Meet Our Staff

Heather Davis grew up on Long Island, New York and has lived in several regions of the country. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Child Development from the University of Georgia (2001) and spent the first 15 years of her career working in public teacher education. Read more

Kristin Edwards, M.Ed, is the Director & Founder of Lifetime Montessori School and Co-Founder of La Jolla Montessori School. Her mission is to provide a quality Montessori environment for children to help prepare them to become Joyful learners and problem solvers. Kristin Founded Lifetime Montessori school in 2007. She and her team built Lifetime Montessori school from scratch into a 180 student toddler-thru-elementary school powerhouse. In addition to her duties at Lifetime Montessori, Kristin serves as a pedagogical advisor for La Jolla Montessori School. Read more

Ms. Angela Leyva earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Family Development from San Diego State University in 2015, an American Montessori Society (AMS) Certification in 2013 and an Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Certification in 2018. She studied abroad in Avila, Spain for 6 months and has been teaching in Montessori environments for over 10 years. Upon her return from Spain, she attended The Montessori Institute of San Diego where she trained as an ‘assistant to infancy’ (0-3 years). Guiding young children has become a passion throughout her tenure as a guide. Read more

Ms. Holly Hobson earned her Associates Degree in Social and Behavioral Studies and Psychology at Grossmont College in 2015, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, Cum Laude, at San Diego State University in 2017, and just recently completed the Office Professional Training Program at Grossmont College with a 4.0 in January 2024. She has experience working with children since she was in high school where she earned college credit working in elementary school and preschool classrooms. During college, Ms. Holly worked as a program instructor for various after-school programs. After college, she worked at a preschool as a floater and was promoted to teacher. Ms. Holly’s goal has always been to help others and she looks forward to helping the families of La Jolla Montessori School. Read more

Ms. Carmen Gaxiola studied English at St. Louis University in St. Louis Missouri and earned a Degree in Education Administration from Anahuac University in Mexico City. She studied Montessori in 1999 at the Montessori Institute of San Diego (MISD) and has been an AMI Montessori Guide for over two decades. Read more

Ms. Isobel Jia moved to San Diego after she completed her bachelor's degree at Purdue University in 2015. She received her AMI Primary Certification at the Montessori Institute of San Diego in 2022. What Ms. Isobel loves the most about being a Montessori Guide is witnessing the growth and development of each child, fostering independence, critical thinking, and a love for learning. While she conducted her observation and practice teaching at LJMS, she was deeply impressed by the professionalism, dedication, and expertise of everyone here and she is excited to continue her journey of practicing the Montessori method. Read more

Ms. Alejandra Bonfil Penella earned a Degree in Psychology from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City and has stood out in her career for her passion and dedication to child development. With a Master's Degree in Work Psychology, Organizations, and Human Resources Management, she has promoted growth for both the teams and the overall organizations she has been part of by leading education for working teams and several areas of HR. She acquired a diploma as a Montessori Guide for children aged 3 to 6 from the Montessori Institute of San Diego (MISD) to strengthen her pedagogical approach and understanding of children's learning. Alejandra greatly enjoys creating a stimulating and enriching environment for the growth and development of her students, leaving a positive impact on the lives of the children and families she has worked with. Read more

Ms. Katia Ledon earned her American Montessori Society (AMS) Certification in 2012 from the Centro De Ensenanza Montessori and began her career working at Buona Terra Montessori School in Tijuana. Then in 2015, she completed her AMI Primary Certificate from the Montessori Institute of San Diego. For five years, she led a Spanish immersion classroom at Kinderhouse Montessori. Read more

Mrs. Cinthya Ramirez Rivera began her educational journey at a preparatory school before attending MISD in La Jolla, California, in 2002. After earning her certification as a Children's House Guide (3-6 years), she dedicated 14 years to Montessori Paolini, a leading Montessori school in Tijuana. During this time, she gained invaluable experience, while also pursuing a Psychology degree at Univer Universidad. Her studies highlighted the crucial need for parent education, a focus she has maintained throughout her career. With over 20 years of experience in Tijuana's educational landscape, Mrs. Ramirez has excelled as a lead guide in various schools. Read more

Ms. Cherie is an AMI Montessori Guide with international experience and earned a Master’s degree in Montessori education from Loyola University Maryland. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Statistics. Ms. Cherie’s journey with the Montessori method began after her college graduation when she was captivated by its child-centered approach and the philosophy of following the child’s interests. She found the concrete nature of the Montessori math curriculum particularly appealing and has witnessed the profound impact of these strategies firsthand. Read more

