Staff Spotlight: Usha Ramprasad
𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟?
This is my ninth year working at West Side and I am enjoying every moment of my time that I
spend with our children in the classroom. I am passionate about my educational role in a child’s
educational journey and do not take this amazing responsibility lightly. My passion for working
with young children began when I was a volunteer parent at my own children’s classroom many
years ago. That led me to discover Montessori education and got my certification from Indian
Montessori Center, India. It is such a joy to watch each and every child learn and grow. When I
am not working, I enjoy reading, walking and gardening. I am also a yoga enthusiast and a
world traveler. Spending time with my family is very important to me.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞?
“Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence
and of the greater possibilities of their future”.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬?
Our Grace and Courtesy lessons focus on Respect among other things. And teaching children
to become respectful helps generate empathy for others and a feeling of self-worth. In addition,
it will teach children to co-exist and accept people’s differences. Always taking the time to speak
with a child patiently and attentively and listening to what they have to say and reacting
thoughtfully, when a child makes mistakes, makes them feel valued. Children learn to be
respectful by watching adults model this very skill and not by solely listening to what we say.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢?
In a Montessori classroom, everything is something to be discovered. I love that children aren’t
handed information in a book and told to learn it but are given a set of materials and exercises
that require them to use their senses. Montessori is very hands-on and tactile. I think that is
what fosters a lifelong love for learning and the freedom to explore. I have rarely heard a child
complain about being at school! They are always excited about what they are working on and
what they are working toward. I love that Montessori does not just lecture, but encourages
children to delve deeper, ask questions and examine for themselves.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞?
West Side’s mission statement pretty much summarizes what our school is all about. A
fundamental belief is that children learn best within a social environment that supports and
respects each child’s unique development. And West Side is all about focusing on the
development of the whole child. There is no competition. Each child learns at his or her own
pace and the outcome is confident and self-motivated learners.
This is my ninth year working at West Side and I am enjoying every moment of my time that I
spend with our children in the classroom. I am passionate about my educational role in a child’s
educational journey and do not take this amazing responsibility lightly. My passion for working
with young children began when I was a volunteer parent at my own children’s classroom many
years ago. That led me to discover Montessori education and got my certification from Indian
Montessori Center, India. It is such a joy to watch each and every child learn and grow. When I
am not working, I enjoy reading, walking and gardening. I am also a yoga enthusiast and a
world traveler. Spending time with my family is very important to me.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞?
“Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence
and of the greater possibilities of their future”.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬?
Our Grace and Courtesy lessons focus on Respect among other things. And teaching children
to become respectful helps generate empathy for others and a feeling of self-worth. In addition,
it will teach children to co-exist and accept people’s differences. Always taking the time to speak
with a child patiently and attentively and listening to what they have to say and reacting
thoughtfully, when a child makes mistakes, makes them feel valued. Children learn to be
respectful by watching adults model this very skill and not by solely listening to what we say.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢?
In a Montessori classroom, everything is something to be discovered. I love that children aren’t
handed information in a book and told to learn it but are given a set of materials and exercises
that require them to use their senses. Montessori is very hands-on and tactile. I think that is
what fosters a lifelong love for learning and the freedom to explore. I have rarely heard a child
complain about being at school! They are always excited about what they are working on and
what they are working toward. I love that Montessori does not just lecture, but encourages
children to delve deeper, ask questions and examine for themselves.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞?
West Side’s mission statement pretty much summarizes what our school is all about. A
fundamental belief is that children learn best within a social environment that supports and
respects each child’s unique development. And West Side is all about focusing on the
development of the whole child. There is no competition. Each child learns at his or her own
pace and the outcome is confident and self-motivated learners.
Toledo Campus
Perrysburg Campus
West Side Montessori is an independent, accredited Montessori school educating children 13 months through 8th grade (preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school). We are one of the leading private schools in Toledo and the nation.
WSM does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability in the administration of its admission policy, educational policy, or any school-administered program.
WSM does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability in the administration of its admission policy, educational policy, or any school-administered program.