Prestonwood Montessori at E.D. Walker

Mrs. Rodney Davis-Gilbert is a Master Educator with a specialization in the Montessori Method. She has served in Dallas ISD for 17 years as a SPED Coordinator, ESL Advocate, Model United Nations Liaison, and Upper Elementary Montessori Teacher. Her two decades of servant-leadership at George B. Dealey Montessori and International Academy have established her as an award-winning educator who is passionate about developing the “whole child”.

Mrs. Gilbert is a founding staff member of Prestonwood Montessori at E.D. Walker, serving as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Instructional Coach. In this role, she creatively trains, challenges, and inspires ALL educators to improve the work they do for students, their families, and the community. Mrs. Gilbert’s impact goes far beyond her role, founding PWM’s P4 Chess Club, B-FAM affinity Group (BIPOC Family Alliance for Montessori), leading Model UN at E.D. Walker Middle School, and so much more.

She is thrilled to embark on a new journey with her return to the classroom as an Upper Elementary Guide at Prestonwood Montessori. She believes the whole-child approach will set the stage for comprehensive, sustainable growth and provide for long-term student success for ALL children.

Eduardo Mata Montessori

Minerva Ortiz Reyes has the privilege of guiding bilingual Elementary II students at Eduardo Mata Montessori for the last 8 years. She studied General Education at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico and after a while, she moved to the state of Texas, certifying herself as a bilingual teacher and studying a postgraduate degree in Bilingualism at SMU. 

She has served the educational community in various roles: team leader, LPAC leader, CILT, and several others. Of her 25 years of experience, 17 have been in the Dallas Independent District. In 2016 she decided to change her educational focus and began her studies as a Montessori Guide, achieving her goal of becoming certified as an Elementary Montessori Guide I and II by the American Montessori Society. 

Minerva enjoys spending her free time at home with her children, grandson, and pets.

George Bannerman Dealey Montessori Academy

Betty Thompson currently serves as an Upper Elementary teacher at Dealey Montessori. She is a graduate of Drury University and the University of Oklahoma. Thompson is AMS certified in Elementary I and II. With 10 years of experience in teaching children, she has dedicated her career to instructing bilingual and general education students in Dallas ISD.

Before entering the field of education, Thompson served in the U.S. Army, retiring with more than 20 years of service in two specialties: engineer and public affairs. She mentored and trained adults in both specialties. Additionally, she is a graduate of the Defense Information School, completing courses such as the basic journalism course, intermediate photojournalism course, editor’s course, and joint (services) public affairs supervisor course.

Downtown Montessori at Ida B Wells Academy

After working as a Primary Assistant in the private sector, Claudia pursued her AMS in Primary at Dallas Montessori Academy in Dallas, Texas. She then went on to open a Dual Language Primary classroom as a guide at Mata Montessori. Later, she pursued her AMI in Elementary at the Montessori Center of Minnesota in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Claudia also has experience in both the private and public sectors in Lower and Upper Elementary classrooms.

Currently, she is happy to support Montessori and Dual Language at DMA. Claudia is serving as LPAC chair, GT committee member, and Attendance committee member. She is currently enrolled in her master's program at St. Catherine University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She will graduate with a master's in Montessori Education and Leadership in May 2024.

Onesimo Hernandez Montessori Academy

I graduated from UTEP with Bilingual and Special Education teacher certification, then moved to Odessa to receive my Montessori certifications for Primary, Lower, and Upper levels. My professional development has been primarily in 4th and 5th grades for a total of 9 years. In 2020, I was part of the DISD Montessori Task Force to implement a Montessori YAG.