Jose Gutierrez served five years as an E-6 in the U.S Army as an engineering sergeant for the 7th Special force group from 2003-2008. He was deployed to Iraq on two separate occasions, once to Afghanistan, and once in New Orleans in humanitarian efforts in support of Hurricane Katrina. After the military Jose received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from CSULA.
Jose began working at an elementary school where he met his wife, Natalie, who has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Education from Pepperdine University. Working with these students changed Jose and Natalie’s lives and that’s when they decided to venture out on their own to create Small Wonders Learning Academy - where they hope to instill a strong educational foundation that will ensure the students a bright future in the digital age.
“In a world where technology is now constantly changing and improving we witness the numerous difficulties that many parents face in keeping up with the technology. Therefore, we are dedicated to providing the finest education by using the most current curriculum and technology. We would like to give back now and change the lives of students at our own school where we will have the opportunity to give a young child the strong foundation that he or she will need to become successful and make a positive impact on society in their future,” says Jose.
Small Wonders Learning Academy will offer preschoolers as a unique product; a high quality early childhood education program giving the children a significant head start on what will soon become the central pursuit of their lives. They will motivate the children to learn through social play, self-expression, arts and crafts, dramatic play, storytelling and reading, social development, physical development, one-on-one learning, music and movement, free play, circle time, math, language arts, and science. These skills are also woven into every aspect of the student’s day, utilizing technology like iPad minis, current curriculum, and modern technology-driven programs, allowing the student’s to use their higher order thinking skills.
Small Wonders Academy will be located in Sylmar, California.