Ms. Maria prefers to be called Ms. Mia. She is a committed and well-rounded Montessori educator with over nine years of experience in early childhood education. Originally from the Philippines and now based in California, she brings a rich background in international teaching and a deep dedication to the Montessori philosophy.

Ms. Mia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a focus on Montessori Education from the University of San Carlos. She completed her AMI Primary Diploma training at the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies in Mesa, Arizona (2024–2025 cohort), with Ms. Shriee Srinivas (Founder of OMS) as her trainer. Throughout her career, she has led Montessori classrooms in Vietnam, the Philippines, and the United States, guiding both neurodivergent and neurotypical children.

Her expertise spans from classroom leadership, materials development, parent communication, and providing mentorship to new hires. Ms. Mia is known for her confident and effective facilitation of the Montessori teaching-learning process, her leadership and interpersonal skills, and her commitment to outcomes-based education. She has also conducted numerous professional development workshops on inclusion, peace education, observation, and Montessori philosophy.

Beyond the classroom, Ms. Mia is a passionate lifelong learner. She holds multiple certifications in trauma-informed teaching, special needs differentiation, and positive discipline. She is also an avid martial artist with a silver medal in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a dancer, and a Montessori content creator on YouTube.

Ms. Mia believes deeply in the potential of every child and strives to support their development into independent, compassionate, and socially responsible individuals. She is honored to be part of a school community such as OMS that values an authentic AMI Montessori practice and whole-child development.