Guides Achieving the Guidepost Mission at Folsom
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we are celebrating all of the incredible guides across the Guidepost network. Here, we spotlight three exceptional guides at Guidepost at Folsom, recognizing them for their outstanding contributions to the school community.
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we are highlighting the incredible stories of Guides across the Guidepost network. Here, we spotlight some exceptional guides at Guidepost at Folsom, a campus in the Sacramento area which serves children starting at 6-weeks-old in Nido (nursery) all the way to 12-years-old in elementary. Guidepost at Folsom is also proud to feature a Spanish language immersion program, available in Toddler and Children’s House (preschool/kindergarten) classrooms.
While every guide at Folsom and across the network has interesting stories and deserves to be celebrated, here we highlight three special guides and recognize them for their outstanding contributions to the school community.
What brings people from such diverse walks of life to dedicating their careers to being inspiring Montessori educators?
Again and again, we hear that it’s because of the vision of Montessori. The vision of capable children propelling themselves confidently from one achievement to the next—aided and encouraged by an inspiring guide who carefully prepared all the details. We at Guidepost believe in that same mission, and thanks to guides like Ms. Margarita, Ms. Sangeetha, and Mr. Dominic, we see it in action in classrooms across the country every single day.
Ms. Margarita, Spanish Immersion Toddler Guide
With an established career as a traditional pre-K teacher, Ms. Margarita has flourished as she’s shifted to Montessori and working with toddlers.
“Ms. Margarita’s patience and the skill of a second language she provides is a gift to our children. She does a wonderful job of communicating with parents so they feel connected to what is going on, and provides fun opportunities to include and involve them to make them feel like a part of our community!”
Ms. Margarita is not only the Lead Guide of a Spanish Immersion Toddler classroom at Folsom, but also a Guidepost parent with a 3-year-old son in one of our Children’s House communities. With over 15 years of experience working with preschool age children, transitioning to working with toddlers was a little intimidating at first, but she’s discovered just how capable even the youngest children can be!
She is inspired by her role as one of a child’s very first educators, helping them blossom in every dimension—in communication, social skills, and independence. And she loves that her team and the training from the Prepared Montessorian Institute have supported her as she’s made the transition.
Describing her experience, Ms. Margarita explained, “It feels very satisfying to know that we as Toddler Guides play a very important part in our children's journey to independence. My goal is for them to develop their self-confidence and concentration as well as the sense of community that this is their home away from home.”
It’s clear that Ms. Margarita’s effort has made that vision of a positive, supportive community come alive in her classroom:
“Ms. Margarita’s passion for education is immediately evident upon observing her interactions with her students and their families. She invests time into learning about each of her students and she has a calm and patient nature that creates a positive classroom community, making her students feel welcome! We are so lucky to have her at Guidepost! ”
“We’ve been so impressed with many qualities in Ms. Margarita—her warmth, her nurturing guidance to help her students become self-sufficient, her ability to engage with, and hold the attention of 12 little ones, and her efforts to build a community both inside and outside the classroom! ”
Ms. Sangeetha, Lead Guide, Children's House
Ms. Sangeetha always knew she wanted to be a teacher and started her career in education as a Montessorian nearly 15 years ago.
“Ms. Sangeetha is outstanding with the children, wonderful at building parent relationships, a Montessori expert, and such a great teammate to everyone at our campus. Her positivity and the way she lives out our core values has been such an addition to our Folsom team.”
Ms. Sangeetha was born and raised in India, and was first introduced to Montessori when she started looking for teaching jobs after she received her early childhood training. After learning about Montessori, there was no turning back for Ms. Sangeetha. Montessori is her passion! She is profoundly grateful for the first school she worked at for believing in her and helping her learn. Today, after following her passion for more than a decade, she is proud to be working for “a school that feeds her spirit” and encourages her tomake her passion a reality.
Describing her passion for a Montessori Children’s House community, Ms. Sangeetha said, “I've always been curious about the 3 to 6 year old’s and love this age group. They are very intelligent and genuinely curious. They give me a reason to laugh every single day. I want my class to be self-assured, respectful, kind, and prepared to take on new challenges. I have no doubt they will realize their potential if these values are established in them. Onward and upward is our motto!”
