The Butterfly School

The Butterfly School is a Reggio Emilia inspired preschool in the heart of Homewood, Alabama

Children drawing with colorful markers, smiling, holding flowers, and standing beside tall green plants.

Learning as a Shared Journey

The Butterfly School is a child-centered program rooted in the principles of the Reggio Emilia approach, where learning is a shared journey and knowledge is built through relationships, inquiry, and meaningful exploration.

In our nurturing environment for children ages 2–4, each child is seen as capable, thoughtful, and full of potential. We believe learning happens in relationship—with others, with materials, and with the world around us. Through open-ended exploration and creative expression, children are encouraged to wonder, investigate, and make meaning in their own unique way.

Together, we cultivate a community where childhood is respected, ideas are valued, and learning unfolds through relationships, inquiry, and the many languages of children.

A backyard scene with a wooden play structure or treehouse in the background, a large tree in the middle, and a garden with white and yellow daffodils in the foreground.
A backyard scene with a wooden play structure or treehouse in the background, a large tree in the middle, and a garden with white and yellow daffodils in the foreground.

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”

— Fred Rogers

Hi, I'm Paula Smalley.

A woman with long gray hair smiling outdoors in front of green leafy plants with small white flowers.

I'm excited to introduce The Butterfly School with a Reggio Emilia approach to the Homewood community!

I have worked with preschool children for 30 years. Over the years I have had the chance to explore new approaches to learning as well as lean on older ones. I am genuinely passionate about coming alongside families to help nurture children in their first school experience. I have always dreamed of using my experience to start an independent preschool that encourages the love of learning in children.

Contact Us ▸
Contact Us ▸
A cluttered workspace with various tools, materials, and art projects on a table, shelves with supplies in the background, and model boats and sculptures in progress.

“Children need the

FREEDOM to appreciate the infinite resources of their

HANDS, their EYES, and their EARS, the resources of

FORMS, MATERIALS, SOUNDS, and COLORS.”

— Loris Malaguzzi

Child's hand drawing colorful squiggly lines on a white sheet of paper with markers, surrounded by other markers and a purple zippered bag.
Windowsill with small plant pots, labeled with green and pink tape, containing soil and tiny green sprouts. Outside the window, horizontal blinds partially cover a view of trees and a parked car.

“The child has a hundred languages… a hundred ways of thinking, of playing, of speaking.”

— Loris Malaguzzi

A table covered with colorful scribbles made with crayons and markers, with some pieces of paper and drawings on top.

Scribbles are the child’s first languare on paper–every line carries intention, curiosity, and meaning.

❊ FAQs

Program schedule options:

  • Tuesday Thursday (9:00am-12:00pm)

  • Tuesday Wednesday Thursday (9:00am-12:00pm)

  • Small group sizes to foster close relationships and individualized attention

Location:

  • The Butterfly School will meet at Edgewood Presbyterian Church, where we are grateful to use their space for our program.

Enrollment timeline:

  • Registration will open in May for the 2026-2027 school year

  • Limited spots will be available to maintain a high quality experience

What makes us unique:

  • Thoughtfully designed program inspired by The Reggio Emilia Approach

  • We nurture curiosity through hands on creative child led learning experiences

  • Strong partnership with families

  • Commitment to creating a nurturing and joyful early childhood experience

Follow along as we build our school community from the ground up

“The wider the range of possibilities we offer children, the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences.”

— Loris Malaguzzi

Child's hand holding a purple paintbrush, painting on a white paper with abstract pink and blue strokes. The paper has handwritten labels reading 'moon', 'me sleeping in my house', and a sticky note that says 'my mom working at her seat'. The paper is on a colorful, paint-splattered table.
Colorful abstract children's drawing with scribbles, watercolor paints, and cartoon-like face illustrations.
Colorful abstract children's drawing with scribbles, watercolor paints, and cartoon-like face illustrations.