Meet the Team

Dedicated & Certified

Ethna Meyer

CEO - Program Director

Through these 16 years experience in Montessori education and a little more than 15 years as a mother of two girls, I discovered the importance and value that takes the environment in which our children develop. Designing a suitable environment for growth can potentiate their skills and train children independent, confident and contributing to the world.

Teaching Experience

16 years of experience working with children between the ages of 0 months to 6 years.

January to September 2008: Montessori Teacher Assistant of preschool (3 – 6 years) at Miami Shores Montessori School. Apart from my classroom responsibilities I also had the opportunity to teach Spanish classes for children.

September 2008 to March 2014: Village Montessori School as a Montessori Teacher for Toddlers. I have also been involved in managerial and administrative duties such as: Events planning, staff scheduling, interview / hiring process, teacher / assistant training, creating content for newsletters and sales brochures advertising and marketing.

In September 2014: founded Mommy Time Montessori a bilingual program designed for children ages 6 months to 3 years and introduces them and caregivers, to the Montessori philosophy and method of teaching. Infants and toddlers choose from lessons provided and learn at their own pace. It's a good parent-child bonding experience filled with lots of engaging activities included movement, story time, music, art & crafts, toilet training, snack and playtime.

2018 was the year to make my dream of opening Ilnido Montessori Preschool come true.

Education

2002 - Autónoma de Occidente University:
- Colombia Bachelors in Communication and Journalism.
2008 South Florida Education Center:
- AMS Montessori Certification. Infant and Toddler
2012 - Miami Dade Collage (Florida Child Care and Education Program):
- Director Certification
- Staff Credential Verification
- CPR and First Aid Certification up to date
- VPK Director Credential
- Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

Maggie Loret de Mola

Assistant Director

Our director, Ms. Maggie Loret de Mola, is of Cuban birth who, after migrating to the U.S. at an early age, transferred with her family to Mexico where she completed her studies in Educational Psychology at the Universidad Anahuac, in Mexico City. Fifteen years later, moving back to Miami with her husband and child she embarked into the Early Childhood Education field where she has been working for over 30 years. She began as a teacher quickly working up to a Director’s position at a corporate school and now forms part of our team at ilnido Montessori Preschool.

Ms. Maggie’s experience and dedication to children has earned her the love of the families in our school and provided us with a nurturing environment for our children and staff.

Monica Valdes

Director

Monica Valdes was born in Mexico City, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. With over 35 years of experience in the education field, Monica is deeply passionate about the profound impact educators have on a child’s early years. After moving to Miami, she began working as a preschool teacher while furthering her education and actively serving her community.

Monica holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and a Director’s Credential with a VPK endorsement. For the past 20 years, she has worked in educational administration, a role that allows her to stay closely connected with children, mentor and inspire teachers, and build strong relationships with parents.

Her dedication to early childhood education continues to drive Monica to create nurturing, enriching environments where young learners can thrive.

Monica now joins ilnido Montessori Preschool as Director, bringing her extensive experience and knowledge to further strengthen our educational community. Her passion for early childhood education, combined with her experience, inspires and motivates us to continue growing. We are confident that her leadership, dedication, and vision will greatly contribute to the development of our little ones, the professional growth of our teaching team, and the strengthening of our relationships with families. We deeply value her arrival at ilnido and celebrate the opportunity to learn from her, making our preschool an even better place every day.

Diana Marcela Lopez

Business Manager

I am proactive, competent, and systematic, and I offer you solid training and experience in Process Management, Quality, Strategic Planning, and Project Management. I have worked in public and private entities as an advisor, consultant, and area manager.

I have experience leading work teams and managing an investment budget of over $7 million.

My strength lies in the ability to synthesize information derived from a company's day-to-day operations and transform it into procedures and best practices that improve results and achieve strategic objectives.

Based on competencies in achievement orientation, leadership, teamwork, and responsibility, I generate an excellent work environment and profitability for the company.