Brandon Royce-Diop

Where do you live? Burnsville, MN - Dakota & Ojibwe land

What experiences do you have in educational settings (Montessori or other)? I am a trained social studies teacher and  leader in the local education community. My work emphasizes  equity, diversity, restorative practices  and social justice. I believe in the necessary recipe of cross-institutional collaboration and systems change, and have worked inside of and outside of schools to  apply a pedagogy of liberation to our schooling systems. I was a Montessori child, and believe in it as a tool for liberation.

What do you love about being an Operations Guide? rooting in a genuine connection with visionary teachers, and co-creating space where we can dream and act together as a team towards a common goal is something I am grateful for and something not easily replicated outside of this work.

What drew you to Wildflower?

The people! The Wildflower community naturally attracts some of the most dynamic people I have ever worked with. Once I started working with these people, and using the systems of self-management, I felt a sense of peace and comfort in my work that I had not prior experience.

What is your favorite Montessori material and why:

ALL of the infant materials. Because I am currently using them with my 4 month old, who seems to master a new skill every hour!