Owner and Director

Our Director, Ms. Carmen

She left a decade-long corporate career in New York to train as a Montessori teacher — and opened this school ten years later.

Owner, Director and AMS Montessori Certified Head Teacher

Ms. Carmen

Ms. Carmen wasn’t always a teacher. She graduated from Hunter College with a BA in Media-Communications and started her career in corporate America. She began as an intern and ended up managing the digital video editing and satellite feeds department for close to ten years. During her time there she completed a Master’s degree program in Media Studies. The birth of her son changed her life — having to commute to New York City and being away from him made her realise she needed a career change.

As a teen and young adult, Carmen was always fascinated by children. She believed, and still believes, that children are such an important part of our world and our future. They are capable of so much more than we realise, and they deserve the same respect we desire for ourselves.

The career change

Giving up the corporate job

The Montessori Method was in tune with her own philosophy on children, and she wanted to be a part of it. With the support of her husband she gave up her high-paying corporate job to become an assistant Montessori teacher, and enrolled to get her AMS Montessori Primary Teacher Certification. Carmen has never regretted this decision.

Carmen can’t get over how much she learns from her students every day. She feels blessed to be a part of “Guiding Tomorrow’s Future,” working together with her staff and families to help her students thrive.

Children together at The Peace Rose Montessori School

A family school, literally

Her three children grew up here

She now has three children, all of whom began their school careers in a Montessori setting. Her youngest was the first student at The Peace Rose Montessori School when she opened her doors on January 5, 2015.

Valentina, now 11 years old, works with her mom to come up with art project ideas.
Nina, her middle child, is now 15 and works as an After Care assistant and summer camp counselor.
Armando, her oldest, has worked as a summer camp counselor and subbed when off from school. He is now a freshman at MIT.

They share Carmen’s love of working with children, and the students love when they come in.

AMS certified

Carmen holds AMS certification and has been an AMS teacher and director for 16 years — the credential we tell families to ask any Montessori director for.

Opened January 5, 2015

The Peace Rose opened its doors with her own youngest child as its very first student.

Still in the classroom

She uses her education and experience to give teachers, parents and students the support they need — and she is the person who will walk you through the school.