Bio

Jennifer Payne can often be found reading or writing in a local coffee shop, where her passion for reflection and storytelling thrives. Her writing journey was rekindled after a major shift in her personal life, opening space for her to once again pick up the pen.

With more than 15 years of experience in Montessori education, Jennifer has dedicated her career to exploring and deepening the Montessori Method. Her classroom work and leadership have inspired her to study how Montessori principles extend beyond childhood and into adolescence and adulthood. Currently a doctoral candidate in education at Radford University, Jennifer is focusing her research on how Montessori principles can support teacher retention and extend into the fourth plane of development (ages 18–24)—a body of Montessori’s work that remains largely unfinished.

She believes in a holistic approach to education and the design of workspaces, emphasizing environments that nurture connection, independence, and purpose. Through her ongoing research, Jennifer hopes to further validate the Montessori Method and highlight its relevance not only in educational settings but also in the modern workplace.