Faculty & Staff

Ana Laura Taha

Co-lead teacher Casa

Ana Laura is a specialized Primary Guide with an AMS Primary Certificate, fully bilingual in Spanish and English, and with over 10 years of experience in the Montessori classroom.

Her love for Montessori runs deep. As a mother of four, now 22, 21, 18, and 16, who all grew up in Montessori, Ana Laura first fell in love with the philosophy as a parent and has carried that passion into her life's work.

She has always felt a calling to work with children and firmly believes that every child is different and learns differently. With more than a decade in the classroom, she deeply understands that the role of the adult is to carefully prepare both the environment and herself, allowing the child to lead their own construction. Through careful observation, she creates and adapts materials to meet each child exactly where they are.

Ana Laura is particularly passionate about true neuroinclusive practice, honoring every child's unique sensory, communication, and emotional regulation needs. She approaches her work with a steady, protective, and gentle presence, deeply committed to grace and courtesy and fiercely protective of the peaceful development of the young child.

Born in Mexico and having lived in Los Angeles, Arizona, and Chicago, Ana Laura now calls St. Petersburg home. She brings with her an energetic love for open-ended creative arts, storytelling, and outdoor movement, and she looks forward to building a strong classroom community and bringing cultures from around the world into the classroom.