About Me

My name is Sandra Montalvo, and I’m the founder of MLC Behavioral Services. My journey began in Brooklyn, New York, where I started a home daycare in my basement. Within just two weeks, I had 24 children enrolled, and that’s when I realized this was my calling.

 

What began as a passion for nurturing young minds quickly turned into a deeper love for the Montessori philosophy. After relocating to Atlanta in 2013, I attended Kennesaw State University and studied under Dr. Phelan Meadows, a true pioneer in Montessori education. His mentorship changed everything for me. I transitioned my daycare to a fully Montessori-inspired program and began serving children on the spectrum, integrating lessons about good touch/bad touch and sensory experiences like smell recognition.

 

I didn’t stop there, I brought in speech therapists, ABA specialists, sign language instructors, and even a French teacher. I wanted to introduce children to a world of creativity and learning beyond traditional walls.

 

Now located in Norfolk, Virginia, I’ve opened MLC Behavioral Services with a mission to meet children exactly where they are. We offer therapy services including ABA, speech, play, occupational, and physical therapy, all rooted in the Montessori approach that changed my life. My goal is to help every child engage, interact, and grow in a space built just for them.

 

This is more than a career, it’s my passion, my purpose, and my life’s work.