Heidi Staelgrave

How did you discover Montessori? My daughter was diagnosed in April of her 2nd grade year with Sensory Processing Disorder and ADHD, and although she did very well academically, she did not thrive in a traditional school environment.  I knew of our local Montessori school and how well renowned it was but did not know much about the actual Montessori Method.  I was allowed to tour the school and observe in an active classroom; we enrolled her in Lower El and my then 4 year old son into their Children’s House for the next academic year.  A few years and many volunteer hours later at the school, I decided on a career change.  While pregnant with my third child, I went through my Montessori training and student teaching to become a guide myself. 

Why do you love being a Montessori Guide? Nothing makes me happier than watching the children thrive in the environment that we have prepared for them.  It never ceases to amaze me what they can do at such a young age and the fact that in any other environment that probably would not even be given the chance.

What about WSM attracted you to the school? That it possesses many of the key attributes of the Montessori community that we left in Michigan including the different levels so that my youngest could continue his education in a Montessori school as his older siblings did.

What are your credentials?

• BS in Human Ecology from Michigan State University

• Early Childhood Credential from AMS