Creating the future of Montessori Education
The Prepared Montessorian team consists of a varied group of intellectuals, educators, school leaders and professionals, all contributing in unique value to the work of creating a Montessori future.
Creating the future of Montessori Education
The Prepared Montessorian team consists of a varied group of intellectuals, educators, school leaders and professionals, all contributing in unique value to the work of creating a Montessori future.
About Us
Don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions. Drop us a line at hello@preparedmontessorian.com
About Us
Don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions. Drop us a line at hello@preparedmontessorian.com
Our Purpose
The Prepared Montessorian is a professional development platform that provides the practicing adult Montessori educator with the “prepared environment” necessary to optimally guide the communities under her care. Maria Montessori studied how children learn to create her methodology, and we study how adults learn to mirror her approach with children.
Prepared Montessorian is designed to offer enough upfront to get someone started and then to couple the learning they do along the way with their practice in an actual environment (usually as an assistant guide but even sometimes when an adult learner is already a lead). The training is designed specifically to learn a new principle, concept, or approach and employ it into practice immediately before reconvening and discussing how that new practice worked or didn’t work. This is the equivalent of Montessori’s development of the “hand and of the mind” working in conjunction.
We aim to make learning more affordable and available, in order to make it easier for our students to begin teaching as soon as possible. As it is widely accepted that Montessori teachers shouldn’t be expected to be masters in their first years of teaching, Prepared Montessorian is trying to find ways to speed up the process of gaining wisdom previously only thought to be possible through trial and error in the classroom.
We are empowered by technology which allows us to do this. We were doing distance learning before it was popular! We offer guided video observations of current challenging circumstances, and we problem-solve as a community, observing with various classroom experiences, video-conferencing with Montessori experts around the world while practicing with materials, and video assessing one’s practice to enhance self-awareness of a guide’s initial strengths and weaknesses. It’s a misconception that distance learning requires compromising on quality. Prepared Montessorian is using technology to enhance programming, to translate it and offer it in multiple languages, and to engage with the world’s Montessori community.
Our Values.
Follow the adult. Always adapt the “environment” to the adult learner, never the other way. Our trainings are accessible along multiple dimensions. They are designed to adhere to the methods by which people deeply learn, at the times and places in which they need to learn and can best learn.
Knowledge through the mind and the hand. The only way to learn is by practice. One learns by doing, again and again.Likewise, there is no such thing as unapplied knowledge. Knowledge by its nature wants to be lived.
Democratize depth. Guiding others to learn requires the distillation of complex, powerful ideas into clear, memorable experiences, simple, pithy presentations, and fresh, grounded perspectives—that together convey substance and depth without convolution.
Technology aids pedagogy. Seek opportunities to use technology to amplify and even rethink how one observes, learns, self-reflects, and grows. Tried and true is a springboard, not a bedrock.
High-structure, high-agency learning. An adult, just like a child, thrives when agency is respected. And an adult, like a child, benefits tremendously from the right learning structure. Respect, draw upon, and inspire learner agency, and give structures, such as curricula and assessment mechanisms, that accelerate successful learning.
Our Team
Joel Mendes
Joel Mendes is our Executive Director. He has worked in the school setting since graduating from California State University with a BA in English Education and Literature and a California Teaching Credential, and over the years has taught and had leadership roles in schools serving both children and adults. It was when Joel became Head of a Montessori school that things really changed for him. Not only did he have the chance to work with remarkable Montessori children, he witnessed first-hand the benefits of Montessori as a father to three children attending the same school. Joel dove into Montessori completely, earning his Montessori Certification from Montessori Insitute of San Diego and mentoring his colleagues along the way. Today, Joel leads the Prepared Montessorian team, and uses his expertise to create and deliver high-fidelity training and resources to practicing Montessorians.
Joel Mendes
Joel Mendes is our Executive Director. He has worked in the school setting since graduating from California State University with a BA in English Education and Literature and a California Teaching Credential, and over the years has taught and had leadership roles in schools serving both children and adults. It was when Joel became Head of a Montessori school that things really changed for him. Not only did he have the chance to work with remarkable Montessori children, he witnessed first-hand the benefits of Montessori as a father to three children attending the same school. Joel dove into Montessori completely, earning his Montessori Certification from Montessori Insitute of San Diego and mentoring his colleagues along the way. Today, Joel leads the Prepared Montessorian team, and uses his expertise to create and deliver high-fidelity training and resources to practicing Montessorians.
