Munson new preschool teacher at Milestones

Jane Munson is a citizen of the world, and her travels have taken her from growing up in China, to California, and most recently to North Dakota.

Munson has been hired as the new preschool teacher at Milestones Early Learning, LLC, in Carrington, and brings a wealth of teaching experience to the daycare provider located on 530 Joal Drive.

She looks forward to getting to know the children of the Central City, and is anxious to steer her students towards a lifetime of learning.

"The activities we are planning for Milestones students include practical life skills, math, language, geography, and many other fun activities such as music and arts and crafts," Munson says.

Born Lin Jianying, Munson grew up in Shanghai, one of the largest cities in the world with a population of almost 30 million people as of 2024.

She began her teaching career in 2007 as a private piano teacher, and had about 30 students in her home-based studio. Many of those pupils participated in level testing and nationwide piano competitions each year.

After achieving her degree in 2010 in piano performance, she later moved to California two years later to attend college at California State University-Northridge.

She met her husband, James Munson of Grace City, in Los Angeles in 2017. James joined the Marine Corps at the age of 19 after leaving North Dakota.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Munson worked remotely from her home, and her husband approached her with an idea.

"He suggested it might be a good opportunity for us to spend more time with family [in North Dakota]," Jane says. "I knew he missed life in the Midwest - it's quieter, with fewer people and less traffic. Most importantly, his family is here. So, we decided to stay and give it a try."

The hustle and bustle of the Far East, then to the West Coast, and to the tranquil prairies of the upper Midwest, has been a bit of an adjustment for Munson.

"Moving from Shanghai to California and then to North Dakota has been quite a cultural shock on many levels," she said.

Around the time she met her husband, Munson was certified as a Montessori teacher.

The Montessori method, named for its founder, Maria Montessori, emphasizes child-centered learning instead of a formalized teaching curriculum.

"Children are given the freedom to choose their activities, and work at their own pace within a structured environment," Munson says.

Some of the characteristics of the Montessori method also include a prepared environment, which encourages independence, exploration, and a sense of order; mixed-age classrooms, learning through discovery, intrinsic motivation, and respect for the child.

"Overall, the Montessori method aims to develop the whole child - socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually - by fostering independence, self-discipline, and a natural love of learning," said Munson.

With her musical background, for example, Munson plans to teach her students how to read music and build a sense of rhythm, and create their own unique melodies.

"They will learn on their own pace, work as fast or as slow to go in order to understand the concepts," she said.

Her first day at Milestones Learning Center is scheduled for Tuesday, September 3.

Milestones owner Whitney Carter is also announcing the opening of "Milestones in Motion", a gymnasium space occupying the former Church of the Nazarene sanctuary and which was utilized by the Carrington Gymnastics Club before they moved to their present location.

Milestones in Motion will be open some weekday evenings and weekends, available to the general public. Hours, pricing, passes, and birthday and party packages will be announced soon, according to Carter, and a grand opening is also in the works.

Carter currently has openings at Milestones for daycare slots, as the business is in the process of updating their license to a center in order to accommodate more kids.

According to Carter, if Milestones gets more than 11 enrollees, she will be able to co-teach up to 20 students alongside Munson.

To contact Milestones Early Learning, LLC, call (701) 652-6352, e-mail them at [email protected], or message them through their Facebook page.