Type Of Business:
1) School 2) School
Marketing Area:
National; International
Expertise:
Teaching children and teachers; Collaborating with parents on their children's learning and development
Major Product/SVS:
1) Education 2) Education
Favorite Business Publication:
Montessori Life; Phi Delta Kappan; International Montessori Societies; Montessori News; Montessori Observer
Hobbies/Sports:
Reading; Nature; Traveling; Being immersed and participating in cultural studies; Music; Dancing; Exercise
Education Degrees:
Bachelor of General Studies, Concentration in Early Childhood Development, L. Robert Allen Montessori Center, Chaminade University of Honolulu (1990)
Affiliations Awards:
American Montessori Society; Phi Delta Kappa International; International Montessori Society
Place of Birth:
Canton, OH
State/Country of Origin:
NC/USA
Children's Names:
Haunani, Kapua
Date of Distinction:
3/28/2012
What do you feel separates you from the rest of the professionals in your industry?:
Ms. Iao's ability to relate to people of all cultures on a human, social and spiritual level is what separates her from her peers. She is truly interested in helping all ages of children and adults achieve their goals and dreams. Ms. Iao is a good listener, honest yet non-judgemental, and extremely open-minded. She tremendously enjoys observing life and learning from her observations.
What has been the most outstanding thing you have done thus far in your career?:
The greatest achievements in her career were her training and consulting trips to Eastern Europe. The impact was not only to the schools, but also to the communities surrounding them. Adults as well as children, ages toddler to age 10, were specifically affected by her work. She truly felt that she was a Citizen Ambassador and representative of the U.S. The majority of her time was spent in Russia and she lived in the third largest city, Nizhni Novgorod, for eight months. She started going to Russia after the fall of communism, which was an amazing, scary and exciting time. She knows that she helped create, through collaboration with others, beautiful and productive Montessori environments all over the vast country of Russia. It is something that she is very proud of and holds very dear in her heart.
Expanded Biography:
Ms. Iao is a Montessori-certified consultant, accreditor and teacher. She was a head teacher for 25 years and worked with toddlers through middle school students in Hawaii, Florida and North Carolina. She traveled to Russia and Poland with People to People International as a Citizen ambassador in education. She trained and consulted with teachers and schools in Russia, Lithuania, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Ms. Iao is currently substituting and consulting at a private Montessori school, Countryside, for toddlers though high school students in Charlotte, NC.
Born and raised in Canton, Ohio, known as Pro Football Hall of Fame country, Ms. Iao went to college at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and majored in English at the school's College of Education. Shortly thereafter, she moved to the beautiful and glorious state of Hawaii, where she lived for a total of 27 years. She feels that Hawaii was where she was spiritually nourished and flourished in all cultural aspects. Fortunately, her Montessori training occurred in Honolulu. She feels that her experiences in Hawaii helped develop her into a well-rounded teacher and educator.
The joy and pride of her life are her two wonderful daughters, Haunani and Kapua. Their cultural mix includes Hawaiian, Chinese, Welsh, German, Swiss, English and Irish. They are both good, kind human beings who care about others. Haunani, Ms. Iao's oldest daughter, lives in Kula, Hawaii, located on the slopes of Haleakala on the island of Maui. She has a doctorate in clinical psychology and works with adults on Maui. Haunani has previously worked with autistic children and in various Pre-K settings. Kapua, at present, lives in Buffalo, NY, and during the past five summers, has done archaeological digs in Greece, particularly on the island of Crete. She is the organizer of the data that is unearthed and will be returning to Crete in May. Kapua has two master's degrees, one in Greek art and the other in museum administration; she is currently working as an assistant at a school for at-risk teens.
Drumming is a musical hobby that has been a major influence for Ms. Iao. Drumming has given her the freedom to express herself wholly and creatively. Music and dance have always been an important part of her life. In addition, she feels that music plays a considerable role in a child's education. Music helps the child to develop socially, academically, physically and spiritually.
Retirement to Ms. Iao means that she is on a journey to accomplish many other goals and dreams. She will continue to work with children and adults and travel to many destinations to do more teacher training.
Throughout the duration of your career, what was the one highlight that stood out the most?:
The highlight of her career was when she realized the relevance of observation and following the child's lead. The children are the most important aspect of the learning environment. The students are able to show the teacher how to better encourage and instruct them to be the best that they can be.
Charity:
Local Post Office; Local Annual Food Drive
Number Of Years In Profession:
29
Number Of Years In Current Position:
26
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
She attributes her success to being open-minded, non-judgemental, spontaneous and observant of how children grow and develop. She is an "out of the box" thinker and doer.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
She became involved in her profession while in high school and college because she enjoyed Latin and English. She was going to teach high school, then her emphasis was changed to kindergarten-aged students when asked to read to them. The Montessori philosophy was introduced when she chose it for her older daughter, Haunani.
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Teaching children to be independent and self sufficient; Following the children's lead to become the best that they can be and to develop a positive self-esteem
Education Certifications:
Montessori Certification in Pre-Primary; Consultant and Accreditation, American Montessori Society; Consultant and Accreditation, International Montessori Society; North Carolina Teaching Certificate, B-K, K-6; Hawaii Registry, Administration Level
Awards/Honors:
Vice President, Hawaii Chapter, Phi Delta Kappa International; Citizen Ambassador in Education, People to People International
Where Will You Be In 5 Years:
In five years, Ms. Iao hopes to continue and expand her work with children and adults. In addition, she plans to train and consult on all aspects of education. She also hopes to continue her travels internationally.