The Montessori School of East Orlando (MSEO) is dedicated to providing a classroom environment where children discover life as a whole. Through the academic curriculum, the daily emphasis on tolerance, peacefulness, compassion and kindness, we hope to provide an environment in which each child is free to grow and develop to his/her potential.

Our curriculum is based on the teachings of Dr. Maria Montessori, who believed that education should serve the needs of the children. She sought a system of education that worked with children, not against them, and often referred to this way of teaching as “following the child.” The curriculum that Dr. Montessori developed is all-encompassing. It requires an in-depth understanding and study of our world as opposed to the superficial and quickly forgotten memorization of facts.

Marcia Hurlbutt
Marcia is the co-owner and director of the Montessori School of East Orlando and a lower and upper elementary teacher. Marcia’s career in teaching began in 1997. She received her BA at Florida State University in Political Science and her MA at The American University in International Communication. She then earned her teaching certificate from the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies in Silver Spring, MD. She is accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS) in Elementary I and II. She also received her certification in Phono-Graphix from the ReadAmerica Institute in Orlando, FL. 

She calls teaching her calling and finds nothing more fulfilling than watching her students’ eagerness and excitement for learning blossom and grow every year. She is a nature lover and enjoys seeing the care in which all life is nurtured under her students’ hands.

Leila Manzano
Leila is the lead preschool teacher and the Director of the preschool program.  Leila has been working with children of all ages since 1993.  She has received her Montessori certification for ages 3-9 through the North American Montessori Center and is currently in training to receive her preschool Montessori certification through AMS.  She is also a credentialed Director with the State of Florida.

She has always enjoyed working with children and truly appreciates how the Montessori pedagogy encourages and enhances each child's individuality and unique spirit.  She is fluent in both Spanish and English and tries to bring her love of both languages naturally into the classroom environment.

Ingrid Hurlbutt
Ingrid is the co-owner and administrator of the Montessori School of East Orlando. She was born in Breda, Holland and came to America when she was 15 years old. As a child, she attended the Workplaatz--a Montessori school in Holland run by Bette and Kees Boeke.  After a lifetime working in many different fields (she has been a nurse, a Captain, mother, grandmother, small business owner, etc.), she is incredibly thankful to add teaching to that list.  Now she is incredibly excited to be with the Montessori School of East Orlando where she can ensure that all of her students will be nourished with love, understanding, and joy.