Montessori American Indian Childcare Center
Menu
  • Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon Home
    • Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon Services, Enrollment & Calendar
      • Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon Our Staff
        • Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon Employment Opportunities & Training
          • Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon Partners & Financials

            Montessori

            American Indian Childcare Center

            Feel free to contact us to learn more about our programs that serve children and American Indian families.

            External link opens in new tab or window☎ 651-774-1620☎ 651-774-1620 Contact Us!Contact Us! Lead Guide Training ProgramLead Guide Training Program

            A

            Discover Our Early Learning Programs

            Guiding Children of American Indian Families


            Are you searching for childcare programs focused on helping your child discover their cultural identity? Look no further than what we offer at Montessori American Indian Childcare Center in St. Paul, MN. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our curriculum for children of American Indian families. We will gladly explain our programs and answer any questions.

            Our Staff


            Column


            Director – Janice LaFloe

            Janice LaFloe is the founder of MAICC and the former Primary Guide in the Children's House.  She is a member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe - Belcourt, North Dakota.  Janice earned her Bachelor's degree in Political Science at Macalester College in St Paul. She then went on to earn her Master's degree in Public Policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

            Prior to her Montessori work, she served the American Indian community of St Paul for over a decade through her work at the American Indian Family Center and at St Paul Indian Education Program. Janice completed her Montessori training at the MN Montessori Training Center in St Paul in 2013 as a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellow.

            jlafloe@gmail.com
            janice@americanindianmontessori.net

            Column

            Associate Director/Head of School – Laura Trujillo

            Laura Trujillo joined MAICC staff in January 2020. Laura is an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe – Cass Lake, Minnesota. She has a Bachelor's in Human Services Administration and a Master's in Nonprofit Management & Leadership from Metropolitan State University.

            Laura has worked at, Juel Fairbanks Recovery Services - St Paul as Community Engagement Director,  Kateri Residence – Minneapolis as Resident Advocate, and American Indian Community Housing Organization - Gimaaji Mino-Bimaadiziyaan - Duluth. She has earned a Montessori Assistant Certificate from the MN Montessori Training Center in St. Paul.

            laura@americanindianmontessori.net

            Click to edit


            Leadership Guide – LaVon Lee

            LaVon Lee has been with the MAICC since its inception in 2014. LaVon is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Nation - Pine Ridge, South Dakota. She has a Bachelor's in Sociology from Macalester College and a Master’s of Education from Penn State University.

            Prior to working at the American Indian Childcare Center, LaVon served as the Executive Director at the American Indian Family Center, a position she held for ten years. She also worked as the co-director of Supporting Diversity in Schools, an initiative of the Saint Paul Foundation. She worked as a Program Officer at the Grotto Foundation, overseeing the Native Language Revitalization Initiative and the American Indian Family Empowerment Program. While at Grotto she founded the Tiwahe Foundation and served as its administrator.

            admin@americanindianmontessori.net


            Column

            Assistant Teacher – Lacey Leith

            Lacey Leith is from the Red Lake Nation – Red Lake, MN. She joined MAICC staff in July 2019 as Bus Aide. She moved into the Transportation Specialist position and then to Assistant Teacher in 2022. Lacey ensured children had a safe bus ride, to and from the Children’s House, regularly communicated with parents, and managed administrative duties. Her daughter and granddaughter are alumni children of MAICC.

            Lacey has experience working as a call center representative, a certified nurses assistant, a casino cashier, and a blackjack dealer. She completed her Montessori Assistant Certificate in 2021 at the MN Montessori Training Center in St Paul and her Montessori Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Credential in 2022.


            Click to edit


            Food Service Technician – Sonia Christiansen

            Sonia Christiansen joined MAICC staff in November 2019. Sonia is a resident of St Paul and lived most her life in South St Paul. She has worked in the Food Service industry for 30 years. She is experienced in running her own daycare center from home and has run a cleaning business. Sonia is a mother and a grandmother.


            Sonia enjoys her job and always has a caring smile and laughter for everyone.


