Hello all!  I am incredibly excited to join the staff at Spirit at Play. This fall I will be Allison’s Teaching Assistant in the Owl classroom (the 4s, almost 4s and almost 5s). I gradated in May of this year from the University of Montana with a BA in English Creative Writing.  My last semesters in school I refocused much of my energy toward education and teaching. Outside of school, I have always found myself drawn to working with young people and in the field of education.  I was a long time volunteer for the McKinney Tutoring Project, a program which provides after-school tutoring for homeless and at-risk families. I also volunteered for G.U.T.S! (Girls Using Their Strengths), an amazing afterschool and summer program run by the YWCA.  I was born and raised in Missoula, MT and still absolutely love living here. In fact, I graduated from Spirit at Play 17 years ago!   I am thrilled to return and this time be able to reach the sink without a footstool and I have finally mastered coloring in the lines. I must admit that I remember only bits and pieces from my time at Sprit at Play, but I truly believe that an incredibly thoughtful and nurturing program such as Spirit at Play, positively affects a child’s life in immense and immeasurable ways. I believe that active learning in the outdoors and the community integrated with emotional and social development is the most effective and meaningful education a person can have, and it is one that should start as early in a person's life as possible. I believe in the importance of play and independence in child’s life, in encouraging all kinds of creativity, thinking and activities and I look forward to providing a safe and structured place in which to explore, learn and have fun! I feel privileged and delighted to be a part of this incredible time in their lives. Like Allison, I absolutely love knowing that when I come to work I am sure to learn something new, and feel quite assured that I will never have a boring day on the job.  I will be a substitute off and on until I start full time in the fall and I would love to meet all of the students and families if you have time to stop by for introductions! 

I look forward to meeting you and your child,

Madison Unsworth