Since 2004, I have been a babysitter, mentor, tutor, French teacher, and a nanny in France, Pennsylvania and Hawaii. I also developed and taught two separate environmental programs for children: one in Australia where I focused on students' unique rainforest environment, and one in Pennsylvania that met stringent PA-mandated homeschool curriculum requirements. I have provided care for as little as one child, to my peak in lessons that had over 75 students. Throughout all of this experience, I learned just how unique every child is, and encountered so many different ways to approach childcare.

I received my B.S. in Environmental Science and English with an additional Concentration in Children’s Literature from Saint Vincent College in 2012. I now attend the University of Minnesota for my M.A. in Infant and Child Development. I am so excited to be a part of the U.S.’s top-ranked program and can say that every lesson I learn applies directly to my Home!

Apart from childcare, I was a zookeeper for the large cats, rhinos, and bears (literally lions and tigers and bears, oh my!) at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, published papers in herpetology, was a makeup artist and business manager for a cosmetic company, worked in Urgent Care medical centers, and was an Emergency Operations Coordinator with the American Red Cross on Oahu. Each position may have been extremely varied, but the unique experiences they provided taught me how to help people with anything from low confidence, to severed fingers!

ABC Home stands for Alexandria Barr Childcare Home, and it fills my heart to be able to provide extensive, reliable, focused childcare for families in the Pittsburgh area. I wanted to meet some of the many needs of families struggling with finding top-quality care and flexible days. All of my heart, experience, and education has gone into creating a program for little ones to grow into their personalities and world.  I hope you love the Home as much as I do!

Hello! I’m Jonathan Barr and I, along with my wife, own this wonderful house. I am happily married to your wonderful caretaker and am beyond excited that you will get to experience the love and joy that is ABC Home in the very same house in which I grew up. Alexandria and I are excited to start the next chapter of our journey in this wonderful home, and we’re thrilled that you will get to be a part of that journey.

After graduating from Bethel Park High school in 2005, I went to Penn State where I received my degree in Secondary Education (Mathematics) and also received a minor in Business Administration. During my time at Penn State, I was a peer advisor, a tour guide, and spent time studying abroad in London where I got to experience a very diverse culture of learning.

During the summers, I worked as a lifeguard and swim coach for Rolling Hills Country Club, where I worked with kids of all ages. I was also fortunate enough to work at Camp AIM, which is a camp for students with special needs. After graduating from Penn State, I received a job offer from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, where I taught Pre-Algebra and Algebra I & II. After 2.5 years at Lincoln Park, I made the switch to Baldwin High School for a year. In August 2014, I completed my Master's program and received my Masters in Education (Administration) degree from California University of Pennsylvania.

Weeks later, I accepted a job offer from Belle Vernon Area High School. I am still happily at Belle Vernon, where I teach Algebra I and Algebra II, and I am the Assistant Swim Coach and Head Girls Volleyball Coach. During the summers I was Pool Director for St. Clair Country Club. As the director, I had to manage about 40 staff members who ranged from mid-high school to mid-college-aged kids. I also had to interact with members and their children daily. Lastly, I tutor all levels of math year-round for students in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Education has been my entire life after high school, and I’m extremely excited and proud of my wife for running ABC Home and starting education with infants and toddlers.

When I’m not teaching or coaching, I try to find different ways to stay active and have fun. I enjoy anything that involves being outside, especially in the summer or the fall. I love exercising, bike rides, boating, skiing, and campfires.  I am very into technology, especially when it helps enhance education. My guilty pleasure is probably playing video games either with my friends, or with my beautiful wife. I’m usually pretty easy going, and I enjoy doing most things, especially if it involves being with my family.  I’m excited to meet everybody, and I want to welcome every one of you into our home.

This house is extremely special to everyone who steps through its front doors.  Like Hogwarts is its own character in “Harry Potter”, this house has a character all of its own.  Located in Bethel Park and newly built in 1992, Henry and Paula Barr moved in with their three sons: Dave, Scott, and 5yr old Jonathan.  A few months later their family grew, and there is a picture of Paula, eight months pregnant with James, standing on the main staircase.  The four boys became friends with all of the families in the neighborhood, and Paula developed a reputation as a pseudo-Disney-character as she charmed the local animals into the yard for the children to watch.  Our two cats were actually born on the back porch and adopted!

The boys grew, and the neighborhood grew stronger.  Neighbors became friends, and those friends became family. Children from around the quiet cul-de-sac gathered for massive games of Tag and Release.  The "Barr Family Playbook" was used in annual community football games. Campouts lit the summer nights in the backyard. Autumn turned the wooded area behind the home into a breathtaking display of fiery tones in the crisp air, and snow-covered slopes in the backyard became sledding havens. Spring would bloom with a gathering of bright songbirds and the chasing joy of white-tailed bunnies.

Fast forward several years — Jonathan is now a high school math teacher with an M.Ed. and he takes over the home from his parents.  After one spectacular date, he brings his girlfriend to the house.  Candles and roses line the stairways and he proposes on the balcony.  A year later, they marry in the backyard under the large tree with a reception filled with family and friends by the fireplace in the family room.  The neighbors all excitedly welcome the new couple back as friendships are renewed and bonds reformed.  

Now, this home built on the laughter of four children and full of the love of generations opens to start a new chapter: one as a Family Child Day Care Home.  Its newly renovated interior is specifically designed to facilitate learning and development while keeping the joy, heart, and warmth that has sustained it over the last decades.  We are a true family home, and cannot wait to share these deep roots with you!

…And more!