The role of the Montessori Guide is to observe each child and present individual lessons as the child is ready for them. Our Guides propose questions that promote learning, allowing students to be actively absorbed in activities they themselves have selected.
The Guide controls the environment, not the children. The child's effort and work is respected, and the Guide, through extensive observation and record keeping, plans individual projects and lessons to enable each child the opportunity to learn what she needs to in order to progress. Assessments are not based on grades, high-stakes tests, or homework but, rather, by ongoing observation, compilation of portfolios or work, and by supporting mastery of concepts.
Our learning environments support a bilingual, inclusive, and equitable approach to Education. Each classroom’s team includes at least one native Spanish speaking Assistant and an English speaking Lead Guide, however, many of our head faculty members are also fluent in Spanish.
“Scientific observation then has established that education is not what the teacher gives; education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences upon the environment.”
Faculty
Nido
Nadia Alvarez (bilingual)
Honeybee Nido Lead Guide
Luz Berly Chavez Lozano (bilingual)
Honeybee Nido Assistant Guide
Lucy Urueta (bilingual)
Honeybee Nido Assistant Guide
Toddler House
Kat Nieves (bilingual)
Hummingbird Toddler House Lead Guide
Dafne Hall (bilingual)
Hummingbird Toddler House Assistant Guide
Daisy Wilson (bilingual) Butterfly Toddler House Lead Guide
Rebeca Flores (bilingual)
Butterfly Toddler House Assistant Guide
Morgan Martin
Squirrel Toddler House Lead Guide
Andrea Centeno (bilingual)
Squirrel Toddler House Assistant Guide
Susan He (bilingual)
Toddler House Outdoor Environment Guide
Children’s House
Yadira Barnett (bilingual)
Jackrabbit Children’s House Lead Guide
Karen Soto (bilingual)
Jackrabbit Children’s House Assistant
Hany Paucarmayta Caceres (bilingual)
Bobcat Children’s House Lead Guide
Rocio Mendoza (bilingual)
Bobcat Children’s House Assistant
Rama Sidagam (bilingual)
Gray Fox Children’s House Lead Guide
Arianna Viloria (bilingual)
Gray Fox Children’s House Assistant
Joselyne Valdes (bilingual)
Cactus Wren Children’s House Lead Guide
Silvia Escobar (bilingual)
Cactus Wren Children’s House Assistant
Lower Elementary
Samantha Lantz
Coyote Lower Elementary Lead Guide
Maria Gonzalez (bilingual)
Coyote Lower Elementary Assistant
Rebeca Godfrey (bilingual)
Black Bear Lower Elementary Lead Guide
Carmen Hernandez(bilingual)
Black Bear Lower Elementary Assistant
Upper Elementary
Emily Wharton
Falcon Upper Elementary Lead Guide
Carla Hernandez (bilingual)
Falcon Upper Elementary Assistant
Lauren Mena
Roadrunner Upper Elementary Lead Guide
Juany Montero (bilingual)
Roadrunner Upper Elementary Assistant
Adolescent & High School Program
Jill Rovira
Head of School
Mariana Abelson (bilingual)
Farm Program Director
Ximena Camarena (bilingual)
Adolescent Guide & Program Coordinator
Ann Gay-Baradic
Language Arts Guide & Testing Coordinator
Wendy Lantis
STEM Guide
Prabha Andamuthu (bilingual)
Science Guide
Jennifer Snead
Mathematics Guide
Nan Marie Swapp
Humanities Guide & Farm Animal Coordinator
Cord Ivanyi
History Guide
Maiza Lombardo (bilingual)
Enrollment Coordinator & Economics Guide
Yami Salmon (bilingual)
Administrative Assistant & Spanish Guide
Rich Jacobs
Athletic Director
Support & Specialty Assistants
Kathya Bracamontes(bilingual)
Nido & Toddler House Support Assistant
Bri Olivarria
Nido & Toddler House Support Assistant
Jazmin Bautista (bilingual)
Children’s House Educational Support Assistant
Roxanne Gonzalez(bilingual)
Campus Educational Support Assistant
Catie Mathews
Elementary Educational Support Assistant
Dalia Quintero Ortiz (bilingual)
Elementary Educational Support Assistant
Tori Miller
Campus Educational Support Assistant
Brook Veltri
Literacy Specialist
Becca Sievert (bilingual)
Carpentry Specialist
Laura King
Campus Garden Specialist
Jason Fink
Art Specialist
Leadership and Administration
Jill Rovira
Head of School
Bonnie Shearer
Assistant Head of School, Elementary Program Director
Marcela Durlanich (bilingual)
Children’s House Program Director
Lindsey Nevarez (bilingual)
Finance Controller
Jamie Jacobs
Enrollment & Event Coordinator
Judith Bracamonte (bilingual)
Office Manager
Roseanna Madrid
Admin Assistant