Lois was born in July of 1959, in South Carolina, a P.K. (preacher's kid) to Rev. & rs. John Bray.
Lois has one older sister, Ruth (shown bottom left in the picture to the right), and one younge
r brother, Paul (the tall one in the middle).
r brother, Paul (the tall one in the middle).
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Lois obtained her educational background in Early Childhood Education from Florida State College, Jacksonville, Florida, The University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida, The Montessori International Association, Tampa, Florida, and Columbia, South Carolina, and St. Croix, Virgin Islands, The Montessori Institute of America, Tampa, Florida http://www.miaworld.org/,
The Institute For The Achievement of Greater Human Potential, Tampa, Flordia http://www.iahp.org/Health.39.0.html Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and The National Academy Of Child Development, http://www.nacd.org/ Tampa, Florida and Redlands, CA., with studies on infant development and brain research, specifically brain development and brain disorders. In 1983, Lois obtained her Montessori Teacher's certification from the Montessori International Association.
Lois' employment background: Au pair to 2 small children while working and going to college, Lakeland, Florida, 1977-1979, 3 year old Preschool teacher and after-school coach, Gibsonia Baptist Church, Lakeland, Florida, 1977-1979, 2nd grade special reading teacher, Lake Padgett Elementary School, Lakeland, Florida, 1979-1980, 1st grade special reading teacher, Pinecrest Elementary School, Lithia, Florida, 1980 - 1981, Montessori internship, Montessori teacher, MIA, 1981-1983, Water Safety and Swim Instructor,1982-current, Aerobics and Aquacize instructor, 1982-current. Lois began and directed a Child-care center, Cross Roads Baptist Church, Lithia, Florida, 1982-1984, Modeled for a private portrait photographer, (hand model and P.R. photo shots), Brandon, FL, 1983-1984, Kindergarten teacher, Palnez School, Tampa, Florida, 1984-1985. Lois worked with special needs children at NACD, The National Academy Of Child Development, Tampa, Florida, teaching children with learning and physical disabilities, children with autism, downs syndrome, cerebral palsy and other brain disorders, and assisting the children in speech therapy and physical therapy, 1984-1986, Children's supervisor, child-care director and parenting coach, The Metropolitan Ministries Family Homeless shelter, Tampa, Florida, 1986-1988 http://www.metromin.org/, Parenting instructor and facilitator for State of Florida H.R.S. 1986-1988, Office Administrator and Business Communications Advisor for BCC, Tampa, FL, 1988-1989, WORLD-BOOK school service district manager to Charlotte and DeSota Counties, teaching library, dictionary and encyclopedia skills to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students, 1989-1993. Parenting instructor / facilitator, infant stimulation and baby massage coach, for IDEAS, Inc., private, and for A CHILD, 1988-current, Montessori teacher, Montessori School of Charlotte County, Port Charlotte, Florida, 1989-1991, President / CEO of A CHILD'S PLACE of Southwest Florida, Inc., Children's services and manager and director of A CHILD'S PLACE child-care learning center licensed for 71 children in Charlotte County, Florida, 1995-1998, department head director and Preschool teacher at Laurel Oaks Academy, Port Charlotte, Florida, 1999-2004, was owner and director of A CHILD, a small home-based private Montessori school - 2004-2008. Lois did book reviews for a publishing company that published home-school curriculum, 2001-2003, was a Victoria's Secret Sales Specialist, 2003 - 2008, personal assistant 2008-2010 and worked in a physician's office in medical records 2008-2010. Last year, Lois was lead teacher to three year old children at Seacoast Academy in Jacksonville, FL. and nanny to an infant. Currently, Lois teaches VPK at Julington Creek Academy in Fruit Cove/Jacksonville, Florida and also teaches a survival focused swim lesson program that she developed herself and also coaches parents in Infant Stimulation and Baby Massage. ___________________________________________________
