Ivybrook Academy
Coming this fall to Frisco, Ivybrook Academy is a private, half-day preschool program that will provide children from 18 months to 5 years with a strong foundation for their future through a progressive and adaptive curriculum.
Ivybrook Academy is founded on Margaret Meade’s principle that, “Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.” Their half-day curriculum was created to optimize children’s school engagement and overall well-being. Each day, children participate in a curriculum designed to develop social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills. The curriculum also includes scheduled downtime that enhances children’s physical and mental well-being.
Owners Amyn and Alicia Amlani purchased this Ivybrook Academy franchise, the second in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, in June 2021. Their impetus was two-fold. Amyn, who has a Ph.D. in Psychoacoustics and was tenured as a university Full Professor, noted a marked depreciation in the foundational and creative skills of the younger generations. Alicia, an accountant with extensive executive leadership skills through previous roles as a Comptroller and CFO, saw a large demand for private preschools and a corresponding lack of these in Frisco.
Residents of Frisco since 2005, the Amlani’s both grew up in the Dallas area. They met in 1988 and married ten years later while Amyn was working on his doctorate at Michigan State University. They have three children; Grant (26), Yasmin (19), and Caleb (18), all graduates of Frisco ISD high schools.
Ivybrook Academy’s blended curriculum is built on individualized Montessori instruction, Reggio Emelia’s project-based learning, and Gardner’s 8 Multiple Intelligences research. Applying these to a learning environment allows Ivybrook educators to reveal each child as a capable, competent learner who contributes his/her own experiences to the classroom and is in charge of their own learning. Development learning is quantified and qualified using proprietary software to which the curriculum is then individualized to that child’s skillset at that moment in time, with results shared with parents at various intervals throughout the academic year.
Something that sets Ivybrook apart is its student-to-teacher, which is much lower than the state-mandated standard. According to the Ivybrook owners, “This allows educators to develop a relationship with each child, who through innate inquisition, learns about the environment using a multisensory approach (movement, touch, smell, hearing, and vision).”
Parents of children at sister campuses are singing the praises of Ivybrook Academy. Here’s one example:
"The Ivybrook learning and development experience has been a pleasure and a joy to be a part of. Along with the great curriculum and teaching, our daughter has grown leaps and bounds developmentally. The learning environment is warm and nurturing and it lets her learn at her own pace and introduces a new challenge for her on a consistent basis. We are truly blessed to know that she is in good hands during the time that she is away from us. I would recommend Ivybrook Academy to anyone who is looking for the best half-day preschool. We look forward to continuing our children’s preschool education with Ivybrook." - The Christian Family
The Frisco Campus, located at Panther Creek Parkway and Dallas North Tollway, is under construction. They are currently enrolling for Fall 2023, with classes starting in October, and invite residents to contact them for additional information and to discuss whether Ivybrook is the right fit for their child.
Ivybrook can be reached at 469.809.5033 or at www.ivybrookacademy.com/frisco. Virtual tours and in-person meetings are also available.