We were lucky to catch up with Cinndy Cruz Otanis Ramos recently and have shared our conversation below.
Cinndy Cruz, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career
We believe there are other approaches to educating children, with the Montessori method being one that stands apart from the traditional educational system. The Montessori method is a scientific approach to education that emphasizes child-led, self-directed, and hands-on activities. It nurtures independence, leadership, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning. Beyond academics, the Montessori method supports the holistic development of children, addressing their physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth.
A key feature of this approach is the prepared environment—a thoughtfully designed classroom tailored to meet the unique needs of each child, fostering exploration, engagement, and meaningful learning experiences. On a typical day in the Montessori environment you will notice that all children are doing different activities such as, baby washing, pouring water from one jar to the other, matching objects or nomenclatures, sweeping, watering the plants, doing yoga or mindfulness activities, scrubbing floors or washing their tables.
Each activity is carefully chosen to teach practical life skills while fostering a sense of responsibility and self-reliance. With every activity children carry their own tray and then put it back on the shelves all by themselves. In other words, a Montessori environment is just like a small community where everyone is exploring and doing what they are most interested in, children respect and help one another at the same time they are learning basic life skills that will set the foundations for their adult lives. Nowadays we see many young adults that still depend on their parents to do basic tasks such as cooking a simple meal, doing the laundry, or even cleaning their room. Sadly, this lack of preparation leaves students dependent on the adult.
We believe that the current education system should focus on preparing teachers to effectively implement these types of practices. We also need to bring the Montessori approach to more schools. We need to get rid of standardized tests, respect each child’s individual needs, children need to be able to move freely around the classroom and not have to sit down for an entire lecture. Children need to have a garden so they can learn to appreciate nature, they need to spend more time outdoors, practice mindfulness activities so they learn to self regulate, control their emotions, and reduce stress. They need to learn to solve problems on their own, to reduce bullying, and finally children need a warm and loving space where they feel safe, loved, and respected. When we created our project, Sapienza Montessori School, we envisioned a space that goes beyond traditional education. Our focus was not only on the use of Montessori materials, academic training, or mastery of the Spanish language but also on preparing children—girls and boys of today, men and women of tomorrow—to face life with confidence. We prioritize helping children develop essential skills such as emotional self-regulation, frustration management, and resilience. These are often overlooked in other educational approaches but, in our view, are the cornerstone of shaping a well-rounded, capable individual.
These changes are crucial to creating an education system that truly prepares children for fulfilling lives and careers while fostering independence, resilience, and a sense of purpose.
Cinndy Cruz, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
We are two latin women who are passionate and experienced Montessori guides driven by a desire to create an educational space that truly nurtures and supports the holistic development of every child. We founded Sapienza Montessori back in 2021, however we didn’t open until fall 2022. The entire process took a full year, filled with both individual and shared challenges.For me (Cinndy) I had to learn about codes with the city and hire architects, plumbers, electricians, construction workers, HVAC technicians and spend time away from my children. Otanis’ challenge was to be able to communicate in English with parents, with time she has improved her English language skills. It’s hard to put into words just how much we went through, what kept us going was the unwavering support from those around us. Otanis and I held so tight on to each other, lifting each other’s spirits and trying so hard not to give up on our dreams. Quitting was never an option, our dream was bigger than our fears and we never stopped working towards our goal. We are so grateful to our families, closest friends, and the families who stood by us, cheering us on, checking in, and providing the emotional and financial support we needed to move forward. Their belief in us lifted us during the toughest times and allowed Sapienza Montessori to finally become a reality. We built our school from the ground up—creating admissions paperwork, parent handbooks, and employee manuals, all while working through obtaining a full permit with child care license.
