Barbara Rijo – Middle School Teacher

Barbara grew up in Massachusetts, she has lived most of her life in the Tampa Bay area. She began teaching in 2001. She attended Saint Petersburg College and the University of South Florida where she achieved a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Social Science Education (6-12) with a minor in History. Barbara is a certified Restorative Practice Trainer and she will complete her Montessori Credential in June of 2021.

Her top teaching moments are when she meets students who have grown up or are in high school or college, who tell me how much they enjoyed learning in her class, or how they have never forgotten a certain project or activity that they did together.

She finds the Montessori method of aligning the curriculum with adolescent brain development the most exciting and effective part of the Betsy Coe curriculum. It has the perfect balance of individual and group projects with a strong emphasis on collaboration and critical thinking in all areas.

Barbara enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, making crafts, growing plants, hiking and camping, and reading. She has traveled to Costa Rica, Belize, and the Dominican Republic. She would like to visit western Europe.