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.
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