JoAnn Barney, has been in early childhood education since 1965.  She holds a B.S. from the University of Delaware in early education/child development.  She received her M.Ed. from Loyola College in Baltimore, MD. Ms. Barney taught Kindergarten for many years before turning to the administrative side of Preschool.  She has worked for both large and small corporate child care companies as a center director, regional Manager, and staff training specialist. 

JoAnn was trained in the very first NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) program to become a validator for the national academy of accreditation for child care centers in 1985. She has validated centers for NAEYC on the West and East coast as well as in Germany. Ms. Barney is also the author of "Color their World Print Rich" a training manual to assist staff in developing early literacy skills in preschool age children. Concerned, that too often child care in America was focusing on corporate profits, rather than creative programs where small groups of children could interact with highly trained educators in developmentally appropriate activities, she joined forces with her brother Patrick to form Flagstone Associates, a school for young children.

Patrick Barney, is the other half of the corporate team. Patrick, an educator himself, has a BA in English & a MA in Education. He taught for many years on the High School level before turning to the business world and focusing on the running of better human relations departments for such corporations as ITT and Coke. In 1990, while teaching part-time at Northern Virginia Community College, he teamed up with his sister to open the first Flagstone School. While holding down the operational end of the Flagstone business Patrick lives in Nevada, where he and his wife pursue an independent filming company.

OUR STAFF

At Flagstone we are incredibly proud of our dedicated team of teachers who bring passion, experience and heart into our classroom every single day. Our teachers are more than caregivers; they are mentors, role models and advocates for children in their care. Many of them have been part of the Flagstone family for years with some serving for nearly two decade and others for 18 years or more. They longevity speak volumes about the supportive and collaborative environment we’ve built and their unwavering dedication to early childhood education.

Each teacher brings their own unique strengths, creativity and warmth to the classroom forming strong nurturing relationships with the children and families they serve. They are deeply committed to fostering a safe, engaging and inclusive learning environment where every child feels valued and encouraged to grow at their own pace.

We believe that ongoing professional development is essential to maintaining the highest standard of care and education. Throughout the year, our staff participate in a variety of training sessions focused on child development, curriculum planning, classroom management, health, safety and fostering family partnership. These trainings are carefully selected to align with best practices in early childhood education and to ensure our teachers stay informed, inspired and equipped to meet the evolving needs of children in their care whether it’s through in-house workshops, guest speakers or certified courses, we are committed to investing in our team’s growth as they continue providing a nurturing, engaging and high-quality environment for every child.

Through ongoing trainings, team work and a genuine love for what they do our teachers continue to evolve and excel in their roles ensuring that Flagstones remains where both children and educators can flourish.