Rebecca Girn
Rebecca Girn is our Executive Program Director. Rebecca is a lifelong Montessorian who also trained as an attorney. She earned her undergraduate degree in Classical Studies from the University of Chicago and her law degree from the UCLA School of Law. She also holds two AMI Montessori teaching diplomas at both the 0 to 3 and the 3 to 6 levels. She has studied various disciplinary methods, such as Positive Discipline and Parent Effectiveness Training (PET), and has observed in hundreds of classrooms, supporting hundreds of Montessori Guides. She believes deeply that the adult learner has the capacity to transform and transcend amid a process that requires trust, respect, and patience.
Rebecca Girn
Rebecca Girn is our Executive Program Director. Rebecca is a lifelong Montessorian who also trained as an attorney. She earned her undergraduate degree in Classical Studies from the University of Chicago and her law degree from the UCLA School of Law. She also holds two AMI Montessori teaching diplomas at both the 0 to 3 and the 3 to 6 levels. She has studied various disciplinary methods, such as Positive Discipline and Parent Effectiveness Training (PET), and has observed in hundreds of classrooms, supporting hundreds of Montessori Guides. She believes deeply that the adult learner has the capacity to transform and transcend amid a process that requires trust, respect, and patience.
Mariana Serralde
Mariana Serralde is our Senior Trainer. Mariana has been a Montessori educator for more than 20 years, working as a Children’s House Guide, Head of School, Montessori Mentor and currently as a Senior Montessori Trainer. She holds an AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Institute of San Diego, a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in Second Language Learning. Her passion for Montessori and diverse experience across the world brings about an empathetic approach to spreading Montessori pedagogy. Mariana has worked and supported several teachers and schools throughout her journey, including bilingual Montessori environments at all levels and collaborating in the development of a dual-language Montessori model for one of the first public dual-language Montessori schools.
Mariana Serralde
Mariana Serralde is our Senior Trainer. Mariana has been a Montessori educator for more than 20 years, working as a Children’s House Guide, Head of School, Montessori Mentor and currently as a Senior Montessori Trainer. She holds an AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Institute of San Diego, a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in Second Language Learning. Her passion for Montessori and diverse experience across the world brings about an empathetic approach to spreading Montessori pedagogy. Mariana has worked and supported several teachers and schools throughout her journey, including bilingual Montessori environments at all levels and collaborating in the development of a dual-language Montessori model for one of the first public dual-language Montessori schools.
Han Zhang
Han Zhang is the VP of Operations at Prepared Montessorian Institute. In her everyday role, she leads the Operations team to build and optimize our systems, processes, and data to provide the best experience to our learners.
Like many people, she discovered and fell in love with the Montessori pedagogy when she first became a parent. As she explored different parenting philosophies, she stumbled upon the Montessori method through a YouTube video by @hapafamilyvlog who shares her experience implementing Montessori at home with her own daughters.
This newfound interest made her decide to change her career completely from serving large financial and aerospace companies as a management consultant to joining the PMI team to help grow its training programs so that more people like her could discover Montessori and have access to high quality Montessori training from anywhere in the world.
Han is currently pursuing the Children’s House Montessori teacher certification program with PMI while being a full-time working parent. She is excited by the challenge to design a training program that can help other full-time working parents and educators like her pursue their Montessori certification.
Outside of work, she is also a practicing artist who has exhibited her work internationally (see examples of her artwork at han-studio.com).
Han Zhang
Han Zhang is the VP of Operations at Prepared Montessorian Institute. In her everyday role, she leads the Operations team to build and optimize our systems, processes, and data to provide the best experience to our learners.
Like many people, she discovered and fell in love with the Montessori pedagogy when she first became a parent. As she explored different parenting philosophies, she stumbled upon the Montessori method through a YouTube video by @hapafamilyvlog who shares her experience implementing Montessori at home with her own daughters.
This newfound interest made her decide to change her career completely from serving large financial and aerospace companies as a management consultant to joining the PMI team to help grow its training programs so that more people like her could discover Montessori and have access to high quality Montessori training from anywhere in the world.
Han is currently pursuing the Children’s House Montessori teacher certification program with PMI while being a full-time working parent. She is excited by the challenge to design a training program that can help other full-time working parents and educators like her pursue their Montessori certification.
