About Our Schools
Wildflower New York Charter School is currently made up of 2 primary classrooms (Pre-k — Kindergarten), and 2 elementary classrooms (1st — 5th grade). Each classroom that is open for enrollment can only be entered through a random lottery.
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Each of our classrooms envisions a culturally and linguistically diverse neighborhood-nested, public Montessori school that provides children full attention to life and its requirements so they can author their own journeys in a space where joy, empowerment, humanity, interconnectedness, healing, balance, and harmony are at the core of their daily experiences.
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Founded by school leaders from the Morrisania, Bronx community, and greater New York City area, our schools will offer an authentic option for the world renowned Montessori education methodology.
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Our Teacher Leaders
Mario Benabe
Founding WNYCS
Teacher Leader
Mr. Benabe is an Ethno-mathematician, public intellectual, author, school leader and civil rights leader. He is the creator of Do-The-Right-Thing-Pedagogy, a framework for teaching and learning that decolonizes STEM education.
Mr. Benabe holds an M.S.T in Special Education from Fordham University, a B.A. in Anthropology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and an Association Montessori Internationale Primary Education degree from the Indigenous Montessori Institute. His certification are in Grades (Birth - Grades 2) and (Grades 7 — 12) — Special Education.
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Aura Cely
Founding WNYCS
Teacher Leader
Aura Cely's journey in education has been defined by a commitment to excellence and a dedication to fostering inclusive learning environments. Her qualifications include completing her Association Montessori International (AMI) training at the International Montessori Training Institute (IMTI) in Atlanta, Georgia, alongside obtaining a Master's of Education degree from Johns Hopkins University.
With a wealth of experience spanning over 9 years, Ms. Cely has excelled as a lead guide within both public and private Montessori and traditional educational settings. Prior to embracing the Montessori approach, she spent formative years as an elementary lead Spanish Teacher at KIPP, served as an AmeriCorps volunteer with HeadStart, and worked as a teacher in Bogota, Colombia, with young people affected by civil war displacement.
She is an advocate for public Montessori programs that not only educate but also center joy and interconnectedness within anti-bias and anti-racist frameworks. She focuses on humanizing the educational journey for culturally and linguistically diverse children, families, and educators. Her certification is in General Education, Special Education and Bilingual Education in Grades Early Childhood — Grade 6)
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Ayeisha
Seawright-Moses
WNYCS Teacher Leader
Ayeisha Seawright-Moses currently holds the role of Teacher Leader at Wildflower New York Charter School, where she combines her extensive background in both early childhood education and business management. Following a successful career in the corporate and finance sectors, Ayeisha made a transformative switch to the realm of education, driven by a long-standing aspiration to focus her efforts on children and families.
With a decade of experience in early childhood education, Ayeisha is a proud leader of the primary classrooms at Wildflower New York Charter School. Her commitment to the field is exemplified by her possession of an AMI diploma from the Montessori Training Center Northeast, further enriching her educational versatility. Ayeisha's academic journey also includes a master's degree in early childhood education, complemented by her NY state certification for grades ranging from birth to grade 6.
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Our Staff
Jonnathan Sabater
AMI Trained Montessori Primary Assistant
Shane William
AMS Trained Montessori Guide and Parent Engagement Lead
Consuelo Naranjo
Lower Elementary Montessori Assistant
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