Our Team
Founder and Teachers
A passionate team rooted in respect, discovery, and science — dedicated to nurturing every child’s voice, identity, and bilingual potential.
Claudia Medina
Blending Montessori Excellence with Developmental Neuroscience
At the heart of BMLA’s mission is Claudia Medina, a visionary educator with over 30 years of classroom and leadership experience. Alongside her husband, Rosalio, Claudia founded our Bilingual Forest Park Montessori School to provide Chicago-area families with a multicultural foundation rooted in love, Spanish language immersion, and the science of discovery.
Elite Credentials & Global Impact
Originally from Colombia, Claudia brings a sophisticated, research-based perspective to early childhood and Elementary 6-12 education:
Developmental Neuroscience Specialization
Claudia integrates the latest findings in brain development into the classroom, ensuring that BMLA's curriculum aligns with how children naturally learn, process language, and build cognitive resilience.
Dual AMI & AMS Credentials
She is one of the few leaders holding credentials from both the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) and the American Montessori Society (AMS).
International Teacher Trainer
As a faculty member at the Duhovka Institut in Czech Republic, Europe and an Adjunct Professor at the Universidad Andrés Bello in Chile, she travels internationally to train and mentor the next generation of Montessori educators.
Local Leadership
Having served as a Curriculum Coordinator for several prestigious Montessori schools near Chicago, she has spent decades advocating for authentic, language-rich environments.
A Heart-Centered Approach
Claudia’s work reflects a deep respect for every child’s voice, identity, and potential. By blending her international training and scientific expertise with a warm, community-focused approach, she ensures that BMLA remains a place where curiosity is invited, culture is celebrated, and every developmental journey is honored.
Our Commitment to Your Child
Claudia’s work reflects a deep respect for every child’s voice. By blending her international training with a warm, community-focused approach, she ensures that BMLA remains a place where curiosity is invited and every developmental journey is honored.
A Message from Our Founder: Nurturing Every Child's Potential Through Science & Heart
By Claudia Medina
Dear Families,
Welcome to Bilingual Montessori Lab Academy (BMLA)! As the founder, and with over three decades dedicated to early childhood education, I’ve had the profound privilege of witnessing the magic of a child’s mind at work. It is this wonder, combined with a deep understanding of how children truly learn, that guides every aspect of our program here in Forest Park.
The Brain as Our Blueprint: Montessori Meets Neuroscience
My journey in education has been shaped by dual credentials from both the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) and the American Montessori Society (AMS), as well as a specialization in developmental neuroscience. This unique blend allows us to craft an educational experience that isn’t just theory-based, but scientifically informed.
At BMLA, we don’t just teach children; we understand how they learn. Neuroscience provides us with an incredible blueprint:
- Optimal Learning Windows: We recognize and respond to sensitive periods in a child’s development, providing the right materials and challenges at precisely the right time for maximum cognitive growth.
- Language Acquisition: Our Spanish immersion program is designed not just for exposure, but to leverage the brain’s remarkable capacity for language acquisition during early childhood, fostering genuine bilingual fluency.
- Executive Functioning: We intentionally design activities that build crucial skills like problem-solving, focus, emotional regulation, and self-control — cornerstones for future academic and life success.
- Sensory Integration: The hands-on Montessori materials are specifically chosen to engage multiple senses, creating stronger neural pathways and deeper understanding, rather than rote memorization.
Why “Bilingual” is More Than Just Language
Our commitment to bilingualism extends beyond simply speaking two languages. Research consistently shows that a bilingual brain is a more agile, resilient brain. It enhances problem-solving, multitasking, and even offers protective benefits later in life. By immersing children in Spanish from an early age, we are not just opening doors to another culture, but also enriching their cognitive landscape.
A Community Rooted in Respect and Discovery
Every day, my goal at BMLA is to bring this vision to life. From my international work training educators at the Duhovka Institut in Europe and in South America to my years as a Curriculum Coordinator for Montessori schools near Chicago, my focus has always been on creating environments where children thrive.
Here, your child’s voice, identity, and unique developmental journey are deeply respected. We blend rigorous academic preparation with a warm, community-focused approach, ensuring that every child feels safe, challenged, and celebrated.
We invite you to experience the BMLA difference — where the timeless wisdom of Montessori meets the cutting edge of developmental neuroscience to unlock your child’s full potential.
Warmly,
Claudia Medina
Founder, Bilingual Montessori Lab Academy