Lois' Civic and volunteer background includes Guardian Ad Litem - 1994-1996, Guardian Ad Litem advisory board president, 1996, Children's church ministry and nursery coordinator, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) coordinator, church youth director, singing in the church choir and church praise team and singing barbershop http://harmonyinc.org/. Lois' talents and interests are working with children, singing, swimming, going to the beach and scrapbooking. In 2001, Lois went on a 6 weeks tour with the CONTINENTAL SINGERS to Mid-West USA and Romania. http://www.continentalsingers.org/ Lois has a local law enforcement background check, F.B.I. background check, fingerprints, and C.P.R. and first aide certifications. _________________________________________________________ PHILOSOPHY In my classroom, I strive to provide a learning environment that cultivates individualization, freedom of choice, concentration, independence, problem solving abilities, social interaction, and competency in basic skills; an environment which fosters the fulfillment of the child's highest potential, not just academically, but spiritually, emotionally, physically, and intellectually - as members of a family, a community, and the world. The children are encouraged to make decisions at an early age, helping them to become problem solvers and decision makers, who can make choices and manage their time well. I feel passionate about, and see the need and the importance of, educating the young child during their most formative preschool years. I believe as Maria Montessori does - that young children are like sponges and "soak up" learning if given the information and the opportunity to "experience" it. I believe that the teacher should model the behavior in which she so desires from the child. The teacher's attributes should display integrity, honesty, and respect, in and for herself, the child, her world. I believe that educating the young child is a process and the process will determine the product. I believe that it is crucial for the parent to be involved in their child's education process. The best way for a parent to be involved and to help provide the child a successful school year, is to support the child's school and teacher, to communicate closely with the child's school and teacher, to support the school's philosophy, to show excitement toward the child's school work and homework, and to become an active parent, involved in the child's education, not only in the classroom, but continuing the education at home."
- Lois
Lois obtained her educational background in Early Childhood Education from Florida State College, Jacksonville, Florida, The University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida, The Montessori International Association, Tampa, Florida, and Columbia, South Carolina, and St. Croix, Virgin Islands, The Montessori Institute of America, Tampa, Florida http://www.miaworld.org/,
The Institute For The Achievement of Greater Human Potential, Tampa, Flordia http://www.iahp.org/Health.39.0.html Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and The National Academy Of Child Development, http://www.nacd.org/ Tampa, Florida and Redlands, CA., with studies on infant development and brain research, specifically brain development and brain disorders. In 1983, Lois obtained her Montessori Teacher's certification from the Montessori International Association.
Lois' employment background: Au pair to 2 small children while working and going to college, Lakeland, Florida, 1977-1979, 3 year old Preschool teacher and after-school coach, Gibsonia Baptist Church, Lakeland, Florida, 1977-1979, 2nd grade special reading teacher, Lake Padgett Elementary School, Lakeland, Florida, 1979-1980, 1st grade special reading teacher, Pinecrest Elementary School, Lithia, Florida, 1980 - 1981, Montessori internship, Montessori teacher, MIA, 1981-1983, Water Safety and Swim Instructor,1982-current, Aerobics and Aquacize instructor, 1982-current. Lois began and directed a Child-care center, Cross Roads Baptist Church, Lithia, Florida, 1982-1984, Modeled for a private portrait photographer, (hand model and P.R. photo shots), Brandon, FL, 1983-1984, Kindergarten teacher, Palnez School, Tampa, Florida, 1984-1985. Lois worked with special needs children at NACD, The National Academy Of Child Development, Tampa, Florida, teaching children with learning and physical disabilities, children with autism, downs syndrome, cerebral palsy and other brain disorders, and assisting the children in speech therapy and physical therapy, 1984-1986, Children's supervisor, child-care director and parenting coach, The Metropolitan Ministries Family Homeless shelter, Tampa, Florida, 1986-1988 http://www.metromin.org/, Parenting instructor and facilitator for State of Florida H.R.S. 1986-1988, Office Administrator and Business Communications Advisor for BCC, Tampa, FL, 1988-1989, WORLD-BOOK school service district manager to Charlotte and DeSota Counties, teaching library, dictionary and encyclopedia skills to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students, 1989-1993. Parenting instructor / facilitator, infant stimulation and baby massage coach, for IDEAS, Inc., private, and for A