Meet The Team
Susana Silva-Canales
Ms. Susana Silva-Canales is a dedicated Chilean educator with extensive experience in Montessori education. She began her career teaching in several Montessori schools in Chile before relocating to the United States. With 17 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and owner of two Montessori Primary Schools, she joined the Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School (LAMB) in 2005, where she was invited to contribute her expertise in Montessori education and native Spanish-speaking skills. Ms. Silva worked at LAMB as a Teacher, Instructional Coach, and Director of the Primary program until 2021 when she decided to open as a co-owner Estrellitas Takoma to dedicate her love of education working with students from 6 months to Pre Kinder.
Ms. Silva studied Early Childhood Education at Catholic University of Chile, holds Montessori Certification from the American Montessori Society (AMS) for the 3-6 age group and has attended additional Montessori Infant and Toddler Training in the U.S. and Elementary training in Monterrey, Mexico. She has presented workshops, conferences, and training sessions for educators and parents in Chile, Peru, Paraguay, Spain, and the United States. For the past 19 years, Ms. Silva-Canales has been implementing bilingual Montessori education in the DC area. She is also a proud mother of two Montessori-educated children.
CRISTINA ENCINAS
Head of School at Estrellitas Montessori School in DC. She supported the school by obtaining Accreditation from Montessori Educational Program International MEPI. She trained and earned her AMS Montessori certification for Preschool and Infant and Toddlers, earned a B.A. in Human Services from Springfield College, a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Trinity College; and a second Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education from Catholic University in 2013. Ms. Encinas is originally from Mexico and has been in the DC area working in Montessori Education since 2003. A mother of two children who are bilingual. She believes that Montessori and bilingual education are the best combinations education can offer.
