Wanda joined the Turning Points Ed team in 2023 as an Educational Specialist. Besides holding a Standard California Teaching Credential, K-8, Wanda also holds an American Montessori Society Credential, 6-12. Over the many years working in education, Wanda has received training in Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, Scientific Word Inquiry, Visualizing and Verbalizing, Seeing Stars, On Cloud Nine, in addition to the carefully sequenced, proven reading and math Montessori systems.

Her career began in public schools as a 5th/6th grade classroom teacher. After 16 years in public education, Wanda took the lead in opening an independent Montessori school, seeing it grow from 5 to 172 students spanning preschool through eighth grade. In the last five years as Director of Education, Wanda focused on students with learning differences, guiding teachers and parents through educational assessments and the ensuing educational plans. She designed and implemented the Mindfulness programs in the school including Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Zones of Regulation, Essential Education and other awareness processes that support executive function in the classroom.

Wanda strives to support students in their love of learning, persistence, and resilience. She is committed to developing trusting and respectful relationships for academic progress to flourish. Wanda understands that the essential confidence needed by students grows with every success, small or large, experienced daily. Independence and feeling empowered follow.

No matter her years of experience, it is the human spirit of each individual at the work of learning that truly energizes and inspires her.

Her professional associations include:

● American Montessori Society

In her time outside of Turning Points, Wanda enjoys beekeeping, hiking, reading, cooking, Zumba, and teaching music and dance. She also teaches the language course for the Montessori Teacher Education Center (MTEC), an accredited training program for Montessori teachers.