Montessori Modernized
Montessori Modernized
Our Vision
Our Vision
the quality of being clever, original, and inventive.
At The Berthold Academy we believe in the power of originality. Traditional education requires the child to think in a singular way. To memorize information and regurgitate it for evaluation. We don't ask children to take the time to actually understand what they are learning. Our goal for our students is to learn through engagement, discovery, repetition, and failure.
the ability to transcend traditional ideas.
Our school is founded on the ideal that there isn't just one way to complete any task. We must guide our students in leadership and innovation. What we want for your children is not only an academic education of the highest caliber, but for them to explore internally exactly who they are and what they excel at.
the quality of having special knowledge or skill in a field.
Throughout your child's time with The Berthold Academy, he or she will explore many different academic and practical concepts. Through keen adult observation and conversations with you and your child we will start to hone in on exactly the areas in which they truly excel. They will be encouraged to pursue these talents to their fullest extent.
““The only way you can invent tomorrow is if you break out of the enclosure that the school system has provided for you by the exams written by people who are trained in another generation.”
modernizing montessori.
At Berthold Academy our goal is to provide a high quality Montessori education to our students while taking a vested interest in each to ensure happiness and success in education and life.
For too long the state of American education has been stagnant. Children in traditional and public education have been trained from the moment upon entering to serve the adult. They tell children what to learn, when to learn, and how to learn. Never taking the time to learn about who your child is and how he or she may most effectively learn.
Education should be about the whole child experience. Children need an individualized curriculum that challenges them at their own competency level in each area of the classroom. If done properly, children will remain engaged in their work. We pride ourselves in having a goal of 100% student engagement. A school can have a multitude of resources and tools available to students; however, if the student is not engaged, resources become meaningless.
We guide your children to take ownership of their own education., and to feel empowered to engage new concepts with confidence, competence, and curiosity. We want your child to open the doors to the unlimited realms of what is possible. Through low ratios, teacher/student engagement, supplemental activities to bridge the gap of Montessori and traditional, and an extensive practical educational curriculum, Berthold Academy stands out as the only elementary and secondary Montessori school in the Northern Virginia area.
About Our Founders
About Our Founders
Rodney Berthold - Founder/CEO
Rodney Berthold has been teaching elementary, middle school, and high school students for almost two decades. In addition to acquiring his Masters in Secondary Education at Xavier University, Rodney holds AMS certifications in El I, El II, Sec I, and Sec II. He has also worked as an instructor in Elementary Geometry at the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies. He has served on several AMS accreditation onsite visitation teams. Rodney has presented sessions at numerous AMS conferences. He is a father of two adolescent girls, and is currently working as an independent consultant and tutor. Rodney founded Berthold Academy for the Gifted and Talented in 2015.
Garrett Wilhelm - Co-founder/Head of School
Garrett started his career in Montessori after working at a summer camp in Reston, VA. two children in his group stood out among the rest as well rounded, well behaved, and well educated. Garrett asked the children's parents why these children were so different from each other. Their response..........Montessori Education.
Garrett has been an influential part of the the growing Montessori community in Northern Virginia for over 18 years. He worked for two well known, well established Montessori schools as a Primary trained teacher and then took leadership as Director. He has successfully worked to build educational communities of honesty, transparency, involvement, and compassion.
Our Staff
Our Staff
Rodney Berthold - Founder/CEO/Upper Elementary And Middle School Lead Educator
Ryan Plummer - Director of Admissions
Jessica Simpson - Yoga and Peace Educator
Sze Wong - Technology Discovery Educator
Garrett Wilhelm - Co-founder/Head of School
Jaya Kedar - Lower Elementary Lead Educator
Ainsley Van Over - Elementary Intern Educator
Friends of Berthold
Friends of Berthold
Berthold Academy gets by with a little help from our friends! Below is a list of our partners in bringing the highest quality education to our students.
A truly visionary partnership with AltSchool to provide the most forward-thinking and innovative platform of communication and educational applications to our community.
Check out Children's House Montessori School, our sister school in Reston. Receive 5% off our tuition if coming from Children's House and younger siblings of Berthold students (Primary aged) will receive 5% off tuition at Children's House MontessorI!
We love Little Oaks for their research and psychological approach to Montessori!
Berthold has partnered with the Reston YMCA in many capacities from our before and aftercare program to our community garden.
Berthold Academy's yoga curriculum and program is sponsored by ivivva, you might have heard of their parent company...Lululemon!
Jessica Wallach our resident photographer owns her own business as well! Click on the logo to visit her website!
We use scandic health daily to increase concentration, relax, and calm down. We have seen amazing effects using this product and are happy o be partnering with them!
Jessica Fawcett, Berthold's on staff Yoga Instructor/Peace Educator has her very own private yoga business! Click on the picture below to learn all about Soul Wise Yoga.
Media
Media
The latest Berthold news! Click logo for the story!
