Our School is Teacher-Led.
Like all Wildflower schools, our team of Teacher-leaders facilitates both the teaching and administering of the school. Teachers-leaders are partners and social entrepreneurs, responsible primarily to themselves and each other for every aspect of the school and its overall success. By preserving a small scale, teacher-leaders are able to make day-to-day decisions that respond to the needs of the children and school-wide decisions that express their own vision in the context of the needs of children, families, and themselves.
Driven by her newfound passion, Katie enrolled in the AMI Assistants Course at the Washington Montessori Institute in Maryland. This marked the beginning of her hands-on experience in various Montessori classrooms, spanning toddler, primary, and elementary levels.
Determined to deepen her understanding of Montessori, Katie pursued her AMI diploma from Montessori Northwest in Portland, Oregon. Armed with a comprehensive education and a wealth of practical experience, she emerged as a fervent advocate for children and the importance of early childhood education.
Katie Blunden firmly believes in the transformative power of Montessori education and its ability to shape the future of our society. As a Head of School at Dahlia Montessori, she continues to champion the cause of providing children with a solid foundation for lifelong learning and success.
Katie Blunden
Katie Blunden is a dedicated mother of two, a New Jersey native, and Co-Head of School at Dahlia Montessori in Allenhurst, NJ.
Before embracing the world of Montessori, Katie studied American Sign Language Interpreting and served as the Clinic Director of a wellness center for nearly a decade. It was during her transition to motherhood that she discovered the magic of Montessori. Initially self-taught, Katie implemented a Montessori-at-home approach that proved instrumental in nurturing independence in her own children.
Teeter Sperber
Teeter’s path to Montessori started in an unexpected place—on tour with the Jonas Brothers as an event marketing liaison. After becoming a parent, she discovered the gentle magic of Montessori, and from that point on, her life no longer involved living on a bus while criss-crossing the country.
She’s certified in Montessori education for ages 3–6 (Montessori Institute of San Diego) and accredited in ages 0–3 (The Montessori Institute of Denver). She joined Dahlia following the loss of the school’s beloved founder, and now feels incredibly grateful to help carry that vision forward alongside one of her favorite humans, Katie Blunden—as well as a gaggle of children who make her either belly laugh from their sheer ridiculousness or tear up from their inherent kindness, every single day.