Today we’d like to introduce you to Keyla Martinez.
Hi Keyla, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Born in Nicaragua, my parents brought me to the United States at the age of 14 in hopes of a better future. I spent eight years in Los Angeles, California, where I got pregnant with my oldest son. Giving my children the best opportunities was the main thing on my mind, and I began looking for a better place to raise my family. I moved to Austin, Texas, one of the 10 healthiest cities for children at the time.
My work career has been diverse: school bus driver, kitchen worker, and house cleaner. It was in this last work that I discovered Montessori education, a passion that would become my career for life. I was a janitor at a Montessori School and was intrigued by the special education. While I was raising my children and cleaning houses on weekends, I started studying. I completed my studies and was certified with the Montessori certification for children from zero to six years old and, in addition, I obtained certifications to be a director in Montessori education. I worked for many years caring for and teaching children of these ages, and I also gained experience in administration. That’s when my dream of opening my own school arose.
10 years ago, we opened “Mi Casita Montessori”, which means “My little home”. It was our first school. The road was not easy: my husband and I were unemployed and I had resigned from my job. Instead of looking for a job, we decided to undertake what we knew how to do. Fortunately, we had the support of friends and family who lent us money and helped us move the project forward. Little by little, we were opening Mi Casita Montessori.
Two years ago, we opened our second school. Today, Mi Casita Montessori is a family business run by my eldest son, my daughter-in-law, my husband, and me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
working, studying and raising children all at the same time was hard. Having my children in Montessori and having to work overtime and on the weekends to afford it. And when opening Mi Casita, not having any money and starting a business was extremely hard. Enrolling took three years for the school to be at capacity.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We aspire to fulfill our mission through the leadership of a dedicated administrative team and the guidance of trained Montessori educators, all committed to ongoing personal and professional development. We seek to build a community for the extended Mi Casita Montessori family through family events, parent workshops, and service opportunities. Our vision includes:
• Bilingual environments for all children.
• A socio-emotional curriculum based on acceptance and respect for others.
• Scholarship opportunities to promote diversity within our program.
• A commitment to serving our community.
We work with families who wish to have the opportunity for their child to experience the Montessori education but can not afford it. Unfortunately, society has made Montessori available to affluent families. We believe everyone has the right to quality education and it is our goal to help as many families as our budget allows us to.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I believe success is when the dreams comes true after working hard for them, At Mi Casita being around amazing staff, friends and family. Having the right people along the way is the most important to have success. We like to have a sense of family within our employees.
Pricing:
- Compare with other schools in the area Mi Casita maintains prices on a lower side even though we keep our ratios lower than many schools and childcare centers
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.micasitaaustin.com
- Instagram: mi_casita_montessori_austin
- Facebook: Mi Casita Montessori
