Who We Are
Blazing Stars Montessori is a small school in Dade City where your child is known by name — not managed as a number. We serve children ages 3 to 10, and we were built for families who want something more connected and more individualized than the typical public or charter school path.
Here, your child learns at their own pace, in a classroom designed around real work and real choices, alongside teachers who've spent decades learning how children actually grow.
Our Story
Blazing Stars was founded by educators with more than 29 years of combined experience in Montessori and general education, with deep roots in this community. We're one of the first Wildflower Network schools in Florida — a national network of small, teacher-led Montessori schools, which means our teachers (not a distant administration) make the decisions that shape your child's classroom. We're now entering our fourth year, blending the energy of a newer school with the steadiness of real experience.
You're a Partner Here — Not a Spectator
We believe the strongest education happens when parents, teachers, and students share responsibility for how the school runs. That doesn't mean we expect you to do it all — it means you're genuinely part of the conversation about your child's experience, not just a name on a billing account.
In practice, that looks like real conversations with your child's teacher, a willingness on both sides to have honest (even hard) discussions when something needs attention, and a community where families actually know each other — not just drop off and pick up.
See It for Yourself
The best way to understand Blazing Stars is to visit. Schedule a Tour or Apply Now to start the conversation.
In the Press
Our Teacher Leaders
LaTania Scott
Founding Teacher Leader
LaTania holds an American Montessori Society Lower Elementary Montessori credential, an IMC Montessori Credentials for Upper Elementary, a B.A. in Elementary Education, a Masters in Montessori Education, a Florida Early Childhood Director’s Credential, and a Florida Professional Educators Teaching License. LaTania has over 17 years of experience in the field of elementary education. LaTania also works with teachers in training as a practicum advisor and field consultant. LaTania serves on numerous boards for other schools within the Wildflower network.
Kameeka Shirley
Founding Teacher Leader
Kameeka holds a B.B.A in Business Administration and worked in finance in New York before joining Teach for America as a 2017 corps member in Jacksonville, FL. Most recently, Kameeka has worked as a Montessori classroom teacher and holds a Florida Professional Educators Teaching License with a Reading Endorsement and an Early Childhood Montessori credential. Outside of the classroom, Kameeka works with the Sunlight Loan Fund to help other teachers achieve their dream of starting a Wildflower School.
Our Team
Sandy Gayle
Assistant
Ms. Sandy has been an instructional assistant for over twelve years and six of those years has been in a Montessori environment. It was while being an assistant in a Montessori school that she fell in love with the philosophy that children learn best when they are interested, free to move and able to choose their own work. Ms. Sandy takes great pride in helping each child with their own individuality of learning. She is currently working on her Child Development and Early Education at Marchman Technical College.
Besides teaching, Ms. Sandy loves spending time with her 2 sons and 6 grandchildren. She also loves arts and crafts, knitting, sewing, diamond art and paint by number kits.
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Teacher
Ms. Maria has over 25 years of experience working as an educator, starting in animal welfare and environmental nonprofit initiatives and moving over to the Montessori Primary classroom for the last 16 years. She holds a Regents B.A. from Shepherd University, a certification in Nature-Based Education for Early Childhood and will be starting her 3 - 6 Year Montessori Certification training in the Fall of 2026. Ms. Maria has a passion for the Montessori Method and "whole child" education, incorporating art, music, nature, movement, social causes, and more into the academic experience. She has helped lead several annual social causes and early childhood musicals in her career as a Montessori teacher. When not teaching, she enjoys time with her teen son, walks with her dog Pumpkin, and lots of reading. Ms. Maria is a firm believer in life-long learning.
Our Specials Team
Charlotte Lewis
Music
Charlotte is an instructor at Prelude Academy of the Arts, who partners with Blazing Stars to offer a high-quality music experience for Blazing Stars' students. Read more about Charlotte here.
Angelina Parrino
Art
Angelina is an artist & arts educator passionate about connecting with diverse groups of people through creative methods. She has 15+ years of practice in drawing and painting, and additional experience in printmaking, bookmaking, creative writing, photography, installation, and woodworking. She has 5+ years of teaching experience in the general arts and was most recently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Art & Design at the University of Tampa. Having taught in various caring professions, she is interested in multidisciplinary art as an integral component of life and healing. Read more about Ms. Angelina here.
Specials
Do you have a special talent you would like to share with our school community? We are looking for artists, chefs, athletes, performers, speakers of second languages and passionate members of our community to share their talents with our students. Please email us to discuss.
We are Hiring!
At Blazing Stars Montessori School, we are always eager to connect with individuals who share our passion for supporting children’s growth and learning. Whether you have experience in education, Montessori training, child development, or skills that would enrich our school community, we welcome you to reach out and introduce yourself. We value people who bring curiosity, dedication, and a commitment to helping children thrive. If you believe you could contribute to our mission, we’d love to start a conversation.
Download our application