Ms. America Villa completed her training to be a Primary Spanish Assistant Teacher through the Montessori Stoppani Training Center in Tijuana in 2022 and the AMI Primary certificate to be a Head Spanish Guide in 2024. Ms. America is from Los Ángeles, California but grew up in Tijuana. Five years ago, she started working in a traditional elementary school, but when she had the opportunity to work at La Jolla Montessori School, she didn't think twice about taking the job! Read more

Ms. Mara Smith earned an Associate's Degree in Child Development, a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Crafton Hills College in 2006 and a CA public school Teaching Credential from the University of Redlands in 2008. Mara’s passion for early childhood started when she took her first course in child development and decided that was where she wanted to focus her future. Read More

Ms. Lucia Escobar earned a Master’s Degree in Culinary Arts in 2010 and spent several years working as a sous Chef in Mexico. After working as a teacher at a bilingual school in Mexico for two years, she discovered her love and passion for children. Upon moving to San Diego, she continued working with children as a babysitter and nanny. She’s excited to join the La Jolla Montessori School and bring her enthusiasm and expertise to the community. Read more

Ms. Asa earned her AMI Montessori Diploma from the Montessori Institute of San Diego in 2018, followed by completing her Master’s Degree in Montessori Education from Loyola University, Maryland in 2019. She has worked in AMI Montessori schools since 2016. Read more

Ms. Lili Garcia earned her Associate's Degree in Early Education from Southwestern College in 2006 and then her AMI Assistants to Infancy and Primary Diploma for children ages 0-6 years old from The Montessori Institute of San Diego (MISD). Read more

Ms. Natalie Kelly earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Art from California State University Channel Islands in 2015. She spent many years working as a Summer Camp Counselor, babysitter, Library Assistant, Museum Engagement and Education Lead, and as a Nanny. She found La Jolla Montessori School while working as a Preschool Substitute Aide and quickly felt drawn to the Montessori way. She believes working with children is her gift and direction forward in life. Read more

Diana De Leon earned a Bachelor's in Psychology from the Autonomous University of Baja California in Tijuana, MX in 2016, obtained her primary AMI assistant course from MISD in 2013, earned her AMI Assistant to Infancy (0-3) diploma from Montessori Stoppani in 2022 and recently completed her Masters in Special Education from CETYS University in Tijuana in 2024. She started an infant community in Tijuana where she worked for 3 years and has experience working with autistic children using ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy. I believe in sharing the Montessori philosophy as a way of living, changing the way adults see children and how we educate future generations. Read more

Ms. Kristine Withem earned an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and spent five years serving as an Assistant Teacher at the Montessori Community School of Salt Lake City. She holds certificates in the Foundations of Montessori and Montessori Approaches to Special Education. Ms. Kristine worked as a co-teacher at the Appalachian State University Childcare Development Center from 2022 to 2023. Read more

Ms. Yvette Medina earned her American Montessori Society (AMS) Toddler Diploma in 2013 from the Centro de Ensenanza Montessori and is currently working on her Master's Degree in Special Education at the Universidad Humanitas. She has been guiding young children for the past 10 years - first as an assistant and then as a Head Guide. Read more

Ms. Madeleine Gau holds a Bachelor of Arts in both Public Relations and Spanish language in 2020 and is passionate about bilingual education. After working in traditional early-childhood education programs, she became interested in Dr. Montessori's methods for early childhood education. Ms. Madeleine is passionate about child development and about learning more about Dr. Montessori's methods for early childhood education. Read more

Ms. Karina Velazquez earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education in 2007 from Centro Superior de Pedagogia Mentor Mexicano in Tijuana, Mexico. During her last year of college, she began working as a preschool teacher in a traditional school. In 2010, she had the opportunity to get to know the Montessori philosophy in depth and began working as a Primary school assistant at Kinderhouse Montessori School. Attending a Montessori-prepared environment was when she fell in love with this unique way of learning. At that time, Ms. Karina decided to take the training to become a certified Montessori Guide at the FAMM training center in Buenos Aires, Argentina and earned an Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Diploma to become an AMI Guide at the Fundacion Argentina Maria Montessori (FAMM) in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2011 and began working as a Montessori Guide. Read more

Ms. Melissa Vazquez earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Arts and Sciences from San Diego State University in 2017. After completing her Degree, she continued her preparation in the field of Child Development while working in elementary school computer science programs as a coding teacher at ThoughtStem LLC