A different approach to education
Current society has shown problems with unprepared youth for work, loss of faith, loss of patriotism, and loss of self worth.
No out of pocket expenses for the families
donors are our heroes
We believe that every child should have an equal opportunity for education. At GLC, parents do not pay anything out of pocket.
AZ taxpayers have a choice to donate money they would have otherwise paid in AZ tax dollars to a non-profit scholarship organization that helps us.
The donors in all reality keep us going.
Simply put:
If we collect enough donations, we keep going.
If we collect more than enough, we can grow.
If we don’t collect enough, we cut our size or close.
What we are
Hands-on learning
We rely heavily on the Montessori approach which uses physical objects and stories to teach academics. Connecting the brain with physical objects that can be touched and felt together with stories help reinforce applicability and memory.
Real Projects
We focus working on real life projects that will either be useful or as an introduction to areas the children may want to pursue in the future as they grow. These projects are endless but include building electric go-carts from scratch, first aid, suturing, writing books, taking care of animals, stock trading, managing rental properties, achieving income over expenses, coding, typing, building structures, cooking etc.
Inclusive
We welcome differences in culture, languages, and abilities. About 25% of the students are considered by diagnosis to have a type of disability.
Christ-Centered
We invite and ask for the spirit of God to be with us. Although we do not follow a particular religion, we offer regular prayers and try to live as best we can by following the teachings of Jesus Christ. The most important part of our curriculum is for children to grow in faith and learn that we are children of a loving father in heaven and He is always watching over us through triumphs and trials.
Teamwork - and no cheating
Teamwork - and no cheating
We focus a lot on teamwork. This is true in sports, projects, and even in the classroom. Cheating doesn’t exist here like in the typical school phrase of “keep your eyes on your own paper.” If you don’t know how to arrive at an answer, ask a teacher, another student, or go look up in a book how to figure it out. We are not testing students on memorization, we are wanting them to learn how to solve problems and work as a team.
Freedom with boundaries
Teamwork - and no cheating
Throughout the day the students enjoy an environment of regulating themselves. They all know what needs to get done and what they should be working on, but they have the freedom of walking around, taking breaks, and scheduling in what they need to get done. We feel this environment prepares them better for their future instead of a heavily regulated environment with sitting at desks and being controlled by adults and bells.
Preparation
Our goal is to prepare children for work, family, and life. Undeveloped critical thinking skills, emotional unpreparedness, and lack of work ethic is hindering young adults as they move on with life. We aim to counter these common trials with real world experiences such as running businesses, pushing through challenges, and working as a team.
Family setting
Our student body of 40 children is made up of 15 families. Siblings come to school together and enjoy a home school environment. The ages range from 3-14. Instead of a class with all the same age which increases immature rivalry, the older kids take on a more responsible role as leaders and help the younger students with work and play. Special needs students are within the mix and are treated with unbelievable compassion.
Patriotic
Patriotic
We live in the United States of America, and we are proud, honored, and lucky to be here. No matter what political affiliation students desire to support, if any, we teach them to be knowledgeable and stand up for what they believe. Everyone has a right to have a voice and an opinion. That is foundational for this great country.
What we are not
We don't sit at desks looking towards an authoritative figure
We don't sit at desks looking towards an authoritative figure
We don't sit at desks looking towards an authoritative figure
The children are free to regulate their own schedules. Our teachers are better known as guides, helping the students progress forward.
We don't use Grades
We don't sit at desks looking towards an authoritative figure
We don't sit at desks looking towards an authoritative figure
Grading is typically used for the purpose of ranking children, not for helping a student learn better. We teach until the concept is learned and then move on. Everyone is at their own pace and there is no need to grade.
We don't assign busy work homework
We don't sit at desks looking towards an authoritative figure
We don't assign busy work homework
The children work hard at school and they need to enjoy their childhood at home. There may be occasional assignments that must be done at home, but this will never be homework just to have homework.
We don't issue standardized tests
We don't divide subjects with bells
We don't assign busy work homework
Many schools spend half or more of their time preparing students for tests which concepts are forgotten almost immediately. We teach concepts until they are applied and remembered, not just memorized for the short term. Tests are for ranking, which is helpful to the administration. They are not intended to help an individual student in any way except for being able to outrank another student.
We don't divide subjects with bells
We don't divide subjects with bells
We don't divide subjects with bells
The concept of being regulated by subjects and bells was put in place during the industrial revolution. It is an assembly line approach. It is effective in making sure everyone spends an equal amount of time on every prescribed subject. We find that self regulation prepares children better for the world outside of school.
We don’t teach
We don't divide subjects with bells
We don't divide subjects with bells
We don’t teach in the sense that the teacher gives information and the student memorizes. We ask questions. We teach children the process of thinking for themselves and learning how to come up with conclusions, and we do this by guiding them with questions. The world is filled with false information and the last thing we want is for children to believe something just because it is told to them in news, an article, or from an authoritative figure, without working it out in their own minds.
GLC Members
Brian Golladay
Dr. sheyda golladay
Dr. sheyda golladay
Brian has a professional and educational background in finance and accounting. He teaches projects, physical activities, business concepts, and Spanish. He also acts as the school director. (Currently enrolled in a doctoral program for educational leadership)
Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese
Dr. sheyda golladay
Dr. sheyda golladay
Dr. sheyda golladay
Sheyda has a background in the medical field as well as in education. She has graduated as a Doctor of Osteopathic medicine, has a master's degree in education, and has a Montessori educator credential. She is the lead teacher/guide for the school.
laura hernandez
Dr. sheyda golladay
laura hernandez
Prior to working with us, Laura owned her own business for the 25 years and has been a teacher with us for the past 3 years. She teaches the children from the ages of 6-14. She focuses on reading and writing and also acts as the assist lead teacher/guide for the school.
gladys mulberg
Dr. sheyda golladay
laura hernandez
Glady's is from Peru and has many years experience as a teacher there and in the United States. She has run her own programs and has also been successful in bringing attention to and a visit from the first lady of Peru to her school. Her focus is from the children in the range of 3-6 years old.
Languages: Spanish, English
angie
kristin van leuven
carolina mayor
Angie is from Ecuador and has served a mission there for her church. She is a natural teacher and will be starting on her Montessori degree in the fall of 2024. She teaches in the 3-6 year old classroom.
Languages: Spanish, English
carolina mayor
kristin van leuven
carolina mayor
Carol is from Brazil and earned an MBA there. She has a professional background in marketing both in the United States and Brazil. She teaches in the 3-6 year old classroom.
Languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish
kristin van leuven
kristin van leuven
kristin van leuven
Kristin has a degree from ASU in literature. She has published 3 art books focusing on water color. These books can be purchased on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles. Kristin teaches art at GLC.
Cindey Elstad
kristin van leuven
kristin van leuven
Cindey has been at our school since the beginning. She has owned her own daycare in Washington state for 25 years. She has been a teacher at our school and currently helps manage the school and substitutes but also works full time at my tax office.
Languages: English, Spanish
oswald edwards
Oswald has owned and taught at his own martial arts clinic for 25 years before he retired. He has agreed to teach martial arts at GLC to provide kids with an atmosphere of confidence, discipline, and self-defense.
daylon crider
Daylon currently works for a tech company and is teaching computers and electronics at our school as help to us with permission from his company.
Melanie Erickson
Melanie Erickson
The best and most fun pickleball instructor there ever was.