About Us
We are a Montessori inspired learning community for homeschool families to connect and grow together.
The vision of SMMC is to create a caring space where kids and parents connect to nurture a love for learning and live life together. We aim to raise capable children with creative minds and compassionate hearts; connected to self, others, and God.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7
Our mission is to cultivate a vibrant learning community where children are invited into meaningful exploration and self-discovery, grounded in the truth that we are souls created with dignity and purpose, in the image of God. We nurture the whole child—mind, body, and spirit—through an approach to education inspired by Montessori principles and the sacred rhythms found in Scripture. We empower children to think critically, embrace their curiosity, and grow in both independence and reverence. We support parents by building a Biblically-centered community where each person feels safe, seen, and supported—encouraged to be lifelong learners and compassionate leaders within their families and the world.
Our Team
We are a deeply committed founding team, united by a shared desire to create something different for our children and our community. Together, we are planting the seeds of a peaceful, faith-rooted learning environment where children and families can truly flourish.
Brittany McCarthy
Founder & Lead Guide
Brittany is a second-generation homeschooling mother of three and the visionary behind Sound Minds Montessori Community. With over 15 years of experience in music education and 5 years working with families to incorporate Sound Therapy for autism, anxiety, and ADHD, she developed a deep appreciation for the power of prepared environments, the role of the prepared adult, and the importance of spiritual formation in raising children. She holds a certificate in Sound Therapy and Montessori Essentials. She is passionate about creating a peaceful space where children and families can grow in wisdom, connection, and purpose.
Yanai Leonides
Founder & Lead Guide
Yanai has had a lifelong love for teaching, learning, and reading. She pursued a BA and MA in English literature. After spending time in a variety of classrooms she became very interested in the alternatives the Montessori method offers. She believes, as a community, we can build a model of teaching designed for how we learn, a model that supports and builds strong families. Yanai is thrilled to collaborate with the Sound Minds community which she considers more of a ministry dedicated to inspiring and guiding the future generation, the generation that will "repair the broken walls" (Isaiah 58:12).
Future Guide
Bios coming soon!
We refer to our learning community teachers as “guides” because they do more than just teach.
Montessori guides don’t stand at the front of a classroom reciting facts to a group. Instead, they prepare the environment, observe, and support each child’s individual path of learning. They establish trust, help children discover their strengths, and serve as peaceful, intentional role models.
Interested in Joining Our Team?
We are currently interviewing Montessori-aligned guides for the 2025–2026 school year. If you feel called to this work, we’d love to connect.
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Our Space
We are currently preparing classroom space in Brentwood, TN.
Community Bible Church has graciously opened up their annex building and allowed us full use of the building and outdoor space during our core learning days.
The Montessori Prepared Environment is grounded in six key principles:
Freedom, Structure & Order, Beauty, Nature & Reality, Social Environment, and Intellectual Environment.
Each classroom is intentionally designed to meet the unique developmental needs of its age group, supporting independence, curiosity, and a sense of peace.
Our Story
Sound Minds Montessori Community began as a quiet prayer in a season of seeking. As a now second-generation homeschool mom of three, I knew I wanted something different for my children—something rooted not just in academic excellence, but in peace, presence, and spiritual formation.
Over the years, through my work in music education and sound therapy, I discovered the beauty of the prepared environment and the sacred role of the prepared adult. I was deeply drawn to Montessori philosophy for its respect for the child, hands-on learning, and emphasis on inner discipline and independence. I also felt a strong pull toward rhythms of rest, wonder, and worship—elements often missing from traditional education spaces.
My older children attended a half-day Christian Montessori preschool that was absolutely wonderful—a rich environment and a great support for me as a mother. But as they aged out of the program, I couldn’t find a long-term community that brought together everything I hoped for their continued formation:
🌿 A faith-rooted environment that honors the child’s development
🎶 An atmosphere of beauty, reverence, and creativity
🏡 A place where families feel supported—spiritually, practically, and emotionally
We joined a full-time Montessori school thinking it might be the answer. But I soon realized it didn’t allow me to fully live out the values I held for our family: rushed mornings, long separations from my own children, and difficulties with leadership and classroom dynamics. It confirmed what I had sensed for years:
We were being called to build what we couldn’t find.
Sound Minds is more than a program—it’s a movement toward a slower, sacred way of raising children. A space where learning is joyful, where faith is lived, and where families grow in connection with one another and with God.
We’re just getting started—and we’d love for you to join the journey.
-Brittany McCarthy