Head of School
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Bio
Maria Carandang-Ramos
(Ms. Maria)
Founder, School Director,
Toddler & Primary Guide
Founder, School Director,
Toddler & Primary Guide
Maria earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology at the College of the Holy Spirit in Manila, Philippines. Upon her graduation, she worked as a teacher at the Casa Montessori International in the Philippines. She then went on to receive her Montessori (Primary 3-6 years) training and credentials at the Washington Montessori (AMI) Institute in Washington, DC, and her Assistants to Infancy (Infant-3 years) Certification at the Montessori (AMI) Institute in Denver, Colorado. Along with her Montessori training, Maria has had extensive experience working with adults with special needs at an independent living facility in Naperville, Illinois. After her Montessori training, Maria worked for 7 years at a Montessori School in River Forest. Thereafter, she helped found and establish another Montessori school in a Western suburb of Chicago, serving as Education Director & Primary Directress for 12 years. In 2007, upon the encouragement of several of her Montessori parents, Maria co-founded Mosaic Montessori Academy in River Forest where she currently serves as School Director and Primary Guide.
Montessori Lead Guides
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Bio
Marides Quigley
(Ms. Marides)
Primary Lead Guide
Primary Lead Guide
Marides earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Her first teaching experience was with children with developmental disabilities, where she enjoyed the challenge of adapting curriculum materials and providing an individualized approach to teaching children with varying degrees of learning capabilities. Marides earned a Masters degree in Early Childhood Special Education through an Illinois state grant at the Department of Education of Northeastern Illinois University. Her path towards Montessori began when her own children attended a Montessori school. Marides found the Montessori philosophy to be closely aligned with her ideas and beliefs on how children develop and learn. She saw first-hand how her own children were thriving and enjoying learning! She then trained and received her credential at the Primary 3-6 level with the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) at the Ohio Montessori Training Institute. She enjoys hands-on activities such as gardening, crafts, and cooking, and tries to incorporate them in her classroom. Marides continues to learn and grow in her daily interactions with the children and their families. She is grateful for the opportunity to help in protecting and guiding the children in their learning journey, as well as being a part of an educational practice that looks at the future where children can grow into respectful, resilient and responsible individuals.
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Bio
Nicholas Ransom
(Mr. Nick)
Primary Lead Guide
Primary Lead Guide
When Nicholas Ransom was in high school, he had a chance to volunteer in a kindergarten classroom at Sheldon Elementary School in Richmond, California. He also experienced working with
children with autism, aiding them in learning skills, when he worked at Total Spectrum as a behavioral therapist. After earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology at Purdue
University, Nicholas joined Mosaic Montessori Academy as a classroom assistant. It was at this time that he learned about the Montessori philosophy and decided to take the training to become
a Montessori Lead Guide. Nicholas successfully completed his AMI (2.5 to 6+ Years of Age) Montessori training at the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis in July 2022, and is currently the Montessori Lead Guide in our Primary Environment Classroom Two.
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Bio
Diamond Williams
(Ms. Diamond)
Toddler Lead Guide
Toddler Lead Guide
Diamond Williams earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology at Colby Sawyer College. The first teaching experience for Diamond was as an intern at Windy Hill Nursery School, in New London, NH. Upon graduation, she worked as an assistant teacher at Child Care Careers. When Diamond began working at Mosaic Montessori Academy, she found a passion for the Montessori pedagogical approach to education while working as a classroom assistant. She then went on to take the AMI (Birth To Three Years of Age) Montessori training at The Montessori Institute of San Diego where she graduated in March 2022. Diamond is currently Mosaic Montessori Academy’s Toddler Community Lead Guide.
Business Office Staff
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Ranier Ramos
(Mr. Ranier)
Business Office Administrator
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Brianna Rich
(Ms. Brianna)
Business Office Assistant
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Jennifer Magpantay
(Ms. Jenny)
Business Office Assistant
