SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Some people dream of success, others wake up and work for it. The husband and wife team of Kathy and Lynn Sanders represents the latter.
As founders and proprietors of Eagles Nest Montessori, Inc., a Southfield-based private school for children (infancy to five years of age), the Sanders, both of whom are native Detroiters, have created an environment where young students develop academically, mentally, socially and physically using Montessori principles and philosophies.
“The most important goal in our approach is to foster a true and sustainable environment of love and support that will allow each child to love learning at his or her respective levels and abilities,” said Kathy Sanders, Eagles Nest Montessori’s director. “By presenting and maintaining such an environment, children begin to perform academically at extremely high levels.”
While the Montessori approach to teaching is a major reason for the children’s success at Eagles Nest, the incorporation of Christian values into every aspect of the school’s operation has been paramount. As devout Christians, both Kathy and Lynn believe that the path to a fuller, more satisfying life should be rooted in the teachings and life of Jesus Christ.
“Montessori is a teaching style, it has nothing to do with religion or being a Christian,” said Lynn, an ordained deacon at Third New Hope Church in Detroit and retired Michigan State Trooper. “However, because Kathy and I are Christians and are strong believers in Jesus Christ, a Christian-based environment is what we have fostered and maintained at our school since its inception. We are a private school, so we can have Christianity as the foundation of what we do at Eagles Nest.”
Developed in 1897 by Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, the Montessori style of education is a learning approach that places emphasis on students’ independence and freedom, within limits, while respecting respective students’ natural physical, psychological, and social development. Eagles Nest, under the proprietorship of Kathy and Lynn Sanders, is one of the first African American-owned Montessori schools in Michigan.
In the early 1990s, Kathy Sanders worked as a secretary for a major corporation in Detroit. While she enjoyed what she was doing, she yearned to pursue her love for teaching children. After countless prayers and discussions, the Sanders decided to step out on faith. She resigned from her job to volunteer at Deror Montessori, an Oak Park-based school the couple’s oldest son attended. She quickly learned the intricacies and dynamics of becoming a Montessori teacher. She went on to earn a teaching certificate in preschool and kindergarten, training from the Brookfield Montessori Teacher Academy. Two years later, she was one of the lead preschool teachers at Deror.
Stretching out to expand their roles as Montessori educators, in 1996, the Sanders transformed their Oak Park home’s basement into a classroom. Thus, Eagles Nest Montessori, Inc. was born and took flight. The school started with four students, three of which were family members. News about the upstart Eagles Nest Montessori and Kathy Sanders’ excellence in teaching and nurturing of young children began to spread. As more parents enrolled their children, it was apparent that a larger facility was needed.
In 1999, Eagles Nest moved from the Sanders’ basement to 23666 Southfield Rd. in Southfield, where it opened the doors with 30 children with another 25 on the waiting list. As growth continued, a second site on the school’s grounds was created.
Today, Eagles Nest Montessori continues to soar with approximately 70 students enrolled.
“My prayer has always been, ‘Lord Bless us so that we can be a blessing to others,’ ” Kathy Sanders said. “God has truly blessed us to do His work through teaching so many children to be better academically and be better people, but by first honoring Him in all things because it’s through God that all things are possible.”
The Sanders are proud of what they have achieved since the inception of Eagles Nest. One of Kathy Sanders’ most cherished achievements is knowing that students who enrolled in her first and second class all have finished high school and have gone on to college. While this level of success can be measured, the husband and wife team admits there’s more work to be done in the lives of youth. They are currently broadening their educational platform to reach more children and young adults.
Lynn Sanders says he and his wife will soon establish Eagles Nest University that will offer learning modules for children who are infants through eighth graders. Through Eagles Nest University, the couple will offer mentoring and after-school programs, all of which will help empower young minds. The Sanders are also in the foundational stages of incorporating other proven and effective learning models such as the Harlem Children Zone Project, the Equity Project and HYPE Athletics, all of which have core values and principles designed to help children grow in all aspects of life.
“As a Michigan State Trooper for more than 25 years, I saw how the family structure and value system have eroded in our communities,” Lynn Sanders said. “Gang affiliations and violent crime are at record numbers. Our law enforcement agencies in the region are on life support from being vastly undermanned. Kathy and I feel that our work must expand to meet the growing problems that children in this society continue to experience. Through Eagles Nest and future learning components, we feel that we can make a tremendous difference in how all children and young adults learn.”
To learn more about Eagles Nest Montessori, Inc., log on to www.eaglesnestmontessori.com or call 248.559.0726.
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