The selection of Natalia Montaño, founder of Aguamarina Schools, as the cover subject of Ejecutiva Magazine carries significance beyond a single honor: it spotlights a Miami-born educational project that has expanded into Mexico and Colombia and is now being held up as a model for integrating academic rigor with emotional well-being and leadership formation. The coverage, reported via NOTICIAS NEWSWIRE, coincides with Montaño's recognition on October 8 at the Top Entrepreneurs of USA Awards 2026, a ceremony organized by Negocios Magazine and Ejecutiva Magazine at the EB Hotel Miami. Together, the two events position Montaño as a prominent figure in the growing conversation about how schools should prepare students for a rapidly changing world.
The implications are notable for the education sector and for Miami's role as an exporter of innovative models. Under Montaño's leadership, Aguamarina Schools has developed the "Kind & Cool" philosophy, which combines academic learning with values, creativity, autonomy, and social responsibility. The approach reflects a broader shift in early education toward prioritizing emotional safety and critical thinking alongside traditional content mastery. With three campuses in Miami—in Brickell, South Miami, and Downtown Miami—plus locations in Mexico City and Bogotá, Aguamarina demonstrates that a pedagogy rooted in listening and purpose can scale across borders. Montaño's emphasis on safe, supportive environments is captured in her statement: "At Aguamarina, we believe that children should learn in environments where they feel safe, heard, and capable of leading with purpose. Education is not just content: it is experience, community, and vision."
The project also illustrates a family-driven business legacy. Montaño's husband, architect Roberto Salazar, co-founded Aguamarina Elementary, and her daughter, Luisa Salazar, serves as co-founder and director of the school. Luisa additionally founded the Planet Patrol Foundation, which promotes environmental education and children's leadership through conservation and community activities. This multigenerational involvement suggests a long-term commitment to the model's development and may serve as a case study for family enterprises in education.
Ejecutiva Magazine's decision to feature Montaño aligns with its editorial focus on women who transform industries and generate social impact. By elevating an educator who has built an international business from South Florida, the publication reinforces Miami's emerging identity as a hub for educational entrepreneurship. For parents, investors, and educators watching the sector, the cover story offers a window into how one school network is operationalizing values-based learning at scale. The full interview and article can be accessed through Natalia Montaño: the educator redefining teaching in Miami | Ejecutiva Magazine. As debates over curriculum and student well-being intensify across the Americas, Montaño's recognition suggests that models prioritizing both may gain further traction—and that Miami's private education landscape will continue to attract attention as a source of such innovations.
