Ms. Ashley
Lead Directress | Willow Room
"The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life." -- Dr. Maria Montessori
Ashley serves as Lead Directress in the Willow Room. She received her MACTE and IMC accredited Montessori Early Childhood Certification from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Ms. Ashley received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Mercy University and has completed Masters-level coursework in psychology from Liberty University. She has elementary and middle school experience in both public and private settings.
"As I continue to learn more about the Montessori method, the aspect of Maria's philosophy that continues to stand out to me is that education is more than what we find in books or memorize for tests," says Ms. Ashley. "Education involves growing the whole human. Helping children thrive and grow into who they are meant to be, not who we expect them to be. Our goal as Montessori Guides should not be simply to educate the child, but to grow them. To grow their spirit and to help them gain independence and a desire to care for others and the world around them. In these formative years, we, as guides, are here to help children build the foundation of who they will be and to help them grow and become individuals who change the world for good."