About the Teachers

Little Flower Montessori is run by a mother-daughter team. Eliana Noguchi began her teaching career in the United States in 1986 at Mount Pleasant Montessori at All Souls Church Unitarian. Gaby Noguchi was a student at Little Flower Montessori and is now the directress of the school.

Eliana Noguchi

My lifelong dream has always been to be a Montessori teacher. My career started in my home country of La Paz, Bolivia where I had a position as an assistant teacher at a local Montessori school. When I came to the District of Columbia in 1976, I knew that there was no other career path I wanted to take, and I immediately enrolled in the Gordon Adult Educational Center in Georgetown to begin taking English classes. I also took some classes at George Washington University to fulfill my prerequisites to enroll in the American Montessori International Institute to become a Montessori teacher. I graduated with honors in May of 1986 and the next month started my teaching position at Mount Pleasant Montessori at All Souls Church Unitarian. That very same month I married my late husband. I could not have been happier, and I felt so at home at All Souls Church. Reverend Harry Quiet had such a positive impact on my life during that time and always made the school and its students a priority. In 1988, I was promoted to Director of Mount Pleasant Montessori and made so many wonderful memories in this amazing place. In 1991 I had my only daughter, Gabriela, and 2 years later, Mount Pleasant Montessori closed its doors in 1993, due to the owner’s decision. In the Fall of 1994, I ventured to start my own Montessori School and opened Little Flower Montessori across the street at National Baptist Memorial Church. After 31 great years we were asked to relocate due to National Baptist closing for a full renovation and All Souls Church was, of course, my first choice to move into. I am so happy and excited to bring Little Flower Montessori to All Souls Church Unitarian. It feels like such a warm and special place full of amazing memories for me. I have come full circle back to the place where it all started for me and there is no place I would rather be. I look forward to sharing All Souls Church Unitarian with all of you!

Gaby Noguchi

I was born to be a teacher. My mother founded Little Flower Montessori at National Baptist Memorial church when I was just 3 years old. I was the first student in her classroom and never really left. I got to experience the amazing Montessori method of teaching with my mother by my side and always felt like learning was an adventure for me waiting to discover the next big thing. I absolutely love it. Even after I graduated from Little Flower and attended Annunciation Catholic School for grades1st-8th, I was always at Little Flower Montessori after school was ready and eager to help the students and teachers with anything I could. I saw many happy families come through Little Flower, many eager and excited little faces, and warm and patient teachers who made such a huge impact in the beginning of these little students’ lives. After graduating from Marymount University, where I also met my husband, I joined my mother as a teacher at Little Flower Montessori and eventually took over the role of directress. I am lucky enough now to have my two daughters ages 3 and 4 attend Little Flower Montessori and share this beautiful experience with me. I am so excited to move Little Flower Montessori to All Souls Church Unitarian. We look forward to many memorable years at this very special place.