ANNA MARIE RUIZ Owner, Director 2, Montessori Guide, Consultant
I was born and raised in Bastrop, Texas, and attended the University of Texas night school, where I studied Psychology and English. I was employed by the State of Texas for 30 years and after retirement, opened my own Montessori School in Bastrop, which I owned for 17 years. I am the founder of two Montessori schools in Austin. I received my director’s license in 2005 from the Child Care World Wide Institute and I am also a member of Professional Administrator & National Credentials. I received my Montessori certification for Ages 3-6 from the United Montessori Association in 2006 and Montessori certification for ages 0-3 from NAMC in 2022 and have been a Montessori guide for over 17 years.
DOLORES MARTINEZ Owner, Bookkeeper, Montessori Guide
I am a retiree from the Texas Workforce Commission after 30 years of service. I retired from IRS after eight years. I attended ACC and studied Accounting, Computer Science, and Child Development and received my Montessori certification through the North American Montessori Center in 2006. As a grandmother of 4, I am very involved in their upbringing. The Montessori philosophy takes full advantage of the child’s motivation to learn selfdiscipline and independence at a young age. Practical life in Montessori is a purposeful activity that develops motor control and coordination, critical thinking, and concentration.
GLORIA TORRES Owner, Human Resources
I worked at Odom Elementary as a Community Representative for the Bilingual Program and was the liaison between the school and parents. In the
office, I was responsible for maintaining student immunizations and attendance records. I have been around children throughout my working career and believe that we can always learn from them. I’ve also worked with the Legislative Budget Board office and the Texas Education Migrant Program and Curriculum. After a short retirement, I returned to work at the Texas Department of Licensing Regulation (TDLR) as a legal assistant. I received my Montessori certification for the 0-3 age group in 2022 from NAMC.
Leticia Crespo Director, Montessori Assistant
Hello, I am a proud mother of a wonderful 25 -year-old. My family is originally from Bayamon Puerto Rico, but at the age of 15, we moved to San Antonio, where I graduated from Judson High School. After high school, I enlisted into the USAF and served 4 years. I later moved to Bastrop and started my career as a substitute teacher at an early head start program for over three years. Additionally, I worked as a toddler and infant teacher at Bastrop School of Montessori for over 4 years and applied for my director’s license. I am also a member of Professional Administrator & National Credentials. After much reading, writing, and testing, I earned my director’s license and became the school’s director. I then received my permanent director’s license after 6 years in the position. I also have an Associate degree in Business, have been in childcare for over ten years, and look forward to many more years. I am a firm believer in the Montessori philosophy and am currently working toward my Montessori certification for ages 3-6 through the United Montessori Association.
Valerie Pena Montessorian, Assistant DirectorDirector CertifiedAges 3-5
Hola Amigos! I have over 22 years of experience caring for children and writing curriculums for ages 3-5-year-olds. I was born in Carrizo Springs, Texas. I grew up learning and speaking Spanish through my father who is from Mexico. I am excited to be hired as the Spanish Immersion Program Coordinator at Itzcali Montessori and Spanish Immersion School. It is exciting and challenging for me because I get to teach these wonderful children this beautiful language. I love to see them learning and repeating things I teach them in Spanish. I look forward to the day when I will carry on a conversation with them. I am a certified Montessori Guide for ages 3-6 Years from North American Montessori Center. I also hold a Director’s license from the Child Care World Wide Institute and I currently serve as Assistant Director and Montessori Guide.
Daniela Castillo Carrillo Lead Teacher 12M-35M, Assistant DirectorDirector Certified
Daniela began working at Itzcali Montessori School on March 2022. She has 7 years of child care experience. She is from Merida in the Yucatan, Mexico. Spanish is Daniela’s first language. While at Itzcali Daniela obtained her Montessori certification from the North American Montessori Center for ages 0-3 years and her Director’s certification from Child Care World Wide Institute. Daniela holds a Psychology degree from Universidad Modelo a private university in Merida. The university uses academic models from the University of Mexico.
Elisa Reyes Toddlers 24M – 35M
I have 21 years of childcare experience. I have worked as a Montessori assistant in a Montessori school for 18 years and attended the Houston Montessori Center Assistant Training in 2005. I was born in Santa Theresa, Durango, Mexico and have lived in the United States since I was 17 years of age. I believe that children teach us how to love without question. Children need love and attention from us as well. They become accustomed to us and they become like our children (or in my case grandchildren). The impression that we leave with children lasts a lifetime. I run into children that have been my students in the past when I was at Ms. Anna’s Montessori School and are now college students. They still run to me and remember me. It is very gratifying.
Ana Tyler, FLOATER – ALL AGES
I have over 9 Years of Childcare Experience working as a nanny and at childcare centers. I think that children are very kind and real. I like to interact with them and teach them my beautiful Spanish. I was born in Monterrey, Mexico. Spanish is my first language and I enjoy singing and speaking to children in Spanish. I am excited to see that they are learning the language quickly because they respond to me when I speak to them. This tells me that they are learning. I look forward to continuing my employment with Itzcali Montessori School and look forward to learning all I can about the Montessori way of doing things. I currently serve as a substitute when teachers are absent and as a floater in all classrooms.
Barbara Undurraga Lead Teacher – 12 mos – 24 MonthsAMI Guide Candidate in Training
Barbara loves to teach children different things because she sees how quickly they learn. She is currently the lead teacher for the 12-24 month classroom. She has been working towards her AMI certification and it is very evident in how she presents lessons and practices her Montessori education in her classroom. Barbara has 4 years teaching children. She began working toward her AMI Certification in 0-3 Ages at Stoppani Institute of Mexico in 2023. Barbara will finish her AMI stuidies in 2024. She is from Chile and is fluent in Spanish since it is her first language.
Yuleidy Gonzales AMI Certified Assistant
Yuleidy was hired at Itzcali Montessori in May of 2023. While in this capacity she has worked assisting in the Montessori classroom ages 3-6. In her experience she has worked with infants and young toddlers. Yuleidy received her 3-6 AMI Montessori training from Montessori Stoppani Institute, Tijuana, BC, Mexico. She is continuing to receive her AMI Training to obtain her AMI Guide certification at the AMI Institute Stoppani in Los Angeles, California. “I love to work with children because I love to teach them new things and am fascinated by how fast they learn everything.” Yuleidy is from Cuba and her first language is Spanish.
Yelena Roche Assistant Montessori teacher in training – Ages 3-6
Yelena has worked with children for 3 years. She currently works as an assistant in the Montessori classroom Age 3-6. “I love to speak to the children in Spanish because I know it will help them in their future in learning 2 languages. She will begin her AMI training at the end of February at AMI Institute of Stoppini. Yelena is from Cuba and Spanish is her first language.
Mirelis Bonilla Castillo Assistant MontessoriTeacher – Ages 12M-24MAMI Certified Assistant
Mireles loves children. She loves to teach Montessori to them and she loves to see how they learn and do what you teach them. She has four years of experience. Mirelis is from Puerto Rico and Spanish is her first language. Mireles obtained her AMI certification as an Assistant ages 0-3 from Montessori Stoppani Institute in Mexico.
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