Hi, I’m Dana and I’m a Montessori Educator and Mom
I’m a mom to a beautiful active little girl and a wife to a wonderful husband, who has been with me every step of the way throughout my Montessori journey.
I have a Master of Art in Education (MAEd) and I’m a Montessori-trained teacher in Early Childhood (3-6) through the American Montessori Society (AMS). I have nine years of experience teaching in the Montessori 3-6 classroom and I have two years of experience as a Montessori Teacher Trainer/Educator and mentor. Additionally, I am a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) and an 85-hour Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher (RPYT) and I am trained in teaching Children’s Yoga.
My Montessori Journey
When I was in college, I studied Communication Arts. After graduation, I landed my first job as a production editor for a large education publishing company. After five years, I realized the corporate world wasn’t for me anymore, and I stumbled upon Montessori while researching different teaching and education programs.
I fell in love with the Montessori Philosophy after learning about it, and after observing real classrooms. I enrolled in a Montessori Teacher training program; an intense seven-week hands-on course. I jumped right in without even having a job lined up. By the seventh week, I was literally in tears of joy and exhaustion!
The real learning began when I started my year-long internship in an Early Childhood classroom as a full-time assistant teacher. It was amazing to finally observe and work with children after my seven-week training. The following year I became a head teacher in a different Montessori school.
At the time I didn’t realize that I was about to embark on such a unique and wild journey. I worked at different Montessori schools; from three years at one school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan to five years at two different schools as well as a Montessori teacher training center after we relocated to South Florida.
A big change in my journey
I became a Montessori teacher trainer while living in South Florida. I also became a specialist teacher; teaching Children’s Yoga at different schools. I was no longer a full-time teacher in the Montessori classroom, instead, I completed my yoga training at this time. I also completed my Master of Art in Education. It was when I was completing this program that we learned we were expecting. At 30 weeks pregnant we relocated to North Carolina (the Triangle area).
I officially became a stay at home mom after giving birth. When our daughter turned two years old, I began to create Montessori-inspired activities to do with her at home. Many of my ideas come from my experience as an Early Childhood Montessori teacher.
So here we are, and that is how the idea for my blog, Bright Little Owl began. I am here to share my ideas with you and inspire you! Why owl? Because the owl is a symbol for learning and education. Additionally, my daughter loves owls. She’s our bright little owl!
I would like to help inspire you on your unique journey
I hope that my blog inspires you on your journey; whether you’re new to Montessori at home or homeschooling, new to Montessori, a seasoned teacher or Montessori teacher or teacher in training, or a new mom, parent, grandparent, a nanny, or even a parent of older children. What I have discovered so far is that we are always learning. We are all different and we all have unique experiences and challenges. I hope to inspire you and help you to remember to enjoy the process and to have fun!
Fun facts about me
- I was born in Queens, New York City
- I love all types of music and I love to sing
- I used to play piano by ear when I was in high school
- I love cats; we have a senior Siamese cat
- I love animals and when I was a little girl I wanted to be a veterinarian
- I love castles, the renaissance era, and Shakespeare
- I believe in fairies
- I was an intern at an Alternative Rock Radio station and a Graphic Design Studio when I was in college
- I always want to stop for a coffee
- I love art, graphic design, and typography
- I’ve been a Pescatarian/Vegetarian since 2001
- I love the ocean and I love to walk in nature
