Menu
Montessori Kids Universe Homewood recognizes that our caring, dedicated teachers are what makes our school so valuable. MKU Homewood recruits and maintains a high-quality staff through an intensive selection and vetting process. We provide on-going professional development and growth opportunities within our school, and foster a healthy work environment for our employees. Meet the most important aspect of our school: Our quality teaching staff!
Jason and Kimberly McDougall are the owners of Montessori Kids Universe in Homewood, Alabama. They have three beautiful little girls who are current students at MKU Homewood. Their children are the love of their lives and when they decided to give up their careers they wanted to do something that would allow them to spend more time with them and make sure they had the best start in life. Jason and Kimberly both believe in the Montessori teaching method as Jason started his education at Sunrise Montessori in Citrus Heights, CA. We have witnessed our daughters firsthand grow with the MKU program and turn into sweet, independent and strong little girls.
Kimberly McDougall graduated from Hoover High School in 2000 and from the University of Alabama in 2004 with a degree in Telecommunication and Film. She started her professional career as a news reporter and anchor for WVUA 7 news in Tuscaloosa. She then went on to work for CBS 42 news in Birmingham before finding her way FOX 40 News in Sacramento, CA. It’s there that she met her best friend and now husband. In 2014 they welcomed their first daughter and it wasn’t long after that Jason and Kimberly decided they wanted to move back to Alabama and open a state of the art Montessori preschool that would not only challenge our daughter but inspire her to find a love of learning. Kimberly love’s coming to work every day and seeing all the bright and smiley faces ready to learn and have fun. Outside of work, Kimberly loves spending time with family, rooting on her beloved Crimson Tide and playing with her girls at the park.
Jason McDougall was born in Sacramento, CA and is an identical twin. After receiving a job promotion, Jason’s father moved his family to Redmond, Washington in 1994. It’s there where Jason graduated from Redmond High School and eventually earned a degree in Business from Washington State University in 2002. Jason then moved back to California where he began a career in property management. Over the course of thirteen years with the same company, he held numerous positions where he gained knowledge in all aspects of business ranging from accounting to acquisitions. He knew with his business experience and his wife’s communications and sales experience that they would be a great business team. Kim and Jason are so happy to have discovered the Montessori Kids Universe Franchise and to have opened the first MKU in the State of Alabama. Aside from work Jason is a huge football fan and loves boating, camping and fly fishing. Most importantly he loves hanging out with his wife and three daughters!
Jan H. is the Head of School at MKU Homewood. She is from a small town in West Virginia and comes from a family of seven children. Jan moved to Alabama to work as a Space Camp Counselor at the U. S. Space and Rocket Center in 2001. After falling in love with teaching children, Ms. Jan changed her college studies from Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering to Elementary Education. She earned her degree from Athens State University in 2008. Before teaching preschool, Ms. Jan taught elementary and middle school students at a small private school in Huntsville. She has worked with ESL (English as a Second Language) students, children with Selective Mutism, and those who are hearing and visually impaired. After living in Fort Lauderdale for almost a year, Ms. Jan and her family moved to Birmingham. She has been working at MKU since it first opened in 2017 and received her Montessori certification that same year. Ms. Jan has earned an International Montessori Teaching Diploma from the North American Montessori Center’s Early Childhood Teacher Training Program for ages three to six years. She has also earned her Montessori Teaching Certificate for ages birth to three years from the Montessori Kids Universe Training Institute. Ms. Jan has been married to Mr. Bryan for 11 years and together they have two children, Riley and Elijah.
Julia is originally from Los Angeles, California, but moved to Birmingham as a child and grew up in the metro area. She graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a degree in Psychology with a focus in Child Psychology. Before becoming a Montessori teacher, Julia helped run an afterschool care program within the Shelby County public school system for ten years. After getting married and deciding to start a family, she changed careers and fell in love with the Montessori way of teaching. She taught for two years as a Montessori teacher, before coming to MKU in 2018. Julia completed her Montessori Teaching Certificate from the MKU Training Institute-Montessori Early Childhood Education Program. She and her husband have been married for 7 years and have two children
Ms. Casey is one of our Casa Lead Teachers for MKU Homewood. She is also the Lead Teacher for the afternoon Da Vinci Kids program. Ms. Casey is from the Birmingham area and attended college at the University of Montevallo where she graduated with honors. She earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Art with a concentration in Painting and also won several art awards while attending college. Ms. Casey has completed her International Montessori Teaching Diploma from the North American Montessori Center for children ages three to six years old. Ms. Casey is married to her talented husband Jon and they have a little boy who attended school here at MKU before going to Kindergarten. Ms. Casey enjoys gardening and teaching the children about botany. She has been with M.K.U. since the school opened in 2017.
Ms. Kayla is from the Town of the Tide, Tuscaloosa, AL. She now lives in her own home in Clanton AL. She is the middle child of four brothers, two older and two younger. Ms. Kayla has loved children since she was a child herself. Her life dream was to teach children and here she is doing what she loves. Ms Kayla has been working with children since she graduated high school and she has been at MKU since 2018. Kayla earned her International Montessori Teaching Diploma from the North American Montessori Center Infant/Toddler Teacher Training Program for ages birth to three years. She has also earned her Montessori Teaching Certification from the Montessori Kids Universe Training Institute for children three to six years.
Hannah has over ten years of experience working with and caring for children. She graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the fall of 2010 with a degree in Social Work. She started teaching preschool after college and fell in love with it. Hannah has previously worked at two Birmingham area preschools and taught various age groups. She was also the Lead teacher of her own classroom for five years. Ms. Hannah has a passion for working with preschool age children and helping them learn and develop. She is excited for this new role and to work with all of the wonderful families at MKU! In her spare time, Ms. Hanna loves to watch movies, attend concerts, read, and spend time with her family and boyfriend.
Ms. Kait is currently a senior in college at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is working to complete her Bachelors in Early Childhood Education. She just completed her Montessori certification through the Montessori Kids Universe Training Institute for children birth to three years of age. Ms. Kait is from Oxford, AL and is the middle child with two brothers. When Ms. Kait is not at school, she is spending time with friends and taking care of her two kitties. Kait has always wanted to work with children in some capacity. Her goal is to teach and connect with as many children as possible for as long as possible.
Let’s Build Something Great Together!
Copyright © 2024 Montessori Kids Universe | All rights reserved
