Welcome to Cosmos Montessori, a Spanish and English Bilingual Environment in South Minneapolis.
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Cosmos Montessori collaborates with families to offer an authentic, equitable, and accesible Montessori education serving children ages three through 3rd grade. We support dual language acquisition and cultural competency development through a holistic approach within a nurturing and multicultural environment. Through such environment, students learn to become responsible members of a diverse, inclusive, and cooperative community.
Our Staff
Laura Cefalu
Teacher Leader/Children's House Guide
Laura was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. She studied elementary education at Gustavus Adolphus College where she earned her teaching license. Not long after, she discovered Dr. Maria Montessori’s holistic, child center approach to education and decided to take the Montessori training. She earned her Montessori diploma from the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota in the spring of 2019 and began teaching at Cosmos later that fall. She continued studying education at St. Catherine’s University where she earned her Masters of Arts in Education with an emphasis in Montessori in 2021. Laura feels honored to be teaching at Cosmos for her 5th year and to work with a dedicated team of educators. In her personal life Laura enjoys live music, camping, arts and crafts, and spending time with her cats, MJ and Reza.
Elizabeth Badillo Moorman
Teacher Leader/Elementary Guide
Elizabeth Badillo Moorman is an experienced Montessorian and licensed teacher who has been a part of the Twin Cities Montessori community for more than 20 years. She has been a Teacher-Leader Cosmos Montessori School since 2021 when she opened the Elementary program. In her personal life, Elizabeth has four children who are all alumni of Montessori schools. She has two dogs and two cats. She is a fan of Ultimate Frisbee and she loves camping with her family, reading mystery books, and doing the Sunday crossword puzzle with her mom.
Christina Willow
Teacher Leader/Elementary Guide
Ms. Christina was born and raised in Minnesota. She studied Spanish in Merida, Mexico during college and has also traveled to Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru and Spain. She currently lives in Minneapolis with her daughter Adeline. Ms. Christina brings 15 years of experience in bilingual education. She holds teaching licenses in Elementary Education, Spanish Education and Teaching English as a Second Language. After more than a decade of teaching in traditional public school settings, Ms. Christina began Montessori training in 2019 and earned her Montessori elementary diploma in May of 2022 after completing her internship year at Cosmos. She is so grateful to be a part of the Cosmos community where she can combine her passions of Montessori and bilingual education. When not at school, Ms. Christina enjoys yoga, rock climbing, camping, hiking and reading.
Rosario Frietag
Elementary
My name is Rosario and I am from Peru. I have been married for 25 years and have 2 wonderful children; Johnathan who is 28 and a veterinarian, and Grace who is 24 and a biologist. I love my job. I have 2 dogs and 1 cat.
Irma Romero
Children's House Assistant
My name is Irma Romero Rodriguez. I am a teacher. I like to read, listen to instrumental music, travel and get know new countries and different cultures. I have worked with children for many years and love to teach. I am a person who likes to help and my favorite quote is, "Quien no nace para server no sirve para vivir."
