Navarre Montessori Academy was founded in August 2016 by Kiani, whose lifelong passion for education and belief in the Montessori method began on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. The youngest of five children, Kiani grew up in a home where her mother, a devoted believer in Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy, instilled in her the values of independence, curiosity, and respect for the child’s natural pace of learning.
Years later, while earning her degree in Education at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Kiani had the opportunity to observe a Montessori classroom for the first time. The experience was transformative. She was moved by the way children worked with purpose, guided not by pressure but by joy and discovery. That moment planted the seed that would later grow into Navarre Montessori Academy.
After years of teaching in traditional schools, Kiani realized that something essential was missing. Many students were focused on passing exams rather than truly understanding or enjoying the subjects they studied. She longed to see children light up with the desire to learn. This inner calling led her back to the Montessori philosophy, to a method that honors each child’s individuality and innate love of learning.
Her time volunteering and teaching at South Walton Montessori School reignited that spark. It became clear that Montessori education was not just a profession but a purpose, a calling to nurture the whole child: mind, heart, and spirit. With the birth of her first child in 2010, Kiani pursued her Montessori certification (0–3 years) with the North American Montessori Center (NAMC), later completing her (3–6 years) certification through a MACTE-accredited institution in 2019.
From that deep-rooted passion, Navarre Montessori Academy was born, a place where learning is guided by respect, curiosity, and love.