Our team

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

My credentials and experience

I began my career as a teacher in Elementary Montessori school in Mexico City in 1982. I studied music at a conservatories of music in Puerto Rico and Mexico and also graduated from University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras, PR, and received a B.A. in Liberal Arts, majoring in Music.

I earned my 6-12 AMI Montessori credential from Centro de Estudios de Educación AMI in Mexico City. I have over 30 years experience in Elementary education in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Czech Republic. I have taught choirs, music movement, Orff instruments, and Suzuki piano (Suzuki certificate in Piano, European Suzuki Association - levels 1, 2, 3, 4). Focusing also on teacher education, I have given several workshops on Body Music, Humanities and teaching second languages through music, art and drama.

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.

What experiences help me in my work at Duhovka Institute

I have worked in both private and public schools in Russia and USA for over 20 years with focus on instruction is Math and Cosmic Education.

I graduated from the Chuvash State University, Russia with a MA degree in Philology (Language Arts/Study of Slavic Language). I also graduated from Barry University, Miami with Masters in Elementary Education with a concentration in Montessori Education.

After moving to the US and working in a Montessori classroom for a few years, I earned 6-9 credential through North Carolina Teacher Training Center. I hold AMS credentials at 6-12 level and FL State Teaching Certificate for K - 6 and I am certified in teaching English as a Second Language for K- 12. I have been ESOL instructor for the county teachers. I continue to mentor new teachers at my school and I am a directing teacher for students from local universities in Jacksonville, FL.

My training in special education allows me to provide instruction to adult learners with the emphasis on the wide range of special needs.
I have trainings in Gifted Education, Dyslexia, ADHD and ADD.

My education and experience

In addition to being a Montessori educator in both private and public Montessori schools for more than 15 years, I am the parent of a child who experiences Disability. My son has an Intellectual Disability and a communication disorder and has been a Montessori student in toddler, primary and elementary programs. My experience as a parent informs many of my classroom inclusion practices.

I hold AMS credentials for ages 3-6 and 6-12. In addition, I hold a Masters degree in Inclusive Early Childhood Education from Portland State University. I am a frequent presenter at local and national Montessori conferences and love sharing the Montessori pedagogy with adult learners, parents and children.

I enjoy the challenge that students of this age provide through their persistent questions about the world around them and their zest for learning.

My credentials and experience

I focus on elementary education, child development, reading and language, and especially the cultural curriculum. As a Montessori teacher, I believe strongly in the continuation of professional growth, mindfulness, and expanding my own creative knowledge as a life long learner.

I have Bachelor of Science in Child Development from the University of Minnesota and a Masters in Education in Montessori from Xavier University. I have taught Elementary I children for over 25 years. I hold AMS credential in Elementary I Education and I have trained adult learners for over 20 years. Lastly, I have given lectures all around the world on Montessori curriculum, peace education, and classroom management.

What experiences help me in my work at Duhovka Institute

Music Education, Psychology, Music Therapy and Science were my focus in my undergraduate studies and have Diplomas in Montessori AMI 0-6 and AMS 6-12. I specialized in the Bilingual Brain in the University of Texas and The Shelton School MACAR training for Special Ed.

I am originally from Colombia and have made bilingualism a drive in my professional and my family life. Learning is a life journey for me, as I continue to develop in Educational Leadership and Bilingual Endorsements. As a Head of School, I have learned about balance, administration, but most of all being honest and present in every conversation and every encounter with the children and teachers. I have always been energetic but leading a school has taught me deeper focus and empathy to build our community and that allows for connections in all areas of our lives.

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.

My education and experiance

I started my Montessori journey 10 years ago and instantly felt like I was apart of something bigger than myself. After receiving my AMS accreditation for Early Childhood education, I decided to keep learning and growing in Montessori. I went on to recieve my Elementary I and II diploma for ages 6-12.

I taught ages 6-9 for 8 years and had such a wonderful experience guiding children in a dual language environment. My experience has been invaluable as I teach and train Adult Learners from all over the world.

I continue to participate in extended Montessori seminars and workshops. I currently have moved into a leadership position where I guide and support Montessori teachers.

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.

My previous experience from the Institute for the Support of Innovative Education and Skola21 which focuses on courses for personal development helps me to understand and relate to the goals of AMS and the Montessori philosophy. It allows me to search for methods that can deliver a deeper experience to our Adult Learners.

I had the opportunity to study in six different countries which prepared me to work in our multinational environment where we have Adult Learners from all over the world. My personal interests in meditation and mindfulness help me to appreciate the importance of concentration in the child's development.