Morningstar Montessori School

Our Staff

Robyn Garcia (robyn@morningstarmontessori.net)

Robyn Garcia is the owner and Director of Morningstar Montessori School.  Robyn holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from St. Mary’s College of Moraga.  She holds a Multiple Subject California Teaching Credential and a Primary Montessori Credential from the American Montessori Society.

 Prior to starting Morningstar Montessori in 2005, Robyn began her early childhood education career teaching Montessori preschool in Sausalito, CA.  After 3 years, she left private preschool and taught public school Kindergarten in Orinda, CA for 1 year.  Robyn was then presented with a unique opportunity to implement a Kindergarten class on a high school campus in Antioch, CA.  Robyn enjoyed the chance to include high school ROP students in a hands-on opportunity to work with young children.  The program won the “Program of Excellence” Award at Antioch Unified in 2000.   

Robyn left teaching for a few years to raise a family of her own, staying busy by helping found Eagle Peak Montessori Charter School in Walnut Creek, CA.  She served as President of the Board for 1 year.  In 2003, Robyn and her family moved to Lincoln and Morningstar Montessori School was founded in 2005.

 In addition to working with young children, Robyn’s passions include her family, horses, camping, boating and music.

Gail Waller (gail@morningstarmontessori.net)

I returned to Morningstar Montessori this year after completing my internship in 2007. Dr. Montessori said, “So here begins the new path, wherein it will not be the teacher who teaches the child, but the child who teaches the teacher” in her book, Education for a New World. When we stop to watch, enjoy, and reflect this is true as parents and as teachers. This was certainly applicable for me last year as I observed the wonders of the 3 to 6 year old children in the classroom at MMS.

My route to a career as a Montessori teacher has taken a non-traditional path which I think gives me a unique foundation for my role in the classroom. I have been a Montessori parent since January 1982. All three of my daughters attended Montessori preschool and elementary, my youngest daughter through 8th grade! Often when I talk to them I am reminded that they have taken with them a love of learning and a joy in doing things to the best of their abilities. I certainly attribute this in part to their early Montessori education.

The birth of my granddaughter, Leeanne, four years ago helped me to appreciate again the wonder of the early years and piqued my interest in formal Montessori education. I took an initial class at St. Mary’s College and it changed my life. I decided to leave Hewlett Packard after 32+ years of many challenging positions in technical and management roles to begin a new and very different career. For two years I was a fulltime student and completed my AMS certification. I have to say that my formal Montessori education has only increased my commitment to and confidence in Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy and Method. If you have questions about Montessori education, life with Montessori educated children, or the transitions to other stages in education, please let me know.

Part of the fun I have in the classroom is to share many of my other interests with the children. Last year we enjoyed my chicks, the new hermit crabs, year round gardening, etc. This year I hope to expand these and add sewing and paper crafts such as origami integrated into our classroom curriculum.