Explore JJ Legacy
Mission
JJ Legacy School provides an excellent and equitable Montessori education in North Minneapolis to an intentionally diverse community of students.
Vision
Our students will develop the character strengths, social and emotional skills, creativity, passion for learning and college-preparatory academic capabilities that will enable them to lead lives of joy and purpose.
Our History
Committed to expanding Montessori school options to children living in urban areas, Ann Luce founded Bright Water Montessori Preschool in North Minneapolis in 2004. In 2007, the school expanded by opening a free, public elementary charter school, Bright Water Elementary. The school was refounded as Legacy of Dr. Josie R. Johnson Montessori School in 2020 to reflect a changing student and staff population.
JJ Legacy provides an education that honors the spirit and cultural experience of all of our legends.
Who We Are
Legacy of Dr. Josie R. Johnson Montessori is a K-6 public charter school and includes a tuition-based Preschool in North Minneapolis with a mission to provide an excellent, equitable Montessori education to an intentionally diverse student body. The school is led by Tonicia Abdur Salaam, an educational social justice leader. She has created a foundational approach with an intense focus on a learning community broadened to include leveraging Montessori pedagogy in collaboration with evidence-based practices, specifically, Dr. Wade Nobles' world-renowned research and pedagogy, Nsaka SunSum (Touching the Spirit). This powerful pedagogy offers a full educational experience that honors the whole child in order to combat white supremacy in education.
At JJ Legacy, we believe all children can be at the center of that important development, by finding their cultural and racial identity in education along with their purpose in the learning environment.
Board of Directors
The Bright Water Board of Directors sets the polices for the school operations. The board is made up of parents, community members, leaders and staff. Parents and community members are welcome and encouraged to attend meetings.
For more information email boardchair@jjlegacy.org or check out their designated page here.
