Debra Martinez

Debra Martinez is a mother, Montessori educator, artist, and lifelong learner. She is delighted to reconnect with the Mariposa Montessori community, the school where she took her first Montessori training fifteen years ago!

Here’s a brief snapshot of her journey:

In 2000, Debra graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts, focusing on Fine Arts, Fashion Design, and culture through music, dance, and visual expression. She entered the Montessori world in 2008 as an Art Educator at her children’s first school in South Texas. As her curiosity about Montessori philosophy deepened, she completed an Assistant training course at Mariposa in 2010. She went on to earn her AMS Early Childhood Credential at the Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center in 2012.

Over the past 15 years, Debra has worn many hats in Montessori and holistic education, including Lead Guide, Art Educator, Early Childhood Director, and Head of School. Much of that time was spent nurturing a community-rooted program inspired by Montessori principles and devoted to honoring each child’s unique gifts. After a recent sabbatical for reflection and renewal, she felt called to return to the rhythm of daily classroom life, particularly within an AMS-aligned community. That calling brought her full circle, back to Mariposa.

Outside the classroom, Debra is a seamstress and creative reuse artist, a dancer and singer, and a student of Permaculture and Herbalism. Her husband, also a Montessori educator, will be joining Mariposa as the Upper Elementary Guide in the Snapdragon classroom. They have two children, ages 22 and 18, and recently welcomed a sweet rescue pup named Rue into their family.