Maria Ettienne-Modeste

University of Saint Joseph graduate Maria Ettienne-Modeste joined Renbrook School in 2023 as the Lead Junior Kindergarten Teacher in the Beginning School. With over 20 years of experience teaching Early Childhood Education, she brings exceptional expertise, leadership, and dedication to nurturing young learners during their most formative years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Saint Joseph and is a certified Meditation Facilitator through the Copper Beech Institute. Maria’s distinguished background includes leadership roles as a head teacher and assistant director, as well as extensive work in accreditation support, curriculum mentoring, and educator development. Recognized for her collaborative and child-centered approach, she is deeply committed to fostering engaging learning environments and building strong, supportive communities for children, families, and fellow educators.

Maria believes classrooms are places where humans are built. She teaches to help children discover who they are, who they can become, and how they belong in the world around them. In Junior Kindergarten, she uses a unique, hands-on approach that supports children academically, physically, socially, and emotionally. She integrates mindfulness, meditation, leadership opportunities, and inquiry-based learning into daily routines. Children learn to pause, breathe, identify their emotions, and choose kindness. They practice collaboration, critical thinking, resilience, and goal setting while building strong academic foundations.

A central focus of Maria’s work is social-emotional learning. Inspired by research and practices that support brain-based development, she teaches children how their brains and bodies work together. She incorporates mindful movement, reflection, and structured routines that foster emotional regulation and positive thinking. She believes children always have the opportunity to turn things around and that their breath is their friend.

Maria is also deeply invested in mentoring and collaboration. She works closely with her partner teacher to build a strong, cohesive classroom community and intentionally prioritizes the first weeks of school to establish trust, belonging, and shared values. Beyond her classroom, she serves as an instructor in the Adventures program and as a member of the Renbrook Inquiry Model Committee, where she has led professional development and collaborated on strengthening hands-on, curiosity-driven curriculum.

What Maria loves most about Renbrook is its community and family feel, its commitment to excellence, and its alignment with her belief that joyful and rigorous learning belong together. She treasures the beauty of learning on the mountain and the school’s celebration of diversity and belonging.

Outside of school, Maria enjoys scrapbooking, painting, mindfulness and meditation practices, tutoring, braiding hair, spending time in nature, and relaxing at the beach, her happy place. She comes from a large family of educators and is the eighth of nine children. A former high school volleyball and track athlete, she brings energy and enthusiasm to everything she does. She is inspired by the belief that people may forget what you said or did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.