Gwendolyn Horton
Head of School
I joined Palisades Montessori in 2019 as Director and Lead Teacher at the Infant and Toddler Community. In that role, I focused on building an inclusive and student-centered Montessori environment. I also co-led the design of new learning spaces and operating procedures for the school during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Before coming to Palisades Montessori in 2019, I spent more than 18 years as a Montessori teacher at the Metro Montessori schools and Toddlers on the Hill, and served as an acting Directress at ToTH. Throughout my career, I have had a special interest in faculty professional development, and am also an Instructor of Adult Learners at the Montgomery Montessori Institute in Rockville, Maryland. My areas of expertise include Toddler Pedagogy, the Home Environment, and Leadership: How to Design an Anti-Bias Classroom. I truly believe in the authenticity of Montessori education, especially in early childhood. As a young child, I attended a Montessori school during my Primary years – and I still remember my experience as a student to this day. I am the proud mother of Christopher, and a bonus mom to teens Michael and Sayla. My pronouns are she/her, and my teacher name is Mrs. Gwen!