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NISKAYUNA, N.Y., May 14, 2026 -- Spraragen Partners, a Schenectady based developer, today announced that construction is now underway on a new childcare facility at 46 Commerce Park Drive in the Town of Niskayuna. With local approvals and permits in place, construction has begun on what will be Niskayuna’s first newly constructed licensed childcare facility in more than 20 years. The project is being supported by a $500,000 grant from Empire State Development. Brooke Spraragen, from Spraragen Partners, said, “This project required collaboration at every level, from identifying a suitable site to securing approvals and beginning construction on an ambitious schedule. We are grateful to Governor Hochul and Empire State Development, the Town of Niskayuna and Metroplex for their cooperation and full support in recognizing the need to provide quality daycare in our community.” Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Access to quality childcare is one of Governor Hochul’s key priorities and a cornerstone of critical support for the working families who power our New York State economy. This new facility will offer the immeasurable gift of early education, and in a dynamic and supportive environment where children can thrive.” The new 5,600 square foot facility will be purpose-built with classrooms designed to support Montessori learning, movement, and independence, along with dedicated outdoor green space. Our World Montessori will lease the new building from Spraragen Partners. The new facility will allow the school to expand and serve more families and, for the first time, include infant care among its offered services. “Access to affordable childcare remains one of the biggest needs for working families in Schenectady County and across the Capital Region,” said Gary Hughes, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature. “This new facility will help expand childcare opportunities for local families while supporting our workforce and growing economy. We are grateful to Governor Hochul and our state partners for recognizing this need and helping make this important investment possible.” "We are delighted that Our World Montessori will continue to call Niskayuna home," said Erin Cassady-Dorion, Supervisor, Town of Niskayuna. "As a working mom, I know the struggle to find high quality child care, especially for infants. By working together at every level of government, we are expanding access for families who live and work in Niskayuna." “This move represents a commitment to our families and the community we have called home for over two decades,'” said Diane Lanci, Head of School at Our World Montessori. “The new facility will allow us to preserve the school our families know and love, while creating more opportunities for movement, outdoor exploration, and growth in a beautiful, new setting.” The new daycare is located in the Niskayuna Commerce Park adjacent to a cluster of major technology employers in Town including Momentive, EOne, GE Aerospace, GE Vernova and KAPL. About Our World Montessori Our World Montessori has served children and families in Schenectady County for more than 22 years, providing high-quality early childhood education rooted in the Montessori philosophy. The school is committed to fostering independence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning in a nurturing environment for young children. About the Developer – Spraragen Partners Spraragen Partners is a fourth-generation, family-owned real estate development and investment company based in Schenectady, New York. Rooted in a century-long legacy of excellence, Spraragen Partners is committed to revitalizing communities, advancing economic development, and creating spaces that inspire growth, connection, and lasting value.

