about us
at the nest school
- the individual spirit of the child is our first priority
- all children need affirmation to have a positive self image so they may be independent and confident
- children learn best in an environment of love, beauty, security, understanding, and consistency
- education is not acquired by listening to words, but by experiences in which the child is a participant in his/her environment
- children should be treated with respect
- children need to be listened to in an atmosphere in which they feel safe
- success builds confidence
- a spirit of cooperation rather than competition is the best atmosphere for learning
- children need to learn how to think for themselves and how to solve problems in unique and creative ways
- children should be taught to respect the rights of others and to appreciate the contributions of all those around them
- teachers should encourage and inspire children to do not only the minimum, but also their best
- learning should be a happy and joyous experience!
non-discrimination policy: the nest school admits students of any race, color, and national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and other school-administered programs.
OUR TEAM
tara rubin
director & head teacher
Tara’s passion for early childhood education and the Montessori method has spanned over two decades. She worked at Santa Monica Montessori School for eight years as a preschool and kindergarten teacher. She then went on to found The Seed Montessori School in 2006, where she served as head teacher and co-director for 11 years. In 2017, the nest was born; its creation stemmed from Tara’s desire to apply her love and experience to continue to create a rich and joyful experience for young children and their families. Quite simply, to know Tara is to love her.
omid kheiltash
co-director
Prior to joining the nest team, Omid was the assistant head of school & admissions director at a Westside K-6 independent school for ten years. Before that, she taught fourth grade in Northern California. She holds a master’s and PhD in education, and through her previous work, has spent countless hours in the very good company of some of LA’s best preschools, their educators, and their parents. With three little ones of her own, Omid has a special fondness for the preschool years.
luciana “lucy” lima
curriculum director & co-teacher
Ms. Lima is a Montessori trained teacher originally from São Paulo, Brazil. With a background in Social Communications, her presence creates an environment in the classroom that is conducive to exploration, independence, and creativity. Lucy has been teaching with Tara since 2016 (originally at The Seed Montessori School) and before that, worked in Brazil and California at Montessori early childhood education centers for over 5 years. Lucy holds Montessori certifications in both early childhood and infant-toddler education. Ms. Lima speaks Portuguese, Spanish, and English, she is in the classroom fulltime daily with our nestlings, exercising her passion and belief in education as a way to make the world a kinder place.
our core values
the child
our little ones are the driving force behind everything we do. we believe in a child centric approach that emphasizes each child’s cognitive, social/emotional, and physical development. opportunities abound for maintaining uninterrupted concentration on a task, which is achieved when children have the autonomy to select their work, thereby ensuring meaningful and deep engagement.
the environment
Maria Montessori said, “the first aim of the prepared environment is, as far as it is possible, to render the growing child independent of the adult.” a thoughtful “prepared environment” is perhaps the greatest teacher of all within the Montessori tradition. we prescribe to the six principals of a prepared environment and welcome you to come see how each is implemented at the nest.
the community
the nest community thrives on the meaningful relationships, respect, and love among its members, big and small. educators and families work together to foster connections between home and school. involvement is intentional, communication is open and ample, and goals are shared.
for the love of learning…