Hi, My name is Ciera Quarterman. I am 28 years old and a boy mom 2x! I am a black woman raised as a christian. I am quiet but blunt and speak my mind. I tend to stay to myself often and starting to love to do things alone. My professional goal or dream is to work in a majority staffed and students school of color. I want to work around and with people that can understand me, I can relate more to, and be comfortable around. I also want to be that person that the children can relate to. It is so hard to go to a school and you look around and it is not nobody in site you can mirror. Some years ago parents and future parents were observing the school I work at and one of them said in the q&a after how come all the colored staff were the one taking the children to the bathroom. Thats when it really stuck out to me that there was no guide that was colored there was no guide that was not white. I knew right there I had to be apart of that change. Long term goals and dreams is to hopefully open up a children's house with someone or become a director of a children house.

I am a Montessori Teacher Leader, and I want to introduce Montessori Education to the broader immigrant population in Minnesota. I want a better quality of education for our youth and provide a safe and reliable Montessori Environment. I opened a Wildflower Montessori school together with my wife and her friend. We are all three trained Teacher Leaders, and I plan to have an elementary classroom added to our beautiful Acacia Montessori school. We hope that Montessori Education will equip our children for everyday life, giving them practical skills which give them purpose and enables them to be contributing members of their family, classroom, and community.

Michelle has been an educator for over 20 years. She has worked as an elementary school, middle school teacher in public schools, and with private schools, She also has over 8 years of experience as a Montessori educator. at the primary and upper elementary level She has also taught as an Associate Professor of Developmental Reading, for technical colleges. in South Carolina and New Mexico. ​ She received her Montessori Diploma for Primary Ages 3-6 in 2010. She received an AMI Administrators Certificate in 2022, and an AMI Certificate for Montessori Elder Care Practitioner in 2020. In 2000, Mrs. Goodwin completed her Master of Science in Elementary Education and Reading from Brooklyn College (CUNY). She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Print Journalism from Northeastern University in June 1995. Her minor was Afro-American Studies. She is thrilled to be a founding partner for Jawanza Zinnia Montessori Development center where she can fulfill her lifelong dream of creating an environment of community for primary and senior attendees. The goal of this center is to meet the needs of the community by providing exposure to a prepared environment and high quality curriculum as we care for multi-generations. "I am a lifelong learner," says Michelle. " I desire to help spark the love of learning and self-growth in every person who's life I touch." "As a former Montessori parent, I have seen the benefits of allowing the child to be in a nurtured environment where their individuality is celebrated. The seeds "planted" in my children within those environments are still germinating today. Many of the strengths and skills they demonstrate now are a direct result of having the opportunity to grow and experience at their own pace. And I have had the pleasure of utilizing the Montessori method to support my father in his last days as he struggled with Alzheimer's due to dementia. It is my passion to create the same environments for the children and seniors of my local community." Michelle is a mother, and a grandmother. She also serves on the ministry team of Bethel Revival Church, Emporia, VA. Michelle was born and raised in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn, NY.

My name is Jessica Chalmers and I am originally from Port-au-Prince Ayiti. I pursued my undergraduate and graduate studies in psychology, early childhood education, childhood education and curriculum writing. I am a multilingual educator with over a decade of teaching experience, curriculum development and leadership. I have a passion for social justice and an interest in sustainability studies. Overall, I have a deep passion and commitment to healing on a large scale. I fundamentally believe in the holistic, nurturing and universal Montessori methods. After training with the Montessori Institute of San Diego, I plan on bringing these teachings to a broader population of children. In my home country, where children don’t have access to quality education because of political and systemic oppressions, I see using the Montessori philosophy as a form of social justice. Learning how to implement the Montessori methodology will give me the tools to better support my students' overall growth. I truly feel that the Montessori method is a revolution that contributes to a movement of universal liberation by showing the way to defend and raise humanity. I believe that all students, despite their background and abilities, should have access to a holistic way of learning, one that encompasses social- emotional as well as academic growth.

My name is Michaela Johnson! I am currently in my fifth year of teaching Montessori, but my second year of teaching Upper Elementary(which I am LOVING!!). The past three years, I taught Lower Elementary. I have a BS in Psychology from Tuskegee University, MS in Child and Adolescent Psychology from SNHU and a M.A.T. in Elementary Education from Relay Graduate School of Education. I always maintain a calm and positive outlook on life while keeping a smile on my face. I love being a Montessori guide, teaching, learning, inspiring and interacting with students and their families. I enjoy being in the classroom, so my plan (as of now) is to retire as an educator.

