Sonia C. Slaven is a top-performing Educator specializing in the Montessori Method with over 20 years of experience. She holds a 3-6 American Montessori Certification and a 6-12 Montessori St. Nicholas Certification. She provides children with the highest level of education as she assesses, identifies, and guides students to reach their fullest potential. Ms. Sonia understands that children are our future. Therefore, she maintains high academic expectations and provides a prepared environment in which children feel safe and love to learn. She conducts training seminars and workshops for Montessori teachers focusing on the areas of mathematics, language, science, history, geography, and social studies. In addition, she organizes meetings for parents in order to help them understand the impact and the effect that a Montessori environment has on their children. She has served as a consultant for Montessori schools in Ocala and Tampa approving the entire curriculum and providing continuous education for the staff. Ms. Sonia has the ability to communicate with children in an efficient way making them feel secure and confident, and she is an effective communicator and an organized planner that leads by example. During Ms. Sonia’s extensive Montessori career, she has trained teachers for a MACTE training center, has given lectures about Montessori to graduate and undergraduate USF students, and has had the privilege of being nominated for “Disney’s Teacher of the Year.” She also organized, opened, and taught in a very successful upper elementary program in a very prestigious Montessori School. Her passion for education goes beyond the children. She has a thrist for knowledge and is constantly finding ways to challenge and educate herself, even having the opportunity to complete a neuroscience course from Harvard University. Teaching and learning is her life’s passion! Ms. Sonia touched and had a positive impact on the lives of all of her students. She feels honored and proud that she still remains in contact with students that she taught as far back as twenty years ago. To receive messages, calls, and correspondence from her pupils from prestigious universities fills her life with happiness because she guided them to achieve their best. It is a testament to the value of a Montessori education.

Dean Slaven is a top-performing business and operations manager with 25 years of experience at a Fortune 500 corporation and holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management. He has the proven ability to assess, identify, measure, and monitor business needs, applying legal, regulatory, and safety compliance knowledge to reduce risk. He can apply the understanding of policies and procedures to situations and operations to address issues that impact efficiency, quality, and parent satisfaction. Mr. Slaven is a very effective communicator, interacting and presenting to all organizational levels. He builds teams by developing future leaders through training and mentoring. In addition, Dean Slaven has the ability to coach and develop others to meet performance goals using career development processes and tools. He measures performance through the use of key performance indicators. Mr. Slaven treats every student and his/her family as if they were his only pupils, providing them with all of the means necessary to obtain the desired result, the highest level of education. Dean Slaven is a proud father of two Montessori graduate students and believes that the Montessori Method of education is simply the best.

Ms. Leda, our primary classroom lead teacher, holds a marketing degree and boasts a rich professional background, having worked with Fortune 500 companies such as Procter & Gamble and GSK. However, her journey took a remarkable turn when she moved from Mexico and discovered a Montessori school in NY for her own two daughters. Captivated by the Montessori philosophy, she was inspired to transition her career and obtain a credential as a Montessori teacher through the American Montessori Society (AMS) in Early Childhood. Ms. Leda has been in the Montessori environment for 10 years and she joined our team in 2015 and her commitment to the Montessori philosophy goes beyond the classroom; it's a way of life for her. Embracing the core Montessori principles, she fosters an environment where children are encouraged to explore, discover, and learn at their own pace. With a keen understanding of the Montessori materials and methods, Ms. Leda creates an atmosphere that promotes independence, self-motivation, and a deep love for learning. Her classroom is a carefully prepared space, filled with stimulating materials that cater to the diverse needs and interests of each child. Through a hands-on, experiential approach, she guides her students in developing essential life skills, critical thinking abilities, and a sense of respect for themselves and others. With Ms. Leda’s unique blend of corporate expertise and her passion and dedication to the Montessori method, she ensures that our students receive an authentic and enriching educational experience, setting the foundation for a lifelong love of learning and a strong sense of community. When she is not working at school, she loves to spend time with and take care of her daughters. She also enjoys sports and working out, especially volleyball.

Jill Gross was born in Illinois and has lived in Florida since she was 10 years old. She studied Marine Biology at Eckerd College, and spent 6 years educating the public through a variety of programs at the Florida Aquarium. She has held a 3-6 Associate Early Childhood credential from the American Montessori Society since 2018. In addition to teaching in the elementary classroom, she leads our after school club focused on science and engineering. She fell in love with MCDB as soon as she walked in the door and witnessed a child using sharks teeth to preform math. She loves working with the children in all areas and observing how they work together to explore new concepts. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, camping, and kayaking with her son. She hopes her passion for science and the outdoors sparks the same interests in her students.

Jessica's journey into Montessori education began with a seemingly simple decision that would ultimately change the course of her life. Her daughter, a bright young soul, started her Montessori journey at Montessori Casa Bambini at the age of 3 and continued all the way through completing 6th grade in 2023. Little did she know that this choice would be the spark for a life-changing transformation. As a stay-at-home mom, she had the privilege of witnessing her daughter's growth within the Montessori environment. What captivated her most was Sonia, a remarkable teacher at the school. Her deep knowledge and unwavering love for the children left a profound impression on her. She felt a pull toward Montessori philosophy, even though she didn't fully understand it at the time. Jessica's involvement extended to volunteering at the school, whenever the need arose. The more time spent there, the stronger the connection she felt to the Montessori approach. Little did she know that an opportunity would soon arise that would encourage her into the heart of this educational philosophy. In 2021, a unique opportunity emerged that would lead her on an unexpected path. She found herself taking the first steps toward becoming an official member of the MCDB team, initially as an assistant in the classroom. The moment she stepped into that role, she was entranced by the children's natural desire to learn and their ability to work independently. The love Jessica developed for the children was beyond words, and it filled my heart in ways I never imagined. Inspired by this new chapter in her life and the remarkable potential she saw in each child, the opportunity to obtain certification as a Montessori teacher presented itself. With unwavering determination and the incredible support of the school's team, her family, and her own dedication, she embarked on this educational journey. Words cannot begin to express the fulfillment she finds in guiding young minds along their unique paths of discovery and self-realization. Jessica's growth from a curious parent to a certified Montessori teacher has been a transformation, one that has allowed her to pass on the gift of a Montessori education to a new generation of young learners. Her journey stands as a testament to the unexpected turns life can take and the limitless potential for personal and professional growth, even when one least expects it.

Carina Arrieta was born in Maracaibo, Vanazuela and has lived in the United States for 7 years. She studied Industrial Relations at the Rafael Belloso Chacín University Maracaibo-Venezuela, and worked for 10 years as manager of a well-known men's clothing store in Venezuela. She is married with 2 children. Carina has been a part of the Montesorri Casa Dei Bambini family since 2017. She loves working with children. Every day she learns from them and enjoys experiencing how they learn and develop each of their skills on an academic and personal level.

Josnelin Montiel was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela and has a bachelors degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. She worked for 8 years in Food Services in the oil industry in Venezuela. She moved to the United States 5 years ago and feels so blessed and grateful to live here in Florida. She has been married since 2008 and has 2 daughters: Cecilia and Emilia. She is catholic and her favorite holiday is Christmas! Josnelin has been a teacher assistant at Montesorri Schools since 2019 and joined the MCDB family 3 years ago. Her favorite part of working with children is teaching Spanish, and loves when they learn news words and songs!