The Village School Montessori

We are thrilled to celebrate an incredible achievement by our own Naomi Pestana, middle school journalism teacher at The Village School!

Naomi has been named Report for America’s Mentor of the Year for 2025-2026, a well deserved honor that recognizes her dedication to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of journalists.

Naomi has shared that she is deeply grateful to Estefanía Pinto Ruiz, her mentee, who worked as a reporter for KWQC TV in Davenport, Iowa, an NBC affiliate station, and who nominated her for this recognition. She also expressed appreciation to Marcie Hampton and Report for America for their support.

If you are not familiar with Report for America, it is a national service program that places talented emerging journalists in local newsrooms across the country to report on undercovered communities and important local issues. The organization is helping build a stronger future for local journalism by supporting reporters where they are needed most.

Naomi’s passion for teaching, journalism, and mentorship reaches far beyond the classroom at The Village School. We are so proud to celebrate this recognition and grateful for the positive impact she continues to make on her students, aspiring journalists, and communities across the country.

Congratulations, Naomi! We are cheering you on and celebrating this amazing honor! 🎉💚

Someone hasn’t gotten the message that school is no longer in session.😍🥰🦌

Some of our graduates at today’s picnic! Thank you for the great picture, .by.dandi!

Have a great summer!💚

Our 8th year students with their 3rd grade teachers after reading the letters they wrote to their future selves. A special moment reflecting on how far they’ve come. 💚

Such a special morning. Our 8th year students were given the letters they wrote to their future selves back in 3rd grade. Having their 3rd grade teachers, Laura, Alma, Janice, and Stephanie there to hand deliver those letters made the experience even more meaningful. Watching our students reflect on who they were, how much they have grown, and the dreams they shared years ago was truly special. A beautiful reminder of how much can unfold in five years and how thoughtfully our students continue to grow into themselves. One more day until graduation.💚