Welcome to Multilingual Montessori!
At Multilingual Montessori, we support families, educators, and schools in raising and teaching children in more than one language with confidence and joy. Drawing on Montessori principles and current research on bilingualism and multilingualism, we help parents develop family language strategies, routines, and at-home learning plans, while also guiding schools in creating thriving dual language classrooms.
Whether through one-on-one consultations with parents, ongoing mentorship, or professional development for educators, our goal is always the same: to celebrate the richness of multilingualism, support children at every stage of language development, and empower adults with practical tools and strategies. With experience working with hundreds of families and classrooms around the world, we bring both expertise and empathy to this work.
We believe multilingualism is a gift, and that every child, family, and school community deserves the support they need to nurture it.
Meet the Team
Gabrielle Kotkov – Founder
Gabrielle Kotkov is an educator, consultant, and the founder of Multilingual Montessori. She is an AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) trained 3–6 Montessori guide and has worked in schools in New York, Texas, England, and Italy.
Gabrielle is on the teaching faculty at the West Side Montessori School Teacher Education Program in New York City, an AMS (American Montessori Society) accredited training program, where she conducts field consultations and teaches several Early Childhood courses, including the Language module. She is also part of the content development team at Trillium Montessori. Her work has been published in the AMS Montessori in Contemporary Culture Journal, and she is a recipient of the 2025 AMS Impact Award.
She holds a BA in Italian and Art History from Vassar College, an MS in Child Studies from Linköping University in Sweden, an AMI 3–6 Diploma from the Maria Montessori Institute in London, and a TESOL Certification from Columbia University Teachers College. Gabrielle speaks English, Italian, French, and a bit of Spanish!
With a background in both Montessori and English language teaching, Gabrielle has long been interested in the intersection of Montessori education and multilingualism. She believes that every child has the potential to thrive as a multilingual learner, and that supporting multiple languages nurtures both cognitive growth and cultural understanding. She founded Multilingual Montessori in 2020 to create resources and provide support for parents and educators navigating bilingualism and multilingualism in Montessori environments.
You can find out more about Gabrielle by reading this interview on the American Montessori Society’s blog.
Jenna Clark Embrey – Director of Outreach
Jenna Clark Embrey is an advocate for language immersion education and raising multilingual children, committed to broadening voices across cultures and generations. She is also Literary Manager and Resident Dramaturg at Lincoln Center Theater, collaborating with writers and directors on both new plays and musicals, classics, and translations. A former Acquisitions Editor at MIT Press, she has taught at Harvard University—where she received the Derek Bok Excellence in Teaching Award—and guest lectured widely. She holds an MFA in Dramaturgy from Harvard University and a BA in English and Theatre from Dickinson College.
Jenna can order coffee and ask for directions in German, Russian, Hebrew, and Latin, and is mom to a bilingual four year old who speaks English and German!