Montessori
Central Florida Preparatory School also includes a Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten program which provides Montessori classrooms for ages three to five. With a ten to one student/teacher ratio, each child receives the individual attention this young age requires.
Each of our lead teachers is certified in the Montessori method. In addition to the academic curriculum, the students are also given weekly instruction in Computers, Spanish, Music, Physical Education and Art. Classes are held Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with early release at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. Before and after care are available. Before care starts at 7:15 a.m. and after care ends at 6:00 p.m. There is a $3.00 per hour charge for before and after care.
We also offer various after school enrichments. Please click here to see the current schedule of enrichments.
Learn more about the Montessori Method
Montessori Teachers
 Kay Black |
 Fatima Kassoo |
 Kristine Morgan-Ring |
 Malu Najera |
 Emily Pierson |
 Danielle Penn |
 Claudia Najera |
 Lori Graf |
 Julia Luciano |
KAY BLACK - Montessori Teacher
kblack@cfprep.org
Classroom Portal
A native Floridian, Kay Black was hired by Founding Director Bob Flanders.
She first joined CFP working in the front office
and later took on the role of special events coordinator. Her interaction
with the student body, particularly the Montessori students, sparked an
interest to join the Montessori staff. She decided to make a career move
and returned to the classroom and became a student again herself. She
subsequently received her certification from the National Center for Montessori
Education.
FATIMA KASSOO - Montessori teacher
fkassoo@cfprep.org
Classroom Portal
Fatima joined CFP in 2000. She has taught in Orlando and Miami during the past 20 years, using the Montessori method of education to help children excel in their early childhood education. Fatima received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in pre-medical and science subjects in 1981 and 1986 respectively. She also holds a diploma from American Montessori International, specializing in Montessori education. Currently, she is planning to enroll in the graduate program at the University of Central Florida and plans to earn her Masters degree in Education. She has resided in Florida since 1993 and currently resides in east Orlando with her husband and three children, two boys and a girl. Both of her sons were born in Orlando and her daughter was born in London. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, cooking, reading and traveling. She travels to the United Kingdom during the summer months to visit family residing in London.
KRISTINE MORGAN-RING - Montessori Teacher
kmorganring@cfprep.org
Classroom
Portal
Kristine joined CFP in 2003, after moving to
Florida from Bedford, NH, where she taught pre-school for four years.
She married in 1996 and has two children, Ryen 7, and Matt 3. Before getting
married, Kristine traveled to many different places around the world.
The Virgin Islands, where she lived for three years and met her husband,
is her favorite. Kristine has an Associate degree in Applied Art from
Bay State College in Boston, MA. She also attended NH Technical College
and received many early childhood education credits. Kristine completed
her Montessori certification in August 2004. In her spare time, she enjoys
going to the beach, reading and decorating her new home.
MALU NAJERA - Montessori Teacher
mnajera@cfprep.org
Classroom Portal
Malu was born and raised in Guatemala City, Central America. In 2003, she came to the United States and joined CFP as a high school junior. During her senior year she took experiential learning as a course; this allowed her to interact with the Montessori children. For Malu, being in a Montessori classroom was a wonderful experience, which confirmed that her dream of teaching was possible here in the United States. She graduated with an honors diploma from CFP and took her A.M.S. training at the Orlando Montessori Teacher Education Institute of Celebration Florida. Her spare time, she and her family like to spend time together. She also enjoys spending time with her friends and loves to play soccer, tennis and shop.
EMILY PIERSON - Montessori Teacher
epierson@cfprep.org
Classroom
Portal
CLAUDIA NAJERA - Montessori Aide/Spanish
cnajera@cfprep.org
Classroom Portal
Claudia was born and raised in Guatemala, Central America. She joined
CFP in 2003 as a parent; Claudia has three wonderful
children who all graduated from CFP. In 2006, she worked
as a substitute teacher and in 2007 she became our Montessori Spanish
teacher. Soon after, she joined the staff full-time as a Montessori Assistant.
LORI GRAF - Montessori Aide
lgraf@cfprep.org
Lori Graf joined Central Florida Prep in August of 2004 after substituting
for a teacher she was bitten by the teaching bug and quit nursing school
to become a Montessori Assistant. Lori was born in New York and moved
to the Orlando area as a child. Lori is happily married with three children.
If you can’t find her in circle time, with the little ones, you will find
her in a corner reading a good book.
JULIA LUCIANO – Montessori Aide
jluciano@cfprep.org
DANIELLE PENN – Montessori Aide
dpenn@cfprep.org
Danielle Penn joined the Central Florida Prep family three years ago. She currently holds her Montessori certification and enjoys working as Mrs. Black's assistant. As a native Floridian, she grew up in and around the Winter Park area. Her love of children keeps her busy as she works full time at CFP and as a nanny to a special family of five! In her spare time, she enjoys as many outdoor activities as the Sunshine State allows!