For me, Montessori is not only an educational philosophy, but a way of parenting and a way of life. After both of my children graduated from Children’s Garden Montessori School, I decided to change my career path and became a Montessori teacher. I have teaching credentials from the American Montessori Society for both infants and toddlers and for early childhood (ages 2½ to 6 years). In 2014, after working as a Montessori teacher for 10 years at Children’s Garden, I left to pursue my dream of opening my own Montessori preschool. Montessori stresses the importance of spending time outside with children. I love being in nature, and I really want to share that love with all of the children I work with, which is why I chose the name “School in the Woods” for our school. While it may not be literally “in the woods,” I want to provide every possible opportunity for children to connect with the natural world – even if they live in the city. My passion for Montessori education and its positive impact on children, coupled with my love of mentoring and coaching adults, has also led me to become involved in the Montessori teacher education program in Boulder. For more than eight years, I have played a role in developing the next generation of Montessori infant and toddler teachers. As a result, I have become recognized nationally as an expert in the Montessori approach for toddlers and sought out to present at national conferences and workshops in other states. mpatton@schoolinthewoodsmontessori.org