Outside of work, she is also a practicing artist who has exhibited her work internationally (see examples of her artwork at han-studio.com).
Dr Matt Bateman
Matt Bateman is our Montessori Theory Trainer and Educational Historian. Matt earned his BA from Sarah Lawrence College. While there, he worked in their Child Development Center researching the nature of early personality development in children. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied the history of thought in philosophy and psychology. Matt brings to Prepared Montessorian his expertise in intellectual history and experience in teaching in higher education. He serves as a Montessori theory trainer for all levels and works with other trainers and trainers-in-training in keeping the organization’s depth of theoretical understanding fresh, consistent, and sharp. He is constantly pushing himself and others to better understand the pedagogy of teacher training.
Dr Matt Bateman
Matt Bateman is our Montessori Theory Trainer and Educational Historian. Matt earned his BA from Sarah Lawrence College. While there, he worked in their Child Development Center researching the nature of early personality development in children. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied the history of thought in philosophy and psychology. Matt brings to Prepared Montessorian his expertise in intellectual history and experience in teaching in higher education. He serves as a Montessori theory trainer for all levels and works with other trainers and trainers-in-training in keeping the organization’s depth of theoretical understanding fresh, consistent, and sharp. He is constantly pushing himself and others to better understand the pedagogy of teacher training.
Ana Amiguet
Ana Amiguet is our Senior Trainer. Ana was a Montessori child and credits her love of learning to her experiences in a Children's House classroom. This background spurred her to complete her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Brown University, a Masters in Montessori Education from Loyola College in Maryland, and then an Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) diploma from the Montessori Institute of San Diego. Ana has worked as a Lead Guide in Children's Houses and has also held various Montessori administrative roles. Her favorite role by far is her current one on the Prepared Montessorian team, helping to train and support Guides bring this amazing teaching methodology to children.
Ana Amiguet
Ana Amiguet is our Senior Trainer. Ana was a Montessori child and credits her love of learning to her experiences in a Children's House classroom. This background spurred her to complete her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Brown University, a Masters in Montessori Education from Loyola College in Maryland, and then an Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) diploma from the Montessori Institute of San Diego. Ana has worked as a Lead Guide in Children's Houses and has also held various Montessori administrative roles. Her favorite role by far is her current one on the Prepared Montessorian team, helping to train and support Guides bring this amazing teaching methodology to children.
Emily Daggett
As a child, Emily attended Montessori programs in Portland, OR through middle school. She credits her education with fostering a love of learning that continues to serve her today. After earning a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Occidental College, Emily traveled the world and found her way back to her roots. She received her Montessori 3-6 and 6-12 certification from the Association Montessori Internationale, as well as an M.Ed. from Loyola University. She is currently working on completing her 0-3 training. Emily has worked with children ages 18 months to 12 years in Montessori settings and most recently served as Communication Manager at Montessori Northwest training center. She hopes to use her background as a Montessori child turned educator to advocate for high quality education for all children.
Emily Daggett
As a child, Emily attended Montessori programs in Portland, OR through middle school. She credits her education with fostering a love of learning that continues to serve her today. After earning a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Occidental College, Emily traveled the world and found her way back to her roots. She received her Montessori 3-6 and 6-12 certification from the Association Montessori Internationale, as well as an M.Ed. from Loyola University. She is currently working on completing her 0-3 training. Emily has worked with children ages 18 months to 12 years in Montessori settings and most recently served as Communication Manager at Montessori Northwest training center. She hopes to use her background as a Montessori child turned educator to advocate for high quality education for all children.
Laura Kalama
Laura is our Nido and Toddler Trainer. Over the past 15 years, Laura has been actively involved in early childhood education. She studied education with an emphasis on music at Bridgewater College, Virginia, then moved to California to work with infant and toddler families. She received her Montessori training from the Prepared Montessorian and served as a Lead Nido Guide before joining our team.
Laura Kalama
Laura is our Nido and Toddler Trainer. Over the past 15 years, Laura has been actively involved in early childhood education. She studied education with an emphasis on music at Bridgewater College, Virginia, then moved to California to work with infant and toddler families. She received her Montessori training from the Prepared Montessorian and served as a Lead Nido Guide before joining our team.
