Journey School Lynnwood
A Reggio-Emilia Inspired, Partial Outdoor Preschool & Learning Program
p (425) 361-2302 f (425) 697-2233
We Only Have One Home
Our Reggio Emilia-Inspired Approach
Learning through non-traditional means
Reggio Inspired
At Journey School Lynnwood, our educational philosophy is deeply inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach — a world-renowned educational philosophy that sees children as curious, capable, and full of potential. Rooted in respect, relationships, and meaningful exploration, this approach complements our commitment to nature-based, child-centered learning. In practice, this means:
• Emergent Curriculum: Our teachers observe children’s interests and questions, then design projects and provocations that build on their natural curiosity. Learning unfolds organically, allowing children to become co-constructors of knowledge alongside educators.
• The Environment as the Third Teacher: Our thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor spaces invite wonder, collaboration, and creativity. Natural materials, open-ended resources, and ever-changing provocations transform our classrooms and outdoor areas into places where ideas can take root and grow.
• Documentation and Reflection: We make children’s thinking visible through documentation — photos, notes, and displays that honor each child’s learning journey. This fosters reflection, dialogue, and a strong sense of community between children, teachers, and families.
• Collaboration and Community: Relationships are at the heart of everything we do. Teachers, children, and families work together in a spirit of respect and shared discovery.
By weaving Reggio Emilia principles into our daily rhythms, we nurture children’s confidence, critical thinking, and love for learning, empowering them to explore the world with wonder and compassion.
Nature-Based Learning
At Journey School Lynnwood we believe that quality education includes daily opportunities to connect with nature. As a partial outdoor school, we model this approach on the Forest School approach, which views the outdoors as a secondary classroom. As such are outside every day no matter the weather. This approach originates from Forest School in Germany, which offers Hands-on experiences in nature and offers many ways to support young children's creativity and problem-solving skills, as well as enhancing children's cognitive abilities, social relations, and self-control. These are lifelong skills that help build happy, healthy children.
Conscious Discipline
& SEL
At JSL we embrace a resilient and growth mindset by giving our children the opportunity to solve problems on their own, with teachers helping guide that process. Developing these skills and resolving challenges in the face of adversity or frustration can cultivate empathy, mental flexibility, self-awareness, self-regulation, and conflict resolution skills, which together are known as “emotional intelligence.”
Conscious Discipline by Dr. Becky Bailey is our holistic classroom management philosophy based on up-to-date research and developmentally appropriate care. Self-management isn't just for children, it's for their important grown-ups as well! To read more about the CD approach, click here​.
Meet the Owners
Andrea & Matt Kolacz
Andrea Kolacz is the Co-Owner of JSL with her husband, Matt Kolacz.
At Journey, Andrea (Dre or Drea) drives the vision and runs the day-to-day operations with the Children, Families, Teachers and Volunteers to build a connected and supportive community, where each child and family is valued for who they are, personality, quirks, and all! Andrea’s passion is connecting with the kids and families as well as getting the kids outside, connecting with nature, and learning about the world around them. Her goal is to build a supportive, diverse, exciting environment that allows our kids and their families to flourish, grow, and learn while being a part of a connected, involved community.
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Andrea believes that by building strong, resilient, and capable children and families now, JSL is setting the stage for any possibility for their future. This is not only a personal passion of hers, but it has also been the focus of her educational background and professional training.
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Andrea has a long history in the social work field. Having had the opportunity to work in a variety of service settings, she developed a unique view and approach to Early Childhood Education. From providing direct services to community development to addressing homelessness, mental health, chemical dependency, and poverty-related issues, she saw the challenges and struggles children and families faced regularly across all walks of life. Most recently, before transitioning to ECE, Andrea did valuable advocacy work and community organizing at the local, state, and national levels on policy and funding-related issues for social services. Most notably, she and a colleague conducted a research study, looking at the local needs within Snohomish County for families living in poverty working toward self-sufficiency. This work helped drive a public-private funding partnership with Building Changes and the Gate’s Foundation to create significant changes in the way social services were provided to better meet the individual or family’s needs.
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It is from this work and these experiences that she gets the drive and motivation, as well as the desire to create an inclusive, supportive environment that helps set the foundation for children to develop their natural skills to cope with life’s demands, no matter what comes their way. At JSL, we embrace a resilient and growth mindset by giving our children the opportunity to solve problems on their own. Developing these skills and resolving challenges in the face of frustration can cultivate empathy, flexibility, self-awareness, self-regulation, and conflict resolution skills, which together are known as “emotional intelligence.”
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Andrea is a Master level clinical social worker who studied with an emphasis on individual, family, and systems work. Andrea holds a Bachelor's degree in social work with a minor in psychology from the University of Portland as well as a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington.
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The other half of this partnership is Matt, who heads JSL's operations and conducts much of the behind-the-scenes work that helps keep the school running smoothly. While not working on JSL stuff, Matt also has a private practice offering psychotherapy, bringing his expertise in chemical dependency, child mental health. He is a Licensed Independent Certified Social Worker, holding a Master's Degree in Social Work. The early part of his professional career included a variety of environments, including residential treatment services for abused and neglected children, Non-Public Schools, outpatient case management, and Family Facilitation services, to correctional settings as well as methadone treatment.
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Outside of counseling, he enjoys experiencing all things in life with his beautiful, caring, and silly family. Together, they enjoy tennis, gardening, watching movies, ALL THINGS SOUNDERS, traveling, and almost any other activity that allows me to journey together with my family.
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While not running Journey, Andrea & Matt are also the proud parent of three amazing JSL students theirselves, so their dedication to creating a meaningful foundation for children and work from a prevention approach is not only a professional focus, but also a very personal drive to give their kids' foundation and start to their lives!
Welcome to JSL, where we find the joy in our journey!