Our History

In the spring of 2014, several educators from Marygrove College formed Connecting Through the Arts & Education, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to bring diverse families together around an interest in child-centered, inquiry-based education. By fall of the same year, we opened Scuola Creativa in Ferndale, Michigan, a one-room preschool for children ages three to five. In 2018, Scuola relocated to Royal Oak, Michigan, adding a classroom for infants and toddlers.

In 2023, Scuola Creativa expanded into two sites: The Nest for children aged two and under and The Meadow for children aged three to five. Each site includes two classrooms, an atelier (art studio) and an outdoor play space.

Core Values

  • We view children as competent, curious and full of potential, with ideas worth investigating through our curriculum.
  • We think of teachers as researchers, documenters, and lifelong learners.
  • We consider the classroom environment as the “third teacher,” thoughtfully designed to facilitate learning.
  • Our curriculum is inquiry-based, process-oriented and driven by the children’s and teachers’ interests.
  • We believe time outdoors, in all kinds of weather, provides valuable learning opportunities.
  • We value cooperation and collaboration among staff, families, and children.
  • We are committed to treating all children, families, and staff with respect and recognizing their rights.
  • We believe that diversity, in every sense of the word, enhances our learning environment.
  • We consider Anti-Bias Education and self-reflection critical for our individual and collective growth.
  • We value continuity of care from home to school, spanning from toddlerhood through the preschool years.

Philosophy

Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to education, Scuola Creativa partners with children, families, and the community to provide an inquiry-based education for young learners. Scuola Creativa upholds an image of the child as a powerful, competent, capable, and integral member of the community. We envision each family as unique, deserving of respect, and the center of the child’s life. We acknowledge children’s ability to reflect upon and contribute to their own learning through their many languages of expression and communication. Our vision is to base decisions on the principles of Reggio Emilia, incorporating current research on learning and development.

Meet Our Educators

Our teachers and staff are what make Scuola Creativa so special.

Anthony – The Meadow

Anthony (he/him)
Role: Meadow Director; Lead Teacher – Monarchs
Alma mater(s): Marygrove College
Research interests: community, language, Woodward
Something I love about Scuola: I love the passion the teachers possess for learning and teaching.
What I’m reading/watching/listening to right now: Charro; Azteca podcast; A Podcast with a Growth Mindset!
One thing you might not know about me: I used to be on a wrestling team and I broke my right arm at practice one day! There is now a large scar that kids always seem to notice! I’m sure I’ve told the “how I broke my arm” story thousands of times and am prepared to tell it many more times.

tela

Tela – The Meadow

Tela (she/her)
Role: Lead Teacher – Monarchs
Something I love about Scuola: I love how involved the parents are here at Scuola
What I’m reading/watching/listening to right now: I am watching the original “Charmed” series
One thing you might not know about me: A fun fact about me is that I love to cook and I make press-on nails in my free time

Larissa – The Meadow

Larissa (she/her)
Role: Meadow Director; Lead teacher – Dragonflies
Alma mater(s): U of M Dearborn
Research interests: Drawing for understanding, exploration of children’s rights in the classroom, connection to our local community, anti-basis work, general theory development, creating space for community play
Something I love about Scuola: The Scuola community of teachers, families and children has become like a family to me and taught me more about who I am as a person than I ever knew was possible. 
What I’m reading/watching/listening to right now: In my down time I love watching all sorts of Youtube videos about creative journaling. Some of my favorite channels are James Luke Burke Creative, Little Raven Ink and By Bun
One thing you might not know about me: Sometimes when I’m driving at night I quiz myself to see if I can figure out what model of car is driving just by looking at the shape of its headlights. I also love rock tumbling.

Christine – The Meadow

Christine (she/her)
Role: Teacher – Dragonflies (The Meadow)
Alma mater(s): Concordia University in St. Paul MN
Research interests: How to transform my yard into a more pollinator-friendly area, looking up native planting to grow and how to become a better gardener.
Something I love about Scuola: What a welcoming environment it is, and it feels like a place I can grow as a teacher.
What I’m reading/watching/listening to right now: I just started reading “Rebel Girl” by Kathleen Hanna and have been listening to a lot of Punk Rock Blitzkreig with Marky Ramone.
One thing you might not know about me: I have a large collection of vintage board games from the 70s and 80s.

Katy – The Meadow

Katy (they/them) 
Role: Teacher – Dragonflies; Aftercare Coordinator 
Alma mater(s): University of Texas at San Antonio
Research interests: Environmental and outdoor education; social-emotional development; autism spectrum disorders; connecting children with the natural world
Something I love about Scuola: That it is filled with connection, community, and love for the whole child, their families, and staff
What I’m reading/watching/listening to right now: I am reading Ron Grady’s book, “Honoring the Moments in Young Children’s Lives: Observation, Documentation, and Reflection.” I am listening to the Telepathy Tapes Podcast: Director and filmmaker Ky Dickens dares to explore the profound abilities of non-speakers with autism – individuals who have long been misunderstood and underestimated.
One thing you might not know about me: I owned a Detroit-style pizzeria in rural West Texas

Lee – The Meadow

lee (they/them) 
Role: Assistant Teacher – Dragonflies
Alma mater(s): Western Michigan University
Research interests: sensory systems, language and communication, ecology, embodiment
Something I love about Scuola: The care work. The seeds.
What I’m reading/watching/listening to right now: “Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals” by Alexis Pauline Gumbs
One thing you might not know about me: I’m a twin.

Annika – The Nest

Annika (she/her)
Role: Assistant Teacher – Robins; Aftercare
Alma mater(s): University of Michigan
Research interests: The social determinants of health; health inequities; queer theory; the negative social and ecological impacts of AI
Something I love about Scuola: The centering of children as individuals and as their own person. I appreciate how kids are taught to advocate for themselves and that this is a space for them to be them. I also love the commitment to fostering community for everyone at Scuola, from staff to families to students
What I’m reading/watching/listening to right now: You can almost always find me (re)watching The Great British Baking Show, Abbot Elementary, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. I enjoy reading fantasy and mystery books, specifically those with queer main characters.
One thing you might not know about me: In college I was part of the clinical trials for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. During my senior year, I created educational materials for a LGBTQIA+ nonprofit in Kenya, Jitambue. The organization, whose name means “to know yourself” in Swahili, displayed and distributed the materials to community members.

Spincer – The Meadow

Spincer (he/him)
Role: Dragonfly Assistant Teacher
Alma mater(s): Oakland University (Broadcast Journalism)
Research interests: Dance and expression
What I’m reading/watching/listening to right now: At the moment I’m watching “Grey’s Anatomy”

Bryan – The Meadow

Bryan (he/him)
Role: Dragonfly Teacher
Alma mater(s): Henry Ford College
Research interests: Graphic design and sociology
Something I love about Scuola: The welcoming and inviting environment
One thing you might not know about me: I lived in Mexico until I was 9 years old, then moved to Detroit in 2009.

Steffanie – Founder and Executive Director

Steffanie (she/her)
Role: Founder, Executive Director, Atelierista
Alma mater(s): Transylvania University (BA); Georgia Southern University (MEd, EdS); Savannah College of Art and Design (MFA); University of Georgia (PhD)
Research interests: Reggio-inspired curriculum design
Something I love about Scuola: Scuola is a real, live learning laboratory where we can explore and develop Reggio-inspired practices in an American setting.
What I’m reading/watching/listening to right now: Detective shows on Britbox; Lasciate Che Vi Parli di Foglie (Let Me Tell You About Leaves); Kate Nash

Want to join the team?

Check out our careers page