After School Teacher

Petra

Hello! My name is Ms. Petra and I am looking forward to joining the team at Green Mountain Montessori next week! I attended a Montessori school in New Mexico when I was ages 4 and 5. I recall having a very positive experience with plenty of independence in the classroom, strong friendships with peers, and an emphasis on being outdoors. At the age of 6, my family moved to Tucson, Arizona where I was raised.

Fast forward 20 years, and I have obtained a bachelor of arts psychology degree with a minor in family studies and human development from the University of Arizona. During my studies, I became fascinated by developmental psychology. I am passionate about working with children, especially young children whose brains are in a very important phase of development. After college, I went on to work at a summer camp in California where I led activities such as kayaking, sailing, stand up paddle boarding, and rock climbing. During my time with the summer camp, I discovered how much I enjoy working with the littles (ages 6-8) and I decided that I would like to have an opportunity to work in a classroom setting. I believe that the Montessori method of teaching gives children a big advantage in terms of developing social skills, exploring their autonomy, and being in a space in which their voice matters. 

I came to Vermont this April to work with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps as a member of a Pro Forestry Crew. I have spent the last 7 months living and working all over the state of Vermont. I was here when the snow melted in Spring, I was here during the floods, and I endured a summer full of rain and mosquitoes. I was rewarded with a beautiful and colorful fall season, which I had never experienced growing up in the desert. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to continue living in Vermont and am looking forward to getting to know all of you as well as the students.