Business Banking Customer Spotlight: Dancing Moose Montessori School
Imagine a moose in a Park City backyard, kicking around a giant air ball like it’s the most natural thing in the world. For Joyce Sibbett, watching this unlikely scene unfold was pure magic — and the perfect metaphor for what she wanted to create in early childhood education.
That image stuck with her when she was dreaming up a name for her Montessori school, one that would merge nature with arts, play with purpose, and childhood wonder with serious learning. Eighteen years later, Dancing Moose Montessori School has grown from a single West Valley City location into a three-campus operation serving over 570 children. But the spirit of that dancing moose remains at the heart of everything they do.
Creating Utah’s Most Innovative Montessori Experience
Dancing Moose Co-Founder and Executive Director Jennifer Duffield with President Dr. Joyce Sibbett
Dr. Joyce Sibbett is a long-time educator with years of experience teaching at the college level. She worked with her daughter, Jennifer, on a vision of the school they wanted to create – the kind of school that felt more playful and in tune with nature; a place where children could learn at their own pace, and be treated as the capable little humans they are. They opened their first location in 2007, designed around this innovative vision for what early childhood education could be.
“We believe young children have incredible potential, and that early education makes a vital contribution to their future success. At Dancing Moose, we want to ensure that we are providing an ideal learning environment for children, so that working parents can feel assured that their child is safe and loved and engaged all day long while they’re at work,” says Jennifer Duffield, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Dancing Moose.
As they’ve continued to grow, they’ve held true to their philosophy by creating ideal environments for encouraging a child’s innate potential. The school goes beyond curriculum by approaching education in a holistic way, with healthy meals using vegetables the kids grow themselves, daily movement classes in a real gymnasium, and security protocols that keep kids safe. At Dancing Moose, children learn through play, in a balanced, safe space with plenty of natural light, and enough room to move and play.
“It feels like play, but we call it work because every piece of material is very intentional,” says Joyce, President of Dancing Moose. “The children choose what they want to work on.”
Turning Crisis into Opportunity
Dancing Moose Owner and Chairman Michael Sibbett
By 2020, Dancing Moose was operating out of two successful locations, with big dreams for a third. So they brought in Joyce’s husband Michael to handle the logistics of their expansion, and decided the Thanksgiving Point area in Lehi was the perfect spot for their flagship campus. Its proximity to museums and cultural attractions would provide extraordinary opportunities for learning. Then the pandemic hit, and suddenly their biggest opportunity got a bit more complicated.
Construction costs were skyrocketing daily, and their contractor recommended pre-purchasing all the lumber for their massive 30,000+ square foot facility — immediately. But they hadn’t secured financing yet. So the family wrote a personal check, while hoping they’d find a bank willing to bet on their vision.
“To have that much on the line at the very beginning was painful,” says Michael Sibbett, Owner and Chairman of Dancing Moose. With lumber prices climbing by the day, he couldn’t afford to wait months for a bank committee to study their business model and maybe, eventually, approve their loan.
How First Utah Bank Became True Business Partners
Michael had heard good things about First Utah Bank’s ability to move quickly, and its reputation for taking the time to understand its clients’ businesses. When he reached out, he didn’t expect to meet the bank president, or to actually hit it off. The family had worked with other banks and credit unions, and immediately, he knew this one was different.
“It was very telling to me, when we were first starting our relationship, that key members of the of the banking committee literally came down to our location when it was just raw dirt, and listened to the story of how we had envisioned building the school right in the heart of Thanksgiving Point,” says Michael.
First Utah Bank didn’t just hear them out, but moved just as quickly as Michael had hoped. Not only did the family secure the funding they needed, but they also gained a comprehensive financial partner.
“First Utah Bank works very, very hard at understanding your business and your needs. They throw out the complete financial smorgasbord of things that you can do with the bank, and there’s no pressure for you to have everything set up with them,” he says. “They have a very personable staff, and if I need to talk with the President, if I need to talk to the Chairman of the Board, that is not an issue.”
Now, First Utah Bank handles everything for Dancing Moose, from their payroll to their mortgage. Instead of feeling like the bank was watching for them to fail, the family felt like their lender was genuinely invested in their success.
Finding a Bank That Champions Your Mission
For a family business, finding partners who understand your values matters just as much as competitive rates and quick approvals. That’s why it meant so much to the family to find a bank that really cared about the school’s mission.
Instead of constantly worrying about funding or whether the bank actually believed in what they were doing, Jennifer says she was able to just focus on her work as the school’s executive director, and creating great experiences for the kids. “First Utah Bank really knows us. They really showed an interest in us. They were there through everything — showing up at the groundbreaking, checking in during construction, celebrating at the grand opening.”
“It’s wonderful to partner with someone who is on the same page as you and who you feel is your greatest fan; someone who is there to support you and be there when you need them, so that you can do what you do best – which is running your own business,” she says.
When you’re pouring your heart, soul and personal finances into building something meaningful, working with the right kind of support can make all the difference. Dancing Moose’s relationship with First Utah Bank is a great example of how local banking can champion small business growth, with mission-driven organizations that make their communities better.
The three Dancing Moose campuses now serve families across the Wasatch Front, from working parents who need day care, to families seeking part-time enrichment. Dancing Moose serves as a safe place for community, where each child is truly seen and celebrated for who they are.
“Families find refuge at Dancing Moose,” says Jennifer. “They find lifelong friendships and they find love and support. I think that that’s pretty unique.”