Mama Starfruit

Being raised by educator parents, and being the eldest of many cousins has set me up for a lifelong passion for youth. I am so honored to offer my own programs to the public after being involved in various organizations in my 20 years of working with young adults, teens, middle schoolers, elementary aged students preschoolers and infants.

 

My philosophy

Play based and child led, with a lot of nature, imagination and understanding of child development and schemas is what I am all about. Responsive and gentle is my style. Encouraging expression of emotions and meeting children where they are is so important. Never rushing, always allowing enough time to explore and master skills. So much wonder and intrigue can be observed if we let children lead the way. Offering limits and setting boundaries to ensure emotional and physical safety of all occurs daily alongside opportunities for risk taking and exploration.

 

 

 

Background, Education and Resume

  • As a middle schooler I was employed each summer by various families to help with their children in the summer. 

  • In High school I was the coordinator of a program where students from my high school volunteered at an after school program to provide homework help for elementary aged students in a lower income area.

  • My formal college education is from Virginia Commonwealth University where I have a degree in Pre-K- 12th grade education with a focus on Visual Art.

  • I nannied long term for a three different families over the years and substituted at countless schools.

  • While nannying I taught preschool for a Reggio Amelia Based program in Virginia.

  • In the summers for several years I worked as an admin for a high school age program for VCU’s school of the arts.

  • I was a middle school teacher at Henderson Middle School for several years.

  • In 2014 I began working as an elementary age after school program coordinator at the Neighborhood Resource Center.

  • 2016 was the year I went out on my own to begin my own business in the healing arts called Starfruit Studios (@starfruitstudios33)

  • 2020 is the year I began my education business Starfruit Starshine (@starfruitstarshine)

  • 2021 was the first full year of my Woodland Learner Program and Starfruit Starshine Camps

  • 2022 I completed the 2nd full year of Woodland Learners and Starfruit Starshine Camps in Texas

  • 2022 Began the process of becoming Montessori Certified

  • 2023 Completed 3rd full year of Woodland Learners and Starfruit Starshine Camps in Texas

  • 2024 Graduate with my Montessori certification

  • 2024: Fernwood Montessori Launches in the Fall!

Call, Txt or DM 551-804-6481