We combined a Montessori approach with a Spanish Immersion curriculum, additionally Texas is experiencing rapid growth, and with it comes an increased demand from non-native Spanish-speaking parents who want their children to grow up bilingual. Many parents recognize the benefits of early language acquisition, especially in a diverse state like Texas, where Spanish is widely spoken. This trend has fueled the expansion of Spanish immersion preschools across the region. However, while there are many Spanish immersion options, very few schools integrate this approach with the Montessori method, which focuses on self-directed, hands-on learning. Sapienza Montessori is among the select few that combine these two powerful educational philosophies. By offering a Spanish immersion environment within a Montessori framework, we provide children with the opportunity to develop bilingual language skills while nurturing independence, critical thinking, and a deep love of learning. This approach meets the needs of families who want both language immersion and an individualized, holistic learning experience for their children. We welcome children from 12 months – 6 years old. Our mission is to contribute to the formation of independent and responsible human beings, as Maria Montessori believed in prepared environments and a climate of freedom, respect, creativity, and love.
One factor that sets us apart from others is that Otanis and I are deeply involved in the daily operations of our school, balancing the dual roles of classroom leadership and shared administrative responsibilities. By staying closely connected to each classroom, we’re able to provide truly individualized attention to each child and offer personalized support to their parents, fostering a strong school-home connection. Our commitment goes beyond academics; we focus on each child’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development to build a solid foundation that will not only support their academic journey but also prepare them for life’s challenges. We believe that by nurturing confidence, independence, and emotional resilience, we’re empowering children with essential skills they will carry in their adult lives.
We take great pride in seeing Sapienza grow and thrive. Just a few months ago, we expanded our program by adding a new classroom for infants aged 12–17 months, increasing our capacity to serve 60 children. Alongside this growth, our team has also flourished. We now have five assistant teachers who have become an integral part of Sapienza’s success and the heart of our community.
Our team is wonderfully diverse, representing a rich blend of cultures from across Latin America, including Mexico, Cuba, Argentina, and Nicaragua This diversity brings a warm and loving touch to our school, making it a truly unique environment. Many of our assistant teachers have impressive backgrounds—they include educators in their home countries, nurses, and even those with a passion for the culinary arts and art expression. These talents add an enriching layer to our program, providing children with a holistic and well-rounded experience.
We also feel a profound responsibility to provide families with a high-quality program, which is why we are committed to investing in our team’s professional development. We have proudly sponsored all our assistant teachers to obtain their Montessori Assistant Certification. This not only equips them with the skills to support the Montessori method but also deepens their understanding of how to foster the growth and development of every child in our care.
How’d you meet your business partner?
Otanis and I come, from completely different backgrounds (Otanis is from Cuba and I Cinndy, am from Mexico. We never imagined we would become entrepreneurs, school founders, and close friends. We met at another Montessori School here in Austin. From the start, we shared a deep passion for our work and a vision for the future that brought us together in a special way. It was then, in the midst of our daily lives, when life surprised us with a unique opportunity: To open our own Montessori School. With all our savings and little hesitation, we decided to take a leap of faith, and that’s how Sapienza Montessori was born. Both of us shared a commitment to providing children with a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment that supports their natural development. We bonded over our passion for education and the Montessori approach, often discussing our dreams of a school that would not only be a place for learning but also a supportive community for families and teachers alike. As we spent more time together, our casual conversations evolved into thoughtful planning sessions, and we started to recognize that our strengths complemented each other in ways that could truly bring this vision to life. This shared dedication eventually laid the foundation for our partnership and the creation of Sapienza Montessori. We opened our doors officially on August 19th, 2022.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I believe everyone has their unique essence, and ours comes from the heart. Our deep passion for education and genuine commitment to supporting children in their early years shine through in everything we have created to better serve them.. By creating a warm, nurturing environment where children feel safe, loved, and valued, we have earned the trust and appreciation of the families we serve. Parents entrust us with their most precious treasures—their children—so earning their confidence was a responsibility we didn’t take lightly. Through open communication, consistent quality, and a genuine passion for education, we gradually began to establish a reputation that reflected our dedication.
We feel blessed that most of our referrals come through word of mouth. Our wonderful families recommend us to their relatives and closest friends, which helps us strengthen and build a close-knit community.
It took time, effort, and a lot of patience to ensure that families not only knew about us but also believed in our mission and methods. Each family that joined our community became a testament to the trust we worked so hard to earn and maintain, and their support has been a cornerstone of our growth and success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sapienzaschool.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sapienzamontessorischool
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sapienzamontessorischool
Image Credits
Professional photos were taken by Austin photographer Katy Rox, the rest are pictures from Sapienza