By Jeanie Groh

jeanie.groh@salisburypost.com

Yadkin Path Montessori, Rowan County’s first Montessori preschool, is on track to open its doors in August.

Last week, enough money was given for Owner/Director Myra Tannehill to purchase the $100,0000 former Camp Kiwanis property at 2135 Bringle Ferry Rd.

“It was really fun,” Tannehill said. “It just shows that people want it to happen.”

The next few months will require an intensive remodeling and rehabilitation of the property, she added.

“It needs to be reclaimed,” she said. “It’s been abandoned for a couple years.”

While she’s bringing the building up to childcare code, Tannehill said she plans to rearrange the floor plan to make it to conducive to a Montessori preschool.

Tannehill and her husband plan to do most of the work themselves, which is no new task for them. The couple completely renovated their 1840s home in Woodleaf several years ago, and Tannehill has taken all the classes necessary for a residential construction diploma.

She originally planned for Yadkin Path to primarily cater to 2 and a half to 3 year olds,  but Tannehill said most of her interest has come from parents of 1 year olds. Because of that, she’s planning to have one class for infants through 2 and a half year olds and two classes for 2 and a half year olds through 5 year olds.

She said parents of nearly 50 children have expressed interest in the day care.

Yadkin Path won’t just be available to children under the age of 5, however. Children under the age of 12 will be eligible for a Montessori after school program as well.

Montessori education is marked by its individualized and tactile approach. The method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, who lived from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.

In a Montessori classroom, students are “set loose” with materials for various age- and learning-appropriate activities set out across the room for students to complete at their own pace.

“No matter where these children go after they leave Yadkin Path, whether they go to private school or public, Yadkin Path’s mission will be to prepare them for whatever comes next,” Tannehill said.

Yadkin Path Montessori is now accepting applications. For more information, email yadkinpath@gmail.com or find the childcare center’s Facebook page.