before they place their kids into it and pay for it.. but okay whatever I'll let that slide. You guys are real conservative with protocols.. I can appreciate that, I guess. Then I ask about obtaining information on the school, speaking to someone about what is offered and waitlists to tour eventually or whatever. Sydney pauses, stammers and then says to just wait for an email reply from her boss. She said there is a waitlist and that they, "kind of use that list to review availability, I think" and that she cannot put me on that list or tell me how to get on it. I explain I never received an email and it's been about two months and that is the reason I am calling. She keeps stammering and just says to wait for her boss. Whom she doesn't tell me how to contact or who to even ask for if I call back. All to say, I am definitely not pursuing this establishment any further. Maybe someone should work with this team on customer service and how to appropriately hand off a phone call when you don't know what you are talking about. I'm sure her boss or whatever is great like I heard.. but you are a reflection of who you employ. So.. choose wisely.

This review is long overdue! Choosing this school for my two kiddos has been one of the best decisions we have made. Since day one, Ms. Jaymie and her staff have been wonderful with our children. They are a true Montessori school (if you haven't heard of the Montessori method, I highly recommend googling it). And this method has been so helpful, especially for my eldest who has been there for about 2.5 years. The environment (classroom, teachers, tools used, curriculum) have helped her grow so well socially and academically. She has built some of the greatest friendships that I have ever witnessed and has also learned more than I thought a child her age could know! The students here become so well-rounded delving deep into different subjects (culture, math, language, practical life, etc.) and develop an excellent understanding of what they learn. I wholeheartedly attribute that to the teachers who go above and beyond for the kiddos at this school. I wish I could have my kids here for all of their school years! If you are looking for a safe place where your child can be productive throughout the days and flourish, I 10/10 recommend Bright Minds Montessori!

Couldn't be happier about my decision to put my daughter here almost a year ago and my son when he turned 18 months. The director, Jaymie, truly cares about each kid and the school. With the pandemic, she continued to do voluntary zoom meetings each day to help the kids have some consistency. Both kept asking to go back to school, they even asks if it's a school day on the weekend and are sad when it's not. They learn about so much more that just numbers and letters. Best school hands down. I am not looking forward to moving one day and having to find something that is even close to what this school is, if I could just take it with I'd be happy.

This school is great! Most important is that our daughter loves attending. She asks when she will be going back to school on a regular basis (even on the weekends). She is learning so much and definitely grown in knowledge and skills. Highly recommended. Ms Jaymie is amazing and works well with children.

My daughter has had such an amazing experience at this school. She always comes home talking about something new she learned. This school really focuses on teaching children independence while still guiding them through it all. The room is always really clean and the play ground is amazing!

The owner Jaymie is really great with the kids and the school is very neat and organized. They children enjoy learning about different cultures and I like how it's a very traditional Montessori school where the kids are able to move freely around the classroom and choose what they are interested in working with and not being told that they have to do a certain thing at a certain time. I highly recommend this school for your child.

What can I say, it's an AMAZING school. From the staff to the director Mrs. Jaymie, she has done an excellent job with the program. My daughter has learned so much through the Montessori experience, it has given my daughter all the tools to succeed academically and socially . Even when times got tough during COVID she went above and beyond to make sure our kids were safe so the school could stay open. We are so sad that after almost 4 years we have to move on to our next adventure and start 1st grade. I will FOREVER be grateful for all the love, care, experiences , and education BrightMinds Montessori has given my baby.

My son starting attending Bright Minds Pre-K in the beginning of December this year. On his very first day he came home and told me what continent he lives on and was able to name a few others! Since then he has learned so much and he hasn't even been there a full month yet. He really enjoys attending Bright Minds and is eager to learn each time he's there. There is a huge difference between this school and his previous school he was attending in Stockton for several months as his previous school had several unenthusiastic teachers and was ran a bit more like a childcare center than a place for learning (I'll skip listing their name). Bright Minds is definitely a place to bring your child if you want them to learn and have fun while doing so. Mrs. Jaymie, who is the director as well as the teacher, is amazing. She is very knowledgeable of the Montessori way of teaching, has years of experience, and it is very apparent that she is extremely passionate about helping your child grow. There doesn't seem to be many great preschool/pre-K schools in Stockton, but from my experience Bright Minds is definitely one of them.