By Joycelyne Fadojutimi
At East Texas Montessori Prep Academy, Liza Salas starts each day surrounded by curiosity in motion. With a master’s degree in educational sciences, Liza chose the International Baccalaureate (IB) program because it reflects her belief in learning that is global, inclusive, and meaningful for every student.
In her pre-K and kindergarten classroom, students aren’t just memorizing, they’re exploring. Through IB’s inquiry-based approach, children ask questions, investigate answers, and take ownership of their learning. “I model curiosity through ‘I wonder’ statements,” Liza explains, “so students learn to think for themselves.” These early habits lay the foundation for tackling bigger challenges later in life.
Balancing rigor with well-being is central to her teaching. In a Montessori-prepared environment, students choose lessons that spark their interest, building independence and self-direction while reducing stress. Liza believes this combination of choice, exploration, and guidance equips students not just academically, but as thoughtful problem-solvers in a complex world.
What Liza loves most is seeing her students make meaningful connections between classroom learning and real life. Being both Montessori and IB, ETMPA allows children to explore with concrete materials in a prepared environment, fostering curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. For Liza, teaching is simple at its core: every great journey begins with a question. “I wonder…”
