Jāna Vītols, has had many unique educational experiences, from her early home schooled years to her later studies at Naropa University, a school that provided a Contemplative Education. There she blended her interests in the arts and psychology and received a bachelor’s degree in Dance/Movement Therapy.

She joined her first Reggio preschool classroom in Seattle, WA, in 1998. For the next 24 years she stayed connected to Early Childhood Education, as both a classroom teacher and an art and music specialist. Though her touchstone is the Reggio approach, she has also had wonderful experiences in Montessori, Parent Co-operative, and Developmental preschool programs, as well as with Play-Based, Anti-Bias, and Emergent Curricula. Her passion for the Reggio approach was so great that she employed this pedagogy when homeschooling her own child from preschool-7th grade.

Jāna is inspired by young children’s creativity, vulnerability, boundless curiosity, and wonder. She creates an empathetic and equitable classroom environment, supporting each child as they cultivate positive personal and social identities.

Outside of school, she enjoys gardening with her partner, practicing yoga, playing banjo (and other strings) and spending time with her family in the Shenandoah Valley.