Meggan Burak
Meggan Burak is our Montessori Mentor. After studying Journalism at the University of Wyoming, Meggan moved to Minnesota which is where she began her Montessori training. She received her Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Primary Diploma from the Montessori Center of Minnesota. Over her twenty-plus years as a Montessori educator, Meggan has worn many hats. She has opened a Montessori school, worked in Nido and Toddler environments, and has been a Children’s House Guide, Head of School, and Administrator. Her passion has always been to help guide others along their Montessori paths. Meggan is delighted to be a Montessori Mentor with the Prepared Montessorian Institute supporting new guides and guides in training as they set off on their Montessori journeys.
Meggan Burak
Meggan Burak is our Montessori Mentor. After studying Journalism at the University of Wyoming, Meggan moved to Minnesota which is where she began her Montessori training. She received her Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Primary Diploma from the Montessori Center of Minnesota. Over her twenty-plus years as a Montessori educator, Meggan has worn many hats. She has opened a Montessori school, worked in Nido and Toddler environments, and has been a Children’s House Guide, Head of School, and Administrator. Her passion has always been to help guide others along their Montessori paths. Meggan is delighted to be a Montessori Mentor with the Prepared Montessorian Institute supporting new guides and guides in training as they set off on their Montessori journeys.
Monique Shen
Monique Shen is our Nido and Toddler Trainer. After earning her BA in Psychology from Stony Brook University, Monique continued to pursue her interests in developmental psychology and found that her true passion was in early childhood education. She graduated with her AMI Montessori Diploma for the 0 to 3 age group from The Montessori Training Centre of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and is currently pursuing a dual master's in Early Childhood and Special Education. Monique has opened and led toddler communities, and has also worked as part of the training team in international Montessori training courses in Mexico City for Nido and Toddler guides seeking Montessori certification.
Monique Shen
Monique Shen is our Nido and Toddler Trainer. After earning her BA in Psychology from Stony Brook University, Monique continued to pursue her interests in developmental psychology and found that her true passion was in early childhood education. She graduated with her AMI Montessori Diploma for the 0 to 3 age group from The Montessori Training Centre of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and is currently pursuing a dual master's in Early Childhood and Special Education. Monique has opened and led toddler communities, and has also worked as part of the training team in international Montessori training courses in Mexico City for Nido and Toddler guides seeking Montessori certification.
Mosa Laren
Mosa Laren was born and raised in Southern California and moved to the Bay Area to complete her undergraduate work at San Francisco State University. It was during this time that she first fell in love with Montessori. After teaching both second and fourth grades in a traditional school setting, Mosa came back to Montessori when she realized that it was the best path for her own daughter. Mosa received her AMI Primary Certification from Montessori Northwest, and has been deeply engaged in Montessori since 2015. At every turn, Mosa continues to be amazed and gratified by what Montessori has to offer children and adults by way, not only of education, but spiritual growth and joy. Mosa is a lifelong learner, and she infuses her Montessori practice with yoga and mindfulness. Most recently, Mosa completed both the Child Study and Montessori Coaches' Training through the National Center for Montessori for the Public Sector.
Mosa Laren
Mosa Laren was born and raised in Southern California and moved to the Bay Area to complete her undergraduate work at San Francisco State University. It was during this time that she first fell in love with Montessori. After teaching both second and fourth grades in a traditional school setting, Mosa came back to Montessori when she realized that it was the best path for her own daughter. Mosa received her AMI Primary Certification from Montessori Northwest, and has been deeply engaged in Montessori since 2015. At every turn, Mosa continues to be amazed and gratified by what Montessori has to offer children and adults by way, not only of education, but spiritual growth and joy. Mosa is a lifelong learner, and she infuses her Montessori practice with yoga and mindfulness. Most recently, Mosa completed both the Child Study and Montessori Coaches' Training through the National Center for Montessori for the Public Sector.
Nikolle Marrero
Nikolle is our 0-3 programs manager. Nikolle grew up in a family of educators. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. Over the years in the field of Education, she has worked as a guide, mentor, coach and administrator. Nikolle is also a mom of two wonderful and independent Montessorians. She found Montessori after completing her master's degree in Educational Neuroscience. As her passion for the Montessori curriculum evolved, she decided to complete her 0-3 Diploma with the Prepared Montessorian. She credits her love for education to the wonderful mentors and educators she has encountered over the years. She enjoys connecting with fellow Montessorians who are at different stages of their journey and finding opportunities to really set them up for success.
