Early Childhood (2.5-6)

Education and experience

My elementary childhood took place in Montessori schools. After attending traditional secondary schools, I better understood how powerful the Montessori materials had been in my education.

My undergraduate degrees and Montessori training are from Xavier University, (2005), and my Masters of Education is from St. Catherine University, (2012). At the same time, I earned my Early Childhood AMS certificate.

After graduating in 2005, I worked as a Primary Lead teacher in a small Caribbean Montessori school, (St. Maarten Montessori). In 2008 I moved to Prague and worked as a Primary Lead Teacher until 2011. From 2011 to 2013 I worked as a lead teacher at a public charter Montessori school in Miami, Florida. Since September 2013 I have been working as a Montessori program coordinator and Xavier University consultant for Central China Normal University's kindergarten in Wuhan, China.

I am currently a lead teacher at Coral Reef Montessori charter school in Miami, FL. I hold an Ohio and Florida State Teaching Certificate for Pre K - 3rd with an ESOL endorsement. Having lived and worked in various parts of the globe, (USA, St. Maarten, Czech Republic, and China), I feel connected to Montessori in a variety of settings.

What experiences help me in my work

I am a child and adolescent psychiatrist and have worked with children and adolescent’s and their families with different difficulties for many years. This has given me an understanding and experience with the child development in many phases. This inspires me to help Montessori teachers to understand the importance of developmental perspectives.

Education and experience

I was a Montessori early childhood assistant for two years during my Montessori training. I then worked as lead guide in the early childhood classroom for eleven years along with mentoring new teachers. I have been working in a Montessori lower elementary classroom for five and half year while getting my Elementary 6-12 certification.

In the year 2021 I entered the first AMS Teacher Training cohort and have finished that course. I also have a TEFL certification to teach English as a second language. I'm consistently looking for ways to increase my knowledge and understanding of the Montessori methodology and also am exploring how this approach works with the second language learner.

Education and experience

Jennifer Varbanov began her career as a cofounder of Bodhi Tree Montessori school in 1999. She earned her Early Childhood credential from Northeast Montessori Institute. Jennifer graduated from Plymouth State University with a BA in Art History. She pursued her Masters in Education with a focus on Montessori education, while working as the Early Childhood Director and teaching art in the elementary I and II classrooms at BTMS. During her Montessori education she developed a passion for Peace education.

Jennifer moved to Norway in 2005, where she currently works as the Academic Director at Bambini Montessori Barnehage. She has concurrently worked as a consultant for Early Childhood programs, creating workshops in Montessori theory and practice. In 2013 Jennifer earned a diploma as an Instructor in Training Curriculum for Teaching Establishments from Hedmark University College. She works actively with Interns and Teachers in practice within the Montessori environment. She has developed and presented Parent Education seminars and works to spread Peace education through the integration of concrete peace initiatives.

In 2015, Jennifer completed the Montessori Model United Nations teacher training at The Opera Nazionale Headquarters in Rome. Jennifer has held the position of Vice Chairman of the Norwegian Montessori Association, since her nomination in 2013.

Montessori credentials

• AMS credential for 3-6
• A Master of Education in Montessori Integrated Learning
• AMI Administrator certification
• Montessori Model United Nations certificate
• 0-3 workshop "The vital years under three" with Camilla Carlberg
• AMI Montessori for dementia and aging workshop
• Inclusive education workshop with Silvia Dubovoy

Education and experience

I have been a certified Early Childhood Montessori educator for 8 years. I hold my certification as a Department of Children and Families Director. I am also hold a certification from the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools as a Nature-Based teacher. I am trained in the International Baccalaureate program and working towards a Teacher Certification for public schools in the State of Florida.