Echoed again and again in comments from parents, is the idea that Ms. Sangeetha herself boldly embodies the values of kindness and respect that she hopes to cultivate in her class:
“Ms. Sangeetha has been a great blessing to our family, especially to our daughter who recently graduated from Guidepost. If our daughter could not stop talking about Ms. Sangeetha at home, then that tells us how much our daughter loved being in her class. Our family is grateful for her compassion, enthusiasm and kindness. Ms. Sangeetha is truly a gift to all children.”
“Ms. Sangeetha has been such a huge part of the school experience for our daughter. We were nervous about the transition, and she made all the difference. Our daughter feels empowered in the classroom and is so excited for school each day. We love hearing the stories about her day and how involved Ms. Sangeetha is in the learning process. Her communication with us has been great, and you can tell how much she loves the kids she works with. I couldn't imagine a better first teacher, we feel so thankful for her!”
“We love Ms. Sangeetha! She kindly models grace and courtesy for our son and is always encouraging and enthusiastic about learning!”
“As a parent, I feel incredibly grateful to have Ms. Sangeetha as my child’s teacher. She is not only an excellent educator, but also an incredibly kind and compassionate person who genuinely cares about her students. She is truly a gifted educator who has a passion for teaching and a heart for her students.”
“We truly appreciate her patience, dedication and hard work in the class. She is amazing and tries to bring out the best in my child.”
Mr. Dominic, Lead Guide, Elementary
Mr. Dominic made a radical shift from software development to becoming a teacher after observing a Montessori class firsthand.
“Mr. Dominic’s endless patience with the elementary social emotional energy is admirable as well as his dedication to bettering himself as a Guide and his classroom. He goes above and beyond to support his families and is always looking for new and creative ways to build out our Elementary program.”
The major catalyst for this dramatic career change was discovering the Montessori approach and witnessing firsthand the incredible feats it enabled in children. Starting first as a Children’s House guide, Mr. Dominic is now working as a lead guide in an elementary class. He is passionate about creating the Montessori ideal—an environment that fosters self-directed, lifelong learners.
Speaking of his aspirations, Mr. Dominic explained, “It's incredibly rewarding to facilitate and witness their growth. I try to keep in mind my students fifteen or twenty years from now and how they'll view the long-run effect these years had on their lives. I hope to provide an incredible foundation that enables them to thrive and move towards their chosen goals and values as they develop into capable, happy adults.”
Mr. Dominic’s dedication to the Montessori mission of empowering capable children is on full display for all to see:
“I was a bit nervous to send our son to a non-traditional school. But after meeting Mr. Dominic and seeing how much he cares about the kids and the Montessori way; I was excited to enroll our son. A year later and we couldn't be happier with how wonderful he is. He truly understands each child's idiosyncrasies and engages with each of them on the level that they need. He pushes them to attempt greatness without fear of failing and encourages them. Mr. Dominic is a big part of the reason we will re-enroll our son in next year's elementary program, we couldn't adore him more!”
“Mr. Dominic has been the most important factor in Leo's success this school year. He is calm, patient, and curious about children as human beings. It is a joy to see how much Mr. Dominic loves watching the children learn and grow into themselves.”
“Mr. Dominic cares about his students' reading level. To me, that’s a true hero in the world of education. He’s passionate, dedicated, and committed to making a difference in the lives of his students. We are lucky to have our child in Mr. Dominic’s class.”
“Our experience with Mr. Dominic has been exceptional, a lot of patience, he helps to expand knowledge without putting pressure on the student, he helped our daughter to have more confidence in mathematics, he is an excellent teacher.”
“Mr. Dominic is a wonderful teacher. He is kind, patient, and intelligent. I am grateful to have him be my kiddo's teacher.”
“Mr. Dominic is kind, patient and very understanding to all the children he teaches. He likes to teach every single one of them and that means a lot to this mama!”
When we hear the stories from guides who have dedicated their career from the start to being a Montessori educator, who switched from traditional education to Montessori later in career, and those who have dramatically changed fields after learning about Montessori, we can see the power of the aspirational vision of Montessori—and the quality of those who have responded to that vision and committed to making it a reality for countless children.
Guides like Ms. Margarita, Ms. Sangeetha, and Mr. Dominic are the heart and soul of a Guidepost Montessori classroom. It is through their careful observation, methodical preparation of the environment, and personal connection with each and every child that all children can realize their potential and go on to live full, successful lives.
*Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity