Early Learning Center
Montessori Education
The L. Daniel Hutto Early Learning Center (ELC) is a Montessori preschool for children ages 3-5 who are deaf/hard of hearing or blind/visually impaired. The ELC is a place where your child can learn and grow in a cheerful, nurturing and stimulating environment that emphasizes learning through discovery. Our curriculum focuses on the whole child - building social, emotional, language, self-help, motor and cognitive skills daily through lessons and interactions with staff and peers. Children are led to ask questions, problem-solve, explore, investigate and discover. These processes all help to foster communication and build a love of learning. In finding their own solutions they expand their knowledge base and personalize their learning. Our Montessori preschool nurtures a joy for learning that will prepare children for learning for years to come.
The Montessori approach cultivates a child’s natural desire to learn, think, and act independently. Children are able to work at their own pace and ability, and they learn to act with care and respect toward their fellow students.
Stay and Play Group
The parent-involved Stay and Play Group on the FSDB campus provides developmental learning experiences for children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing or Blind/Visually Impaired, ages birth to 36 months and their caregivers.
The early years are when children use their bodies, senses, and emerging problem-solving skills to make sense of their world. Babies and toddlers actively seek information by exploring their environment and making new discoveries
ELC news
Director
ELC Director
Catherine Bailey
Catherine Bailey is the Director of the L. Daniel Hutto Early Learning Center (ELC), a Montessori preschool at FSDB. She earned her bachelor's degree in special education and her master's degree in Deaf Education from the University of North Florida. Ms. Bailey has worked with young children for over 12 years as a preschool teacher, an itinerant teacher, and a Deaf/Hard of Hearing self-contained teacher for PK-1st grade in Jacksonville, FL. Ms. Bailey began working at FSDB in January of 2024.
Master of Arts, Deaf Education, University of North Florida
Bachelor of Arts, Special Education, University of North Florida
teachers & Support Staff
Amy Bassett
Audiologist
Becca Champney
DHH Teacher
Brittany Helwig
BVI Teacher
Tonnette Williams
BVI Instructional Assistant
Cally Traetto
Literacy Specialist
Donna Huffstetler
Speech-Language Pathologist (Blind)
Delia Lozano
DHH Teacher
Glenda Freeman
DHH Instructional Assistant
Dan Binder
Psychologist
Rachel Redfern
Speech-Language Pathologist (Deaf)
Brooke Stimpfle
DHH Teacher
Lauren Mello
DHH Instructional Assistant
Lenore Boerner
ASL Specialist
Sharon Griffiths
Speech Teacher (Deaf)
Kallie Alvarado
BVI Teacher
TBA
BVI Instructional Assistant
Alesia Milczarski
Behavior Specialist