Alumni

Thaleia attends BASIS DC, a school with a STEM focus in Washington, DC. Next year, as a 9th grader, Thaleia will be focusing on physics, chemistry, and pre-calculus. Thaleia also performs in the school play and plays ice hockey.

Athena attends BASIS DC, a school with a STEM focus in Washington, DC. Next year, as a 7th grader, Athena will be continue coursework in biology, physics, chemistry, and Algebra.Athena also takes advance art courses and rides horses.

My name is Desmond McShea. I am one of the first graduates of The T.E.C. Schools and am currently a freshman at Saint John’s High School. I believe strongly that the education that your children receive here at T.E.C. is stronger than most other forms of education. The experiences I had at T.E.C. have been very helpful in all my courses of study and prepared me to adapt and thrive in my new traditional classroom. I would like to share how I can give back and together how we can enhance the experience for your children. 

My move to a traditional school was very easy. The day was very different from a Montessori style and the new school had a lot more students. Teachers were not as student-focused like those at T.E.C., but rather they were classroom centric at any given time. For the first time, I got letter grades. My experiences at T.E.C. in getting work done online and using technology in my elementary years were beneficial in completing assignments efficiently and with less stress at Saint John’s. 

I took it for granted that everyone had the skills to work independently but was surprised to find that most students did not have the depth of my portfolio of time management, organization, and interpersonal skills. For example, the work plan that every T.E.C. student creates a workplan on Monday to plan out their week is burnt into my mind. Although I do not create a physical work plan now, the practice of planning has helped me visualize what needs to get done first to organize my projects and homework according to my action plan.  

I also found that my understanding of math concepts is very grounded. Just the other day, in my Algebra 2 (H) class we watched a video about how quadratics and cubics actually look if you were to visualize them with paper or blocks materials. All of my classmates were wowed by the video, yet, this is exactly what a student at T.E.C. would do on any given day while learning math. 

I remember using the 3D printer at T.E.C. which inspired me to work with other powerful machines to create things that were only limited by my imagination. As an alumnus of T.E.C., I want to enhance the Technology Department by raising funds to purchase a Glowforge Laser Cutter. With this equipment, your children’s imagination will take them far in S.T.E.A.M. projects and in after school activities. As your children prepare for high school, they will be able to add laser cutting into the wheelhouse of the unique skills of a T.E.C. student.  

To be able to do this, I have made my pledge and invite you to make a donation to the school. These funds will develop the hearts, minds and souls of your children and give them opportunities that have been the core of this wonderful home away from home, The T.E.C. Schools,Think, Explore, Create, my beloved school. The Montessori Method is ingrained into my work ethic. It is not just a tool I use but a philosophy as a lifelong learner. 

— Desmond McShea