            Column


            Transportation Specialist – Edgar Garzon

            Edgar Garzon worked as our Transportation Specialist from 2020-2022. He is from Guerrero, Mexico and became a US citizen in June 2022. Edgar is currently enrolled in the HVAC Program at Century College – White Bear Lake, MN. His daughter and two nephews are alumni children of MAICC. He is married into the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin. Edgar has experience working in maintenance and as an automotive mechanic.


            We are pleased to have Edgar back with us, assuring families that their children have a safe ride to and from the Children’s House.



            Column


            Social Services/Parent Outreach Specialist – Terri Strom

            Terri Strom began her position at MAICC in September 2021. She is married and a Montessori Mom of 3 children (now all teenagers!). She has been working in social service and education for over 20 years with children birth through college age, in both community and school settings. For the last 5 years, Terri has supported MAICC and other Montessori early childhood programs with parent programing and children's social emotional development through a partnership with the Montessori Center of Minnesota.


            Terri is excited to now join the staff of MAICC and continue to deepen her relationships with MAICC families.

            Terri has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota, Duluth and received her Master's of Social Work from the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Terri holds professional licensure in both Michigan and Minnesota and is a licensed school social worker.

            terri@americanindianmontessori.net

            Column


            Family Coach – Rachel Smith

            Rachel began working at MAICC January 2023. She is a lifelong resident of St Paul and an enrolled member of the Sicangu Lakota Sioux Tribe - Rosebud, South Dakota. She has a culinary arts background and has experience working in the American Indian community in administration at the American Indian Family and Children's Services and as a kitchen manager at Women of Nation's.


            Rachel is a mother of four and enjoys baking, reading and spending time with her family. She loves working with families to support their goals and dreams.

            Column


            Outreach & Connections Worker - Kateri DeShaw

            Kateri grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago. She moved to Duluth, where she spent her teenage and young adult years. Kateri moved back to Chicago, where she received her bachelor's degree from Colombia College. After college she moved back to MN where she served as an Americorps member, part of the youth programming track.


            Kateri has experience in youth programming, resources, community connections, and data management. She has worked with non-profits, such as the YWCA of Duluth and YWCA of St Paul, and most recently working at Communities In Schools of St Paul. She is the mom of one very busy toddler who is also part of the MAICC learning community.


            In her free time Kateri loves to dance, take Pilates and Yoga classes and spend time in nature with her family.  She is very excited to be joining the MAICC staff and community.


            Column


            Bus Aide – Tori Valtierra

            Tori is the Bus Aide. She lives on the East Side of St Paul, has two nieces who attend the Children’s House, participates in family events, and in the Prenatal to Three program with her young child. Tori works another job as a Personal Care Attendant.


            Tori loves nature and exploring new environments. She looks forward to expanding her experience by working with MAICC.

            Column
            Column

            Early Childhood

            learning opportunities for your child

            ContactContact

            https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/0fd/dc3/janice-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/0fd/dc3/janice-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/4_2/000/000/011/751/laura-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/4_2/000/000/011/751/laura-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/0d0/819/lavon-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/0d0/819/lavon-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/093/82e/ruth-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/093/82e/ruth-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/099/b3d/sonia-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/099/b3d/sonia-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/4_2/000/000/017/e75/terri-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/4_2/000/000/017/e75/terri-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/0fd/dc3/janice-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/4_2/000/000/011/751/laura-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/0d0/819/lavon-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/093/82e/ruth-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/099/b3d/sonia-22.jpg
            https://0201.nccdn.net/4_2/000/000/017/e75/terri-22.jpg
            Column

            Contact Us

            Invalid Form properties detected





            Column

            Hours of Operation

            Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

            Saturday to Sunday: Closed


            We observe all national holidays.

            Service Area

            Twin Cities, MN (East Metro)

            Montessori American Indian
            Childcare Center

            Column

            Address:

            1909 Ivy Avenue E, St. Paul, MN 55119

            Column

            Phone: External link opens in new tab or window651-774-1620

            Fax: 651-774-1947


            Column

            Email:

            External link opens in new tab or windowlaura@americanindianmontessori.net

            External link opens in new tab or window


            close lightbox