Donda Hartsfield was born in Amarillo where she grew up learning to love the high plains of Texas. She studied the arts at USU and practiced massage therapy for 6 years. When Donda’s son started going to the Montessori Community School when he was three and a half, she was immediately taken with the Montessori method and over time decided to go through the Utah Montessori Teacher Education Program (UMTEP) to get her certification in Early Childhood Montessori method. Donda started out teaching yoga and creative movement in Montessori. In 2005, Donda began teaching at the Montessori Community School as she also started the Great Outdoors Expedition program for elementary. In 2009, Donda initiated the Outdoor Classroom for Early Childhood where she delights in seeing children thriving in their natural environment. Donda has completed both the Project Wild as well as the Project Learning Tree courses for teachers, which continue to inspire her natural studies. One of Donda’s favorite things is eating yummy food while she dances to music that she loves. Little known fact: Donda starred in Neil Simon’s comedy play Star Spangled Girl in her early twenties.
