Karen Reckerd- Owner, Director

Follow the Child Montessori School has been serving the Lafayette community for 20 years.  I started with one classroom and quickly grew to a school serving children from 19 months to third grade in two buildings.  After my growth I decided to follow my original goal and path in a small "home like" atmosphere where I knew each child and family well, and decided to downsize a few years ago. We currently enroll from ages 2-6 and are offering top quality teaching and one on one interactions with each family.

I come from a family of 12 children and grew up (from 5th grade) in Lafayette.  I graduated from Jefferson High School, Purdue University and Seton Montessori school in  Chicago.  I have a BS in Accounting from the Krannert School of Management and American Montessori Certification for ages 0-3 and 3-6 from the Seton Montessori Institute.

Before opening my own Montessori School in Lafayette, I worked for the Montessori School of Greater Lafayette for 5 years. I held many roles and am blessed to have been with them in my learning years.  I was the Toddler lead teacher, afternoon assistant in 3-6, worked in their afterschool program and in the office as the accountant. 

I have four children of my own: ages 28, 25 year old twins and a 19 year old, as well as four younger boys.  My oldest son, Joseph, acts as Assistant Director for our school.  I have also been active in the community through church, and through foster care and adoption .  Three of my children were adopted at age 6 and two have special needs.  I continue to hold a foster care license and periodically help children in need of a home, family, support and love.

I am a standing member with the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Women Business Owners, and our school maintains memberships with AMI and UMSI.

I am very passionate about Montessori and feel that I am blessed to work with children at the very important early stages of development to show others their place in this wonderful world. Priorities in our school are to teach Acceptance, Kindness, Peace and Unity.  The academics are evident through the planned Montessori environment and the children happily absorb all that is around them.

We are excited to start the year with our Montessori families and encourage you to become part of the Montessori experience with us!

Joseph Bernier – Teacher, Assistant Director

I'm Joseph Bernier, a graduate of Indiana University with Bachelor's Degrees in Spanish and Psychology, and of the North American Montessori Center’s training program for children aged 0-3. In my spare time I enjoy cooking, playing music, crafts, and woodworking.

My relationship with Montessori has been lifelong: I attended MSGL as a child from the age of 3 through first grade, then volunteered at Follow the Child regularly from middle school through high school, before becoming a full-time teacher after college. I fell in love with the Montessori method, and I feel the impact of what I learned in primary school even today.

Hi!  My name is Candy.  My 20 year old son and I live in our home on Robinwood Drive. We have a beagle and a tiger cat.  My 26 year old daughter purchased a home by Columbian Park in January.

I studied Early Childhood Education and Child Psychology from 2006-2010. I owned and operated Candy Land Child Care for Lafayette Transitional Housing Center for 6 years.  I have been teaching at Follow the Child for 7 years.  I love how peaceful and kind the Montessori classrooms are. 

I will be teaching with Ms. Rekha in the Prek-1st classroom in the morning and with Ms. Malinda in the afternoon.

I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know our new families.  I am also extremely excited to continue my treasured relationship with our returning families.

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