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.
— Dr. Maria Montessori

Faculty

Nido
Susan He (bilingual)
Honeybee Lead Guide

Maria Gonzalez (bilingual)
Honeybee Nido Assistant

Roseanna Madrid (bilingual)
Honeybee Nido Assistant

Toddler House

Kat Nieves (bilingual)
Hummingbird Toddler House Lead Guide

Claudia Flores (bilingual)
Hummingbird Toddler House Assistant

Rebeca Flores (bilingual)
Butterfly Toddler House Lead Guide

Daisy Wilson (bilingual) Butterfly Toddler House Assistant

Nadia Alvarez (bilingual)
Squirrel Toddler House Lead Guide

Bri Olivarria (bilingual)
Squirrel Toddler House Assistant

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

Joselyne Valdes (bilingual)
Bobcat Children’s House Assistant

Rama Sidagam (bilingual)
Gray Fox Children’s House Lead Guide

Rocio Mendoza (bilingual)
Gray Fox Children’s House Assistant

Laura Emrick
Cactus Wren Children’s House Lead Guide

Tania Geranen (bilingual)
Cactus Wren Children’s House Assistant

Lower Elementary
Mary Williams
Lower Elementary Support Guide

Shelby Althoff-McNeal
Coyote Lower Elementary Lead Guide

Evelyn Ramirez (bilingual)
Coyote Lower Elementary Assistant

Rebeca Godfrey (bilingual)
Black Bear Lower Elementary Lead Guide

Carmen Hernandez(bilingual)
Black Bear Lower Elementary Assistant

Upper Elementary
Ximena Camarena (bilingual)
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

Ann Gay-Baradic
Humanities & Language Arts Guide

Ron Gilley
Science Guide

Jennifer Snead
Mathematics & Microeconomy Guide

Nan Marie Swapp
Language Arts Guide & Farm Animal Coordinator

Maiza Lombardo (bilingual)
Enrollment Coordinator & Economics Guide

Yami Espinoza (bilingual)
Administrative Assistant & Spanish Guide

Support & Specialty Assistants

Dafne Hall (bilingual)
Nido & Toddler House Support Guide

Kathya Bracamontes(bilingual)
Nido & Toddler House Support Guide

Judith Bracamonte(bilingual)
Nido & Toddler House Support Guide

Jazmin Bautista (bilingual)
Children’s House Educational Support Assistant

Dalia Quintero Ortiz (bilingual)
Elementary Educational Support Assistant

Natasha Bachrach (bilingual)
Elementary Art Teacher

Brook Veltri
Literacy Specialist

Becca Sievert (bilingual)
Carpentry Specialist

Laura King
Campus Garden 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

Barbara Miller
Finance Director

Erika Weaver
Enrollment Coordinator, Nido & Toddler Program Director

Andrea Stabler
Office Manager

Tori Miller
Aftercare Administrator