My favorite part of the day is when my students’ eyes light up. After volunteering and working with children for almost a decade, I am ecstatic to be working with the children at Chesterton Montessori School. I graduated with a B.A. in English in 2020 and in the Spring of 2025 will be starting classes to receive both my Infant and Toddler Montessori Certification through the Seton Montessori Institute, and my Indiana Teaching License through Valparaiso University.

Receiving my Montessori Certification has been a lifelong goal of mine because the Montessori pedagogy not only sparks inspiration for learning, compassion, and intentional living in students, but in my life as well. I admire the tenacity of the child mind and the enormity of their hearts. Children are truly the best of humanity. I am honored to help create an environment that invites curiosity and nurtures the very best of who we are as people–our future. When a student’s eyes brighten, they see the world with love, curiosity, and admiration. For this reason, I am always moved, without fail, when one of my students grins and waves in the morning, saying, “Hi, Miss Stephanie!” I’m so grateful to be at Chesterton Montessori School, and to be waving back each morning at every child who enters.