(415) 494-5225

Natalie Aguilar-Picazo opened Star City Montessori Preschool to share her passion for Montessori education and its benefits with the growing community in Brisbane and the peninsula. The Montessori method has enriched her life as both a mother and an early childhood educator. She has witnessed its transformative impact on her students and their families throughout her teaching career.

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Growing up on the peninsula, Natalie attended elementary, middle, and high school in the South San Francisco Unified School District. After graduating from high school, she developed an interest in early childhood education. She began taking Early Childhood Education classes at Skyline College, where she studied the Montessori philosophy and examined how children acquire skills in a child-centered, hands-on, collaborative, and mixed-age learning environment.

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When she began working as a Montessori preschool assistant teacher, she witnessed firsthand how the Montessori method helps young children as early as 2½ years old develop independent skills, concentration, hand-eye coordination, and a sense of order. She observed children respectfully using the Montessori materials and returning them to their proper places when finished. She also saw young children develop math and language skills through hands-on, tactile learning materials that captured their interest. Additionally, she recognized the importance of creating an environment that allows children to engage in open-ended dramatic play, fostering their creativity and imagination. The love and passion she developed for teaching young children and observing their growth inspired Natalie to further her education in Montessori and early childhood education.

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Natalie graduated from Skyline College with an Associate of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. She then attended Mills College, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development and a Master’s Degree in Education, with a specialization in Early Childhood Education. Additionally, she received an Early Childhood Montessori Credential (AMS) from the Montessori Teacher Education Center (MTEC) located in Sunnyvale, California.

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Natalie has over 20 years of teaching experience in both private and public Montessori settings in the Bay Area. Her diverse experiences, including student teaching at Mills College Children’s Laboratory School, have given her a wealth of knowledge and theoretical perspectives that she applies to her practice. She carefully observes each child to understand their developmental stage and behavior, enabling her to best support their needs. Additionally, Natalie is fluent in Spanish and believes that teaching young children a second language is valuable.

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Natalie is thankful and honored to have the opportunity to establish a bilingual (English/Spanish) and traditional Montessori preschool in Brisbane, California. Her educational goal is to inspire a passion for learning in her students, helping them become resilient, responsible, confident, and compassionate members of their community.

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