Montessori education is a “whole child” approach to teaching that encompasses all areas of child development—cognitive, emotional, social, and physical. It encourages children and adolescents to learn at their own pace in an environment that fosters independence, problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration. That said, parents may find that Montessori schools do things a little differently than traditional schools. This is not right or wrong; it is simply a different way of encouraging children to learn, and one that may or may not be the ideal fit for your family. Let’s look at the questions from our quiz and which answers resonate most with Montessori parents. This will give you a better understanding of the Montessori classroom so you can decide if it is right for your child. 1. Children learn best when they are: Given rewards, like stickers Connected with internal motivation and interests We believe learning should be an exciting and joyful experience for children—something they choose to do without the expectation of rewards for academic outcome, participation, or cooperation. Instead of stickers or other prizes, the reward a child gets from the Montessori classroom is the self-assuredness that comes from reaching a new level of independence or learning a new skill. 2. I am choosing a school to: Prepare my child for a traditional kindergarten Prepare my child academically, socially, and emotionally for school and life Montessori education is more about preparing children to become thoughtful and well-adjusted adults and less about making sure they advance to the next grade or academic level. This is achieved by creating a consistent pathway for learning that begins as early as infancy and carries through to elementary education and even beyond. Therefore, it does not make sense to enroll your child in a Montessori Primary program, for example, if you intend to transfer them to a traditional kindergarten classroom the following year. 3. When considering education, I: Am open to learning about all methods and want to find one that is the best match for my child Believe traditional methods are the best option Some parents prefer the structure and familiarity of a traditional classroom setting. This is absolutely fine. However, because children tend to learn in different ways and at different paces, they often benefit from being in an environment that allows them to learn in the way that works best for them. The Montessori classroom is a great example. A parent whose child may thrive in a Montessori school setting is one who believes in giving their child the freedom to make choices and guide their own learning journey in an environment that fosters imagination and independent thinking. 4. My child learns best when in an environment that is: Orderly, bright, and peaceful Noisy and full of visual stimulation You will notice that Montessori classrooms have a calm, inviting atmosphere that tends to be quieter than walking into, say, a typical elementary school classroom; there are a couple reasons for this. First, because Montessori students are given the freedom to choose their own activities, they are more likely to be fully engrossed in those activities and less likely to be asking the teacher for direction. Children move at their own pace throughout the classroom, and teachers are there primarily to ensure children are engaged and learning. Second, because quieter environments have been shown to foster quality learning, Montessori students are encouraged to speak softly with each other and with their teachers. In this way, they learn to respect those around them and promote a positive learning environment. 5. The most important outcome for my child is to: Be prepared to achieve in elementary school and beyond Be a happy, well-adjusted, and self-motivated human being Again, the Montessori method of education places a greater emphasis on self-paced, independent learning over making sure children advance to the next grade or academic level. We believe learning should be an enjoyable experience that encourages children to work beside and respect one another while at the same time developing their individual personalities and unique talents. 6. The ideal school schedule for my child would be: A few hours a couple of days a week A consistent schedule 5 days a week The Montessori program is thoughtfully structured to help children maximize their potential in an environment where they feel content and well adjusted, and a big part of that comes from consistency. Children thrive on routines and knowing what to expect each day, which is why families who can commit to a consistent, 5-day-a-week schedule are those who benefit most from a Montessori education. 7. It is important that your child completes worksheets and memorizes facts at school. True False Although often used in traditional school settings, worksheets and similar memorization and repetition tools are rarely (if ever) used in the Montessori classroom. We believe children learn more effectively through hands-on experience and independent exploration rather than regurgitating facts onto a sheet of paper. Students are also more likely to retain important concepts when they are able to apply them to different situations and test their validity for themselves. 8. You want your child to: Learn at their own pace and be challenged according to their unique ability Learn according to a curriculum based upon their age In a traditional education setting, parents are often told that a child is not “reading at their level” or that they should be “further along by now” in a certain subject or task because of their age. In the Montessori classroom, children are encouraged to learn at their own pace and given the time and space necessary to fully understand each concept. Children naturally want to learn and understand things, and giving them the freedom and the opportunity to do so is the key to helping them achieve their learning goals. 9. I want my child to be in an environment that: Encourages them to explore their interests, without interruption Has an external curriculum taught at specific intervals each day While traditional classrooms are very structured in terms of time (e.g. 30 minutes each day for Math, 30 minutes each day for Reading, etc.) the Montessori classroom is not. Instead, children can choose which activities they want to participate in and for how long, so as not to interrupt the learning and exploration process. 10. At school and home, I want my child to learn to be: Independent and do things for themselves To rely on adults for everyday life skills One of the primary goals of the Montessori method is to teach children to think and do things for themselves instead of relying on adults for everything. In the words of the American Montessori Society, “Given the freedom and support to question, probe deeply, and make connections, Montessori students grow up to be confident, enthusiastic, and self-directed learners and citizens, accountable to both themselves and their community.” Montessori students learn at their own pace through observation, exploration, and experimentation. Although it is the perfect fit for many families, it is not the perfect fit for all families. If you are interested in learning more about Montessori education and its unique benefits, we encourage you to schedule a tour or visit our blog to learn more.

Blog posts are a great way to get recognized within your community and share your voice. Here are the top 10 reasons you should love writing blog posts. Anyone can make one: For better or worse, anyone can write a blog post about anything they want. Everyone has a voice and the best voices will rise to the top. The writer can show their personality: In blog posts, the writer has more leeway to add in their voice and personality than other types of writing. Blogs are a great form of mass communication: You can help people, learn new things, entertain your audience-the possibilities are endless and amazing. Blogging opens up all of these to a very wide audience. You can make money: Get the right blog going and you can make a lot of money through advertising and sponsored posts. It allows people to craft better thoughts: Instead of reading haphazard, uneducated Facebook statuses, it's much better to see people's thought process in a well-written blog post. You can establish a community: Blogging allows you to connect with other individuals who share the same interests. Sharing ideas and opinions within your community helps establish yourself as a thought leader. Good for SEO: Keeping content on your site fresh and relevant, you can use your blog to boost the search engine ranking (SEO) of your site and your business. It brings people back to your site: If your blog is strong enough and updated regularly, people will come back looking for more and bring traffic back to your site as well. It's free: It costs you a grand total of zero dollars to post to the blog, so if you have something to say, there's nothing to stop you. You can establish yourself as a thought leader: A blog is a great place for your original thoughts, and it can be a wonderful way to show off your individuality. If people like your ideas, you can become a thought leader in your industry! What else do you love about blogs? Let me know!

I have finally decided to take the plunge and add a blog to my site. I always wanted an easy way to share information with visitors and I'm super excited to start this journey. Keep coming back to my site and check for updates right here on the blog.