Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Ashley.
Hi Jessica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Jessica Ashley, and I serve as Head of School at Guidepost Montessori at Hurst, where I lead our campus alongside our Assistant Head of School, Samantha (“Sammi”) Peek. I joined Guidepost in October 2022 and helped open our Hurst campus the following month.
I’ve spent 22 years in Early Childhood Education—it’s truly my life’s work. I always knew I’d be an educator. Over the years, I’ve worked in public school programs, nonprofit partnerships, private preschools, daycare environments, and Special Education. For the past eight years, my focus has been on Montessori education.
After moving back to the DFW area where I grew up, I shifted away from the traditional model and immersed myself in Montessori philosophy. I intentionally returned to the classroom as a Toddler Guide for 3.5 years to understand Montessori from the ground up. That’s also where I met Sammi, who was then the Assistant Director.
Following that, I transitioned into an administrative leadership role at a sister school for about 18 months, until I was offered the opportunity to be part of Guidepost’s brand-new Hurst campus from pre-open, something I had never experienced before and found incredibly exciting. The more I learned about Guidepost’s mission and approach, the more passionate I became. Building this community from day one has been one of the greatest joys of my career
In the summer of 2023, Sammi joined our campus as Assistant Head of School, and we’ve worked side by side ever since to create a warm, collaborative school community we’re both proud of.
Sammi began her Early Childhood career in 2009 in a traditional preschool and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Family Life from Stephen F. Austin State University. After transitioning into Montessori in 2015, she quickly found her calling, eventually serving six years as Assistant Director and twice as Acting Director. While Montessori wasn’t originally part of her career plan, she now feels deeply rooted in the method. She’s also a mother of four and loves sharing her Montessori passion with her two younger daughters, who attend our school.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like any growing organization, we have experienced challenges along the way. One of our biggest priorities has been building a stable, dedicated team of long-term Guides who are passionate about Montessori pedagogy and committed to deepening their expertise through the Prepared Montessorian Institute (PMI). Recruiting, supporting, and investing in these educators has taken time and intentionality, but it’s paid off.
Earlier this year, Guidepost made the decision to close campuses across the country that were under-performing. While this was a difficult process company-wide, it allowed Guidepost to better concentrate resources and support on campuses demonstrating strong performance and potential. The organization also transitioned from Higher Ground Education to Guidepost Global Education in July, under the leadership of our new U.S. CEO, Maris Mendes, and global CEO, Steve Xu. They’ve helped steer the organization into its next chapter with clarity and optimism.
During the period of closures and restructuring, our campus did experience some enrollment loss, largely due to parental concern and uncertainty. However, over the past several months, many of those same families returned after experiencing other childcare centers and realizing that the culture, environment, and quality of education at our campus were unmatched. Our community remained resilient, and we are now steadily rebuilding toward our strongest enrollment numbers.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Guidepost Montessori at Hurst?
Guidepost Montessori at Hurst provides authentic Montessori education to children ages 6 weeks through 6 years. While the term “Montessori-based” is common in childcare, we strive to go much deeper by offering a truly rigorous, fully aligned Montessori experience.
All of our Lead Guides are either already certified or currently obtaining their MACTE-accredited Montessori credential, which we fully sponsor through PMI. Beyond training, we provide ongoing professional support: classroom observations, curriculum alignment, mentorship from our Programs lead, and close collaboration with our regional leadership.
What truly sets our campus apart is our strong culture and community. We believe that when families feel connected, supported, and respected, children thrive. Sammi and I love interacting with families daily, celebrating milestones, and creating an environment that feels like an extended home.
We hold regular Milestone Meetings to support individual child development, and we host parent education events such as:
• toilet training workshops
• Montessori kindergarten information sessions
• “Silent Journey” immersive experiences where families can explore classroom materials from a child’s perspective
We also offer financial aid through a third-party partner to help make Montessori more accessible to families who want this kind of education but may face cost barriers.
Above all, I am most proud of the relationships built here, the trust, warmth, and sense of belonging that radiates through our campus every day.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I think many people might be surprised to learn that I am actually very introverted and never imagined myself in a Head of School position. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher—aside from a brief childhood dream of being a veterinarian, but I never pictured myself in administration. In fact, the idea of regularly speaking to parents used to terrify me!
As I spent more time in the classroom and eventually began supporting schools in different ways, I realized that when I’m talking about something I truly care about, like early childhood education, I’m not afraid of those conversations at all. Over time, I found that my passion for helping teachers and supporting children made the administrative side feel very natural. Even now, outside of work I’m still introverted, but the moment the topic turns to Montessori or early education, I light up and come out of my shell.
What a lot of people do notice right away, though, is that our Assistant Head of School, Sammi, is my complete opposite. She’s a true extrovert—warm, outgoing, and able to make friends with anyone wherever she goes (and she genuinely does!). Where I’m more reflective and behind-the-scenes, Sammi brings a big, creative energy and is constantly generating new ideas and opportunities. She is very much the “idea person,” and I’m the one who loves taking those ideas and figuring out how to turn them into real, organized plans. We balance each other beautifully, and that partnership allows us to support our community in a way neither of us could do alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://guidepostmontessori.com/schools/hurst-tx/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guidepostmontessori_hurst/#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guideposthurst
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/guidepost-montessori-at-hurst-hurst?override_cta=Get+pricing
- Other: https://preparedmontessorian.com/
