Business Details
Trusted Preschool in Virginia Beach Nurturing Young Minds
Rollingwood Academy has been dedicated to early childhood education since its founding, offering a nurturing environment where children develop critical thinking and social skills through play-based learning. Our small classroom settings and experienced educators foster independence, creativity, and character growth, aligning with our mission to make learning discoverable through meaningful interactions. With a focus on developmental appropriateness, our curriculum emphasizes leadership, problem-solving, and self-discipline, supported by a team of degreed professionals with decades of combined experience.The academys historical facility, renovated in 1999, combines a home-like atmosphere with modern safety features, including secure surveillance systems for parental peace of mind. Our directors, Susan Mathias and Evelyn Paddack, bring over 40 years of leadership in early education, ensuring a curriculum that evolves with the latest pedagogical practices while maintaining a commitment to community and family engagement.
Services
Button Willow Program
Little Bluestem Program
Southern Sundrop Program
Honeysuckle Program
Extracurricular Activities
Highlights and features
- Our degreed teachers have over 25 years of combined experience in early childhood education.
- Small classrooms ensure personalized attention and a nurturing, home-like atmosphere.
- Curriculum emphasizes play-based learning to develop creativity and problem-solving skills.
- Secure facility with surveillance systems for safety and parent observation.
- Focus on character development through teamwork, nature, and self-esteem building.
What people say
Nurturing environment
Experienced teachers
Creative curriculum
Secure facility
Character growth
Services
Button Willow Program
The Button Willow Program offers structured play-based learning for early childhood development. It focuses on creativity, social skills, and foundational academic concepts in a small-class setting. Designed to foster independence, this program prepares children for future educational challenges through hands-on activities and teacher guidance.
Little Bluestem Program
Little Bluestem provides age-appropriate care and learning opportunities for toddlers. Emphasis is placed on sensory exploration, motor skill development, and early language acquisition. Our nurturing educators create a safe space for young children to build confidence and social connections through interactive play and routine-based activities.
Southern Sundrop Program
Southern Sundrop offers extended care with enrichment activities for school-age children. This program combines homework support, creative projects, and outdoor play to reinforce learning beyond regular school hours. Staffed by experienced educators, it promotes responsibility and teamwork in a structured yet flexible environment.
Honeysuckle Program
Honeysuckle provides specialized care for infants with individualized attention to developmental milestones. Our caregivers focus on bonding, sensory stimulation, and early communication through gentle routines and age-appropriate activities. The program ensures a safe, comforting environment that supports rapid cognitive and physical growth.
Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities include art, music, and physical development classes that complement core learning. These programs encourage self-expression, cultural awareness, and motor skill refinement. Led by specialists, they provide diverse experiences that enhance creativity and holistic child development.
People
Susan Mathias
Director
Susan Mathias has led Rollingwood Academy for over 25 years, combining business management expertise with early childhood education experience. She holds a degree from Commonwealth College and has completed advanced coursework at Tidewater Community College.
Evelyn Paddack
Director
Evelyn Paddack brings 14 years of early education expertise to Rollingwood Academy. With a BA in Early Childhood Education, she specializes in play-based learning environments that support academic and social-emotional development for young children.
Jennifer Arnhold Prodan
Founder
Jennifer Arnhold Prodan founded Rollingwood Academy with over 20 years of child development experience. She holds a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education from Old Dominion University and a psychology background from the University of Colorado.
Questions
What age groups does Rollingwood Academy serve?
We offer programs for infants through school-age children, including specialized curricula for toddlers, preschoolers, and after-school care.
What makes your curriculum unique?
Our play-based approach emphasizes discovery learning, combining structured activities with creative exploration to develop critical thinking and social skills naturally.
Are your teachers certified in early childhood education?
All lead teachers hold degrees in Early Childhood Education or related fields, with many having over a decade of classroom experience at Rollingwood Academy.
How do you involve parents in the learning process?
We offer real-time classroom observation through secure surveillance systems and maintain an open-door policy for parent-teacher collaboration and classroom participation.
What safety measures are in place at your facility?
Our building maintains locked access with monitored entry, classroom surveillance cameras, and regular staff training in emergency preparedness and child safety protocols.
