American Indian Childcare Center

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Lead Guide – Ruth Bailey

Ruth Bailey began at MAICC in July 2021. She grew up near the Mississippi River in Brooklyn Center, MN. Ruth has been working as a teacher since 2012 and holds an AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee WI and Masters of Science in Special Education from Western Govenors University of Millcreek, UT. She began as a traditional schoolteacher in New Orleans where she lived for 7 years. Ruth then worked for 4 years as a guide in public Montessori, receiving training in both primary and lower elementary.

In her free time, Ruth enjoys reading, hiking and camping, spending time with her family and two small dogs, and studying Spanish. She loves working with children and their families to support a happy and loving future and is excited to be a part of the MAICC community.

Ruth is of European, Mexican, and Cherokee descent. Her grandfather was a citizen of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma.

ruth@americanindianmontessori.net

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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 CAN, 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.

lacey@americanindianmontessori.net

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

sonia@americanindianmontessori.net

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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. She 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

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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.

edgar@americanindianmontessori.net