Nikolle Marrero
Nikolle is our 0-3 programs manager. Nikolle grew up in a family of educators. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. Over the years in the field of Education, she has worked as a guide, mentor, coach and administrator. Nikolle is also a mom of two wonderful and independent Montessorians. She found Montessori after completing her master's degree in Educational Neuroscience. As her passion for the Montessori curriculum evolved, she decided to complete her 0-3 Diploma with the Prepared Montessorian. She credits her love for education to the wonderful mentors and educators she has encountered over the years. She enjoys connecting with fellow Montessorians who are at different stages of their journey and finding opportunities to really set them up for success.
Zahraa Alakabawy
Zahraa Alakabawy is a Montessori Mentor and, a member of our Programs Team. Zahraa grew up in Cairo, Egypt. Zahraa earned her bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Upon receiving her degree, she worked in the pharmaceutical field for 4 years. Zahraa began her teaching career in a traditional setting but felt unfulfilled by the lack of creative freedom given to teachers and the effect this had on the students. While seeking out other approaches to education, she discovered the Montessori philosophy. A few months later, she decided to move to California to complete her AMI Primary Diploma at the Montessori Institute of San Diego. In conjunction with her diploma, she earned a master's degree in Education through Loyola University Maryland. Zahraa was one of the first employees who started at the Foothill Ranch campus. She worked there for 4 years and while working as a Lead Guide, she was mentoring and coaching Peer Guides who needed help in their classrooms as well as supporting the Prepared Montessorian Institute with trainings.
Zahraa Alakabawy
Zahraa Alakabawy is a Montessori Mentor and, a member of our Programs Team. Zahraa grew up in Cairo, Egypt. Zahraa earned her bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Upon receiving her degree, she worked in the pharmaceutical field for 4 years. Zahraa began her teaching career in a traditional setting but felt unfulfilled by the lack of creative freedom given to teachers and the effect this had on the students. While seeking out other approaches to education, she discovered the Montessori philosophy. A few months later, she decided to move to California to complete her AMI Primary Diploma at the Montessori Institute of San Diego. In conjunction with her diploma, she earned a master's degree in Education through Loyola University Maryland. Zahraa was one of the first employees who started at the Foothill Ranch campus. She worked there for 4 years and while working as a Lead Guide, she was mentoring and coaching Peer Guides who needed help in their classrooms as well as supporting the Prepared Montessorian Institute with trainings.
Yufei Li
Yufei Li is an Operations Coordinator at PMI. She has been admiring the role of a lead teacher in the classroom since her elementary years. However, instead of studying education in college, she chose Finance and Chinese-English Translation as her majors, but she decided to work for a career consulting firm to help young professionals find out their career path. This experience made her realize that early childhood education plays a crucial part and has a profound influence in an individual’s life. She discovered Montessori education when a friend applied for a job at Higher Ground Education and was attracted by changes her friend had after joining the company. The more she knew about Montessori teacher training, the more amazed she was by the teaching method and its practicality. She feels so lucky and motivated to work with the professional training team and operations team and enjoys helping all adult learners in the diploma training!
Yufei Li
Yufei Li is an Operations Coordinator at PMI. She has been admiring the role of a lead teacher in the classroom since her elementary years. However, instead of studying education in college, she chose Finance and Chinese-English Translation as her majors, but she decided to work for a career consulting firm to help young professionals find out their career path. This experience made her realize that early childhood education plays a crucial part and has a profound influence in an individual’s life. She discovered Montessori education when a friend applied for a job at Higher Ground Education and was attracted by changes her friend had after joining the company. The more she knew about Montessori teacher training, the more amazed she was by the teaching method and its practicality. She feels so lucky and motivated to work with the professional training team and operations team and enjoys helping all adult learners in the diploma training!
EXPLORE A REWARDING, IMPACTFUL CAREER IN EDUCATION
EXPLORE A REWARDING, IMPACTFUL CAREER IN EDUCATION
Take the first step to open up future possibilities, and become a fully certified Montessori teacher in under 15 months.
To help bring forth a Montessori future, we have combined unprecedented accessibility with deep rigor and high standards. Our programs provide a variety of flexible options that accommodate your goals and schedule, while ensuring you receive a quality educational experience.
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