CHILD, 1988-current, Montessori teacher, Montessori School of Charlotte County, Port Charlotte, Florida, 1989-1991, President / CEO of A CHILD'S PLACE of Southwest Florida, Inc., Children's services and manager and director of A CHILD'S PLACE child-care learning center licensed for 71 children in Charlotte County, Florida, 1995-1998, department head director and Preschool teacher at Laurel Oaks Academy, Port Charlotte, Florida, 1999-2004, was owner and director of A CHILD, a small home-based private Montessori school - 2004-2008. Lois did book reviews for a publishing company that published home-school curriculum, 2001-2003, was a Victoria's Secret Sales Specialist, 2003 - 2008, personal assistant 2008-2010 and worked in a physician's office in medical records 2008-2010. Last year, Lois was lead teacher to three year old children at Seacoast Academy in Jacksonville, FL. and nanny to an infant. Currently, Lois teaches VPK at Julington Creek Academy in Fruit Cove/Jacksonville, Florida and also teaches a survival focused swim lesson program that she developed herself and also coaches parents in Infant Stimulation and Baby Massage. ___________________________________________________
Lois' Civic and volunteer background includes Guardian Ad Litem - 1994-1996, Guardian Ad Litem advisory board president, 1996, Children's church ministry and nursery coordinator, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) coordinator, church youth director, singing in the church choir and church praise team and singing barbershop http://harmonyinc.org/. Lois' talents and interests are working with children, singing, swimming, going to the beach and scrapbooking. In 2001, Lois went on a 6 weeks tour with the CONTINENTAL SINGERS to Mid-West USA and Romania. http://www.continentalsingers.org/ Lois has a local law enforcement background check, F.B.I. background check, fingerprints, and C.P.R. and first aide certifications. _________________________________________________________ PHILOSOPHY In my classroom, I strive to provide a learning environment that cultivates individualization, freedom of choice, concentration, independence, problem solving abilities, social interaction, and competency in basic skills; an environment which fosters the fulfillment of the child's highest potential, not just academically, but spiritually, emotionally, physically, and intellectually - as members of a family, a community, and the world. The children are encouraged to make decisions at an early age, helping them to become problem solvers and decision makers, who can make choices and manage their time well. I feel passionate about, and see the need and the importance of, educating the young child during their most formative preschool years. I believe as Maria Montessori does - that young children are like sponges and "soak up" learning if given the information and the opportunity to "experience" it. I believe that the teacher should model the behavior in which she so desires from the child. The teacher's attributes should display integrity, honesty, and respect, in and for herself, the child, her world. I believe that educating the young child is a process and the process will determine the product. I believe that it is crucial for the parent to be involved in their child's education process. The best way for a parent to be involved and to help provide the child a successful school year, is to support the child's school and teacher, to communicate closely with the child's school and teacher, to support the school's philosophy, to show excitement toward the child's school work and homework, and to become an active parent, involved in the child's education, not only in the classroom, but continuing the education at home."
- Lois 
4 comments:
Lois is awesome!!! I'm thrilled that our son's first experience with school has been such a positive one. Lois is nurturing, patient, kind, LOVING, intelligent, creative ... We couldn't be happier!
Thanks, Lois, for all you've done to stimulate the minds of children throughout our area. You are truly gifted!
Lois, We wanted to thank you for making this transition for Kate relatively simple for all of us. It's quite obvious she feels very comfortable and happy at school. Sometimes she acts as though she'd rather stay at school than come home with me! Greg and I feel extremely fortunate to have found you and we're so very grateful for the positive learning environment you're providing for our child. THANK YOU!
Super color scheme, I like it! Keep up the good work. Thanks for sharing this wonderful site with us.
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Really amazing! Useful information. All the best.
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