About Ms. Susan

Hi there! I’m Susan Mackey, or “Ms. Susan” when I’m working with children. Here’s a little bit about me: 

I’m a Montessori educator with a background in art, working with children ages 3-7 in the DMV.

I was born and raised in Charlotte, NC, and lived in Atlanta and Chicago before finally landing in Arlington, VA.

I was lucky enough to attend a Montessori school from the Children’s House (ages 3-6) through Middle School. Montessori education instilled a love of learning in me that has lasted through adulthood, and I hope to foster that same sense of wonder and curiosity in the children I teach. 

I attended Appalachian State University in the mountains of western North Carolina, where I received Bachelor’s degrees in Art History and Women’s Studies. 

After my undergraduate studies I returned to the Montessori school where I was raised to work as an Assistant Guide in a Children’s House classroom. Working under a skilled and tenured Guide deepened my appreciation for Montessori pedagogy. It was a fulfilling role, but I chose to pursue my dreams of a museum career, and so went on to work at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Art and Culture in Charlotte, NC, and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, GA. 

In 2019 I received a Master’s Degree in Art History, Theory, and Criticism from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Over the next three years I worked as an art writer and a regional editor for the arts magazine Burnaway. My background in art gives me a unique perspective on teaching, and I enjoy incorporating art into lessons whenever possible.

In 2022 I changed course and returned to the Montessori classroom. I received MACTE Certification in Early Education for children ages 2.5-6 and was the Lead Guide in a Children’s House classroom for 3 years. Now, I’m excited to take Montessori outside the walls of the classroom and work with children in a different capacity, through one-on-one literacy tutoring and Weekend Workshops.

To sum it up, I love Montessori education: I love that it is deeply rooted in love and respect for children; that it is based on scientific observation; that it instills a reverence for our Earth; that it is humanistic, and emphasizes our collective well-being. 

If you’d like to get to know me more, you can email me at susan@workplaymontessori.com

Talk soon!