Brandy O’Neal has fifteen years of experience teaching in Chicago Public Schools. During her tenure, she has been a classroom teacher, reading interventionist, and mentor teacher. She took a hiatus from education to become an urban farm apprentice and eventually became a farm manager at the YWCA’s first urban farm in Chicago. She enjoyed working outdoors, learning from nature, and growing some of the best vegetables she’d ever eaten in her life! However, when the pandemic hit and the school where her farm was located closed, she used the time to reassess and plan her next steps. Always the educator at heart, she yearned to work with children. So, she returned to the classroom with a renewed sense of hope and a fresh outlook. Brimming with ideas, she researched all kinds of interests, from food literacy and nature-based education to student agency and self-directed learning, and each time one name kept making an appearance—Montessori. Taking this as a sign, she enrolled in an EL I-II Montessori certification program at the Prepared Montessorian Institute, and hasn’t looked back. Her time studying the Montessori Method has strengthened her resolve to not only teach her students the fundamentals of academic subjects but also strategies to lead happier, healthier lives.

My name is Diamond Williams, a little bit about me… I am 23 years old and a little new to the Montessori community, I can across it and fell in love and now I just see myself doing this for the rest of my life. I would like to go back for the primary training once I graduate college and just keep climbing the ladder that is my dream, and I hope I’m able to fulfill it one day. My personality is very driven I would say, when I make my mind up I feel like I lock into that place and I can’t unlock until I complete my goal. That’s why I feel as though I’ll be able to keep climbing the ladder as I want too. I absolutely can’t wait to be a lead in my own classroom and see what things I can accomplish, I fully believe in myself and can’t wait for the new year to start!

I am a born and raised in Boston who is an enthusiastic teacher with passion for children’s education and hands-on experience in imparting knowledge to young learners. I would like to express my strong interest. This scholarship would help me tremendously in continuing my new career and journey as a Montessori teacher. I have started working at my new position at Roxbury Roots Montessori starting in February. Not only that, but I was working at a children's center at Northeastern University which was financially great, but it was long overdue for me to move on to something with more potential for growth. This upcoming fall school I will be doing my internship at RRM. My professional goals is to get my Montessori certification by spring 2024 and a top priority of mine while I am at Roxbury Roots is to use this opportunity to help further the Montessori pedagogy and instill a sense of pride and empowerment in all students. This is a focus on what drive me, my career as a black woman in early childhood education. I believe my purpose in life is to help my community, especially people of color in a teaching environment.

I am excited and very thankful for this opportunity. A little bit about me. My name is Marie St.Jean. I was born and raised in Florida. Haitian decent fluent in Haitian Creole. I’ve been in Montessori education for seven years now . As lead teacher and as an assistant teacher for pre primary and also primary. My goal is to become a certified Montessori Teacher for the primary age classroom at international Montessori school .My personality is very outgoing land ready to explore curiosities into the world . During my spare time I spend most of it with my 10 year old son Zakhari. Riding our bikes and hanging out at the beach.

Keosha Gant is an innovative educator and mother from Chicago, Illinois. She has more than a decade of experience working with children, with her most recent role being an assistant at the Montessori primary level. She is currently finishing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Fashion Design from Columbia College. With a passion in the arts Keosha makes use of her interest in an impactful way within the classroom. Looking to not only further her knowledge on the Montessori pedagogies but also take the necessary steps to further her career as black leadership, Keosha is currently enrolled in Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies to obtain a Montessori credential at the primary level to further make a difference in children’s lives.

My name is Hannah Boxley. I attended Montessori school at the age 2 1/2 years old up until I was in 3rd grade. I attended Marotta, Hicks and Dike Montessori. I have a bachelors degree in Business Administration from Central State University. However, I have always had the passion for education. I love working with children. I am natural at making connections with people. I enjoy helping others and work well with assisting people through challenges. I am an experienced problem solver and like to be optimistic with results. I have worked in early childhood since 2009, began teaching as a substitute teacher for Cleveland Metropolitan School District in 2014. I began my journey as a Montessori mother in 2017 and allowed both of my children to attend public Montessori. I began my Montessori training while working in my first year as a Montessori teacher at Stonebrook Montessori. While conducting my training I experienced hardships and was unable to complete my training in the time span of the program. Therefor, receiving this grant is most appreciated and much needed. I am currently working at Tremont Montessori as an assistant teacher (paraprofessional) as an opportunity to focus on completing my training. My goal is to complete my training by the fall. Gain knowledge as an assistant and prepare to teach my own class for the following school year. I also will have to obtain my Resident Educator License after obtaining my Montessori credential in order to start the 2024-2025 school year as a credentialed Montessori teacher. I plan to teach as a Montessori teacher until retirement. I also would love to support and see Cleveland have their own Montessori training center so that we can grow our Montessori educator population.

My name is Jennifer Irving, and I live in South Florida. I have a bachelor's and a master's degree in Criminology. After I finished, I realized that the type of change I wanted to make I couldn't achieve in this current environment. After having my first child and many hours of research, I jumped into the world of Montessori and have been in love ever since. I am a super curious person and love learning about any and everything that I encounter. My hobbies include drawing, painting, learning the guitar, and entertaining my two children and Goldendoodle. I've found my passion in teaching the Montessori method to eager elementary children. Professional, I want to teach lower elementary for the rest of my working years with the hopes of opening a school apart of the Wildflower Network.