It Takes a Village
We love children and we believe in the importance of their education. Everything we do at The Earth School is with that in mind, from our curriculum and carefully designed campus and materials, to the people we have with your children every day.
Come meet our team, comprised of education professionals from around the world who all have two things in common - a love of learning, and an understanding of the importance of instilling that in our students.
Our Team
Lauren Rogers
Head of School
BSc, PGCE, International Montessori Teaching Diploma, Certificate in School Management and Leadership.
Joined The Earth School in 2015 and has been Head of School since August 2020
Beth Runo
Finance Administrator
BA, MA
Joined The Earth School in 2011
Hellen Ochwal
School Manager
BA.
Joined The Earth School in 2024
Monica Koki
Pre-Primary Teacher
BSc, International Montessori Diploma
Joined The Earth School in 2022
Giséle Gwaneza
French-Speaking Pre-Primary Teacher
Studying for Bachelors Degree
Joined The Earth School in 2022
Sarah Wanjiru
Pre-Primary Teacher
International Montessori Diploma
Joined The Earth School in 2024
Sophia Kivumbi
Primary Teacher
International Montessori Diploma, Complete SEND Diploma
Joined The Earth School in 2011
Joselyne Umuhoza
French Speaking Primary Teacher
BSc
Joined The Earth School in 2018
Léana Beza
French-Speaking Primary Teacher
Studying for Bachelors Degree
Joined The Earth School in 2020
Victoria Migale
Primary Teacher
International Montessori Diploma
Joined The Earth School in 2021
Maureen Mbabazi
Primary Teacher
Studying for Bachelors Degree
Joined The Earth School in 2022
Sonia Agarwal
Elementary Teacher
BA, International Montessori Diploma
Joined The Earth School in 2023
Margaret Wafula
Elementary Teacher
International Montessori Diploma
Joined The Earth School in 2017
Carlène Gihozo
French Speaking Elementary Teacher
Certificate in Social, Emotional, Behavioural and Special Education Services
Joined The Earth School in 2023
Job Byiringiro
P.E. and Swimming Instructor
BSc
Joined The Earth School in 2019
It all Started With One
The Earth School started from the vision, work, and effort of Edna and Juan Carlos Bonilla.
When the Bonillas first came to Rwanda in 2010, it was for a short-term assignment in gorilla conservation headed by Juan Carlos. After almost 20 years of living, studying, and working abroad across three continents, Rwanda was to be the last stop on their expatriate journey before returning to their native Guatemala. When the conservation project expanded beyond what was originally planned, it was clear that the Bonillas were to be in the country for longer.
A lifelong educator and deeply committed to the values and principles, as well as professionally trained in Montessori, Edna wanted the best for their children’s education. Their eldest, Andrés, had grown up in Montessori and she wanted the same for her youngest, Nicolás. If there were no authentic Montessori schools in Rwanda, she was going to make her own. She went back to her teaching manuals, made Montessori materials from scratch, and began teaching Nicolás, as her first and only student.
As time went by, other international families were struggling to find appropriate education programs for their young children. Soon Edna began to realize that there was a growing and genuine need for child-centered, holistic, and experiential education in Rwanda. Seeing this, she endeavored to begin what is now The Earth School. With the help of Juan Carlos, they began working night and day to found the school. From a living room with only one student, we established the first summer camp program in Rwanda.
From there, we opened our first campus with a handful of eager, bright-eyed, and excited students, and from there, we have continually grown and taught with the same excitement, love of learning, and value of education that we have had since that first classroom and first student. Our beautiful state of the art campus in Kigali is now a showcase of what an authentic Montessori school should be and is a center of excellence for Montessori best-practice. The school is an accredited member of the Geneva-based International Schools Association, the most senior organization in the world of international education.
Together, Edna, Juan Carlos, and our team have worked tirelessly to create a space and a school where children from all over the world can come together and grow, learn, and have fun while receiving a world-class education.
Grounded in Montessori, green and conscious, experiential and transformative – The Earth School way.