Rachel Walters

Hi, my name is Ms. Rachel.  However, I also have the honor to be called Ms. Cosmic by my amazing students. I have been an educator for over 25 years, the last 10 years here at PMA. While I began my career as a college art history and humanities instructor, I have always sought to make learning an interdisciplinary and project-based process that honors the curious child in each of us.

I received my Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Art History from Washington University in St. Louis in 1993. I continued my graduate work with an emphasis in Anthropology, Archaeology, and Non-Western Art at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois and earned an Interdisciplinary Graduate Certification in Museum Education. I traveled on a Latin American Studies grant to study Ancient Mayan sites as well as spent a Summer abroad in Rome, Italy. Exploring the world and learning something new every day is one of my greatest passions. I began teaching at the college level in 1997, but always had a special interest in childhood education and Montessori Philosophy.

I joined the staff at Phoenix Montessori in 2014 as a co-teacher in Upper Elementary. In 2018 I worked in Lower Elementary as I pursued an El and EII Montessori Certification from CMTE/NC. Full of inspiration, I was thrilled to begin a new journey in 2019 as a Cosmic Education teacher. Following the Great Lessons and cultural works of Dr. Montessori, I conceptualized and continue to construct a classroom that fosters a scientific sense of adventure and curiosity. I believe the world around us is one of the best teachers. Every moment of life presents a wondrous opportunity to discover and learn!

In the words of Dr. Maria Montessori- The Child is endowed with unknown powers which can guide us to a radiant future. If what we want is a new world, then education must take as its aim the development of those hidden possibilities.