Kimberly Kneppers roots are in Lake Charles and she said that she wouldn’t have it any other place.
The 35-year old Lake Charles resident has lived in Lake Charles her entire life. She said that her grandparents and parents are both locals. Jared, her husband has been running Curious Creators Montessori school from their home since August 2020.
Knepper attended Queen of Heaven School as well as St. Louis Catholic High School. She briefly attended McNeese State University, where she studied psychology, but she decided to leave after a year.
Knepper started working full-time and ended up at Christus Ochsner St. Patrick Hospital’s admitting department. She also obtained an online certification in office management from Sowela Technical Community College.
Knepper married Jared in 2010. They were married in 2010. She became pregnant with Jordan. Unfortunately, Jordan was prematurely delivered and died in January 2012. Knepper discovered that Jordan was born prematurely and died in January 2012. To recuperate, she was in bed and took a year off from her job at Christus.
Knepper fell pregnant again, having her second son Nathan, now eight, and Ethan, six months later. Ethan’s pregnancy caused her blood clotting and other health problems that forced her to be bedbound. It was at this time that she began to consider her future.
Many people believed that I would make a great teacher, she said. I had a lot to do research.
Knepper decided to stay home with her sons after Ethan’s birth. She also enrolled at University of Phoenix to study online early childhood education. She still has about a year to complete her bachelor’s degree.
Knepper discovered the Montessori education method while she was enrolled in college. This style of teaching is more learner-driven and provides structure and guidelines.
She stated that children can learn how they want. They are learning independently, but it is more based on what their choose.
Knepper stated that she started watching other children in 2016 while staying at home with her boys. Erin-Beth Carter, cofounder of Acton Academy Lake Charles asked Knepper if she would like to teach young children at home. It wasn’t until 2020.
Knepper opened her Montessori school in her home in August 2020. She teaches approximately seven students full-time. Their ages range from 2-4 years. Half-day sessions are offered by other students.
Knepper said that although Hurricane Lauras landfall was not a major threat to their home, it did not cause significant damage three weeks after the Montessori school had opened. Jared and Jared were driven by the storm to open Curious Creators, their own business. She described the first year of Curious Creators as a rollercoaster. Her home nearly flooded last May, while she was teaching her students.
Knepper stated that Jared, who was employed by Levingston Engineering in drafting, was laid off last spring. Jared quit the field completely to concentrate solely on Curious Creators.
All of our families and friends were there, and family is everything, she stated. Jared manages the office and handles all the paperwork. I’m the teacher and he assists me.
Knepper describes Curious Creators to be a close-knit, family-oriented environment. Knepper said that students are learning how to do household chores like washing dishes and laundry.
She said that children are curious and eager to learn. We were not only teaching numbers and letters. We teach how things work in the home.
Knepper stated that the ultimate goal is to save enough money for a second home to renovate and become the school’s main location. She plans to finish college and eventually earn a master’s degree in early childhood education.
Knepper said that Lake Charles is dear to her heart. One reason is the community’s ability to bounce back from natural disasters.
She said Lake Charles has seen so much. I am proud of the community and how it sticks together. I admire the strong, caring, and loving spirit that exists in our community. This is what I want for my children.
