teacher leader I have worked as an infant toddler educator for 10 years and studied Early Childhood Education for 11 years.
I grew up in New Albany, Indiana. I went to Naropa University in Boulder Colorado and earned my B.A. in Early Childhood Education, with a focus on contemplative education, art, and peace studies. After graduation, I worked as an infant teacher in Denver at Catholic Charities in an Early Head-start program for families experiencing homelessness. This experience showed me that the work of Early Educators was tremendous and that I needed all the skills and training I could find. After the birth of my child, I journeyed to Hawaii to work at the Montessori School of Maui as an assistant Montessori Toddler Guide. This was my introduction to working hands on with Montessori method. With Montessori, I felt I had found my place in education.
I studied at the North American Montessori Center to gain my birth to 3 credential. Next, I attended The Montessori Institute in Denver to earn an Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Assistants to Infancy credential and M.A. ed. in Montessori Education from Loyola University Maryland, with my central studies on Special Education in early childhood and 0-3. I worked for three years as a Montessori Toddler Guide at Kenwood Montessori School in Louisville.
I am so proud of what we have accomplished as we head into our 3rd year --integrating my passion for community engagement and early childhood education at Magnolia Blossom Montessori.
I AM
bettina sack-gallup (she/her/hers)
teaching assistant
I grew up in Carbondale, Colorado and attended Montessori schools from 18 months to 11 years old. Not only was I surrounded by the Montessori method every day at school, my mom was a Montessori teacher, and brought the Montessori theory home. After moving to traditional school for middle and high school, I realized just how important Montessori was to me. I believe guiding children to be autonomous, creative, thoughtful and kind human beings is critical in the world we live in.
I attended Webster University in St. Louis for Elementary education for a year, but decided to take a break from school to explore my passions. I plan working towards my bachelors and Montessori certification in the near future.