Our School is Teacher-Led.
Like all Wildflower schools, our team of Teacher-leaders facilitates both the teaching and administering of the school. Teachers-leaders are partners and social entrepreneurs, responsible primarily to themselves and each other for every aspect of the school and its overall success. By preserving a small scale, teacher-leaders are able to make day-to-day decisions that respond to the needs of the children and school-wide decisions that express their own vision in the context of the needs of children, families, and themselves.
Renée Ibáñez
Renée Ibáñez is a bilingual Early Childhood primary guide certified by both the Association Montessori International USA and the American Montessori Society. She has worked as a Montessori lead teacher since 2007. Born and raised in Mexico City and witnessing grave social injustice from an early age, she grew passionate about equality and human rights, which led her to attend Law School to pursue a career in International Law. While raising her daughter and son, and ever curious about other cultures and eager to incorporate the cultural and social aspects of faith, she completed a degree in History of Religions and a Symbols and Archetypes in Art course. When she relocated to the U.S. in 2003 with her family, she volunteered to introduce Art Appreciation to elementary children in public schools. Navigating the world of Education as a volunteer is when she discovered the Montessori method and found her calling guiding young children in the primary classroom.
Renée has contributed to developing a Montessori-based program for Educate From The Heart, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to break the cycle of poverty and transform children's lives in underserved communities in Antioquia, Colombia, through Montessori education. She also collaborates with Behavior Links, a nonprofit organization advocating for individuals with disabilities in rural areas in Ciudad Quetzal, Guatemala, by adapting spaces and creating inclusive and functional Montessori environments while guiding caregivers through the Montessori philosophy.
Renée is a foodie who loves traveling, visiting museums, live music, History and Anthropology, and day trips. She enjoys spending her spare time writing, reading, walking with her dog, and staying in touch with family and friends overseas.
Driven by her newfound passion, Katie enrolled in the AMI Assistants Course at the Washington Montessori Institute in Maryland. This marked the beginning of her hands-on experience in various Montessori classrooms, spanning toddler, primary, and elementary levels.
Determined to deepen her understanding of Montessori, Katie pursued her AMI diploma from Montessori Northwest in Portland, Oregon. Armed with a comprehensive education and a wealth of practical experience, she emerged as a fervent advocate for children and the importance of early childhood education.
Katie Blunden firmly believes in the transformative power of Montessori education and its ability to shape the future of our society. As a Head of School at Dahlia Montessori, she continues to champion the cause of providing children with a solid foundation for lifelong learning and success.
Katie Blunden
Katie Blunden is a dedicated mother of two, a New Jersey native, and Co-Head of School at Dahlia Montessori in Allenhurst, NJ.
Before embracing the world of Montessori, Katie studied American Sign Language Interpreting and served as the Clinic Director of a wellness center for nearly a decade. It was during her transition to motherhood that she discovered the magic of Montessori. Initially self-taught, Katie implemented a Montessori-at-home approach that proved instrumental in nurturing independence in her own children.
Meet our Board.
Bret Morgan
Treasurer
Bret Morgan is an entrepreneur, software developer, and real estate investor based in Asbury Park, NJ. He provides strategic consulting to businesses looking to grow, innovate, and integrate traditional and digital business models.
Bret is the founder of FRESH Markets, Monmouth County’s top destination for local farmers, makers & food purveyors, where they annually operate over 150 high-traffic pop-up events to support budding entrepreneurs and revitalize local communities. He is also a co-founder and general partner for The Surf Village, a vacation rental community featuring 9 intentionally designed bungalows located in the heart of Bradley Beach. He co-founded Cowerks, a tech and startup hub providing workspace and community for entrepreneurs in Monmouth County, with locations in Asbury Park and Red Bank.
He has co-founded and ran the Jersey Shore Tech Meetup, Asbury Agile, and BandsOnABudget.com. Bret is the father of 3 young children, husband, a long time student and teacher of yoga, amateur plant based chef, and world traveler. Bret currently writes and shares his experience with other entrepreneurs over at BretMorgan.me.
Shanel Ingram
Secretary
Shanel R. Ingram is the founder and owner of Shanel Ronnai, LLC. The company uses graphic design and media to help individuals, small businesses, and organizations build their brands and effectively market their message to audiences.
Shanel graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and was a Substitute Teacher in the Asbury Park School District. She is the Co-Head of School/Lead Teacher at Sea Lavender Montessori in Belmar, NJ where children can be themselves, feel confident in their identity, and learn in a diverse and nurturing environment.
As a Camp Director for Inspire Life, Shanel has organized Summer Camps, a Tech Summit, and a Coding Camp for students, 3rd-8th grade. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the RMW Foundation, Inc., that focuses on feeding, educating, and empowering children and the community, Inspire Life, a community-based organization for children and families, and the Brookdale Community College Foundation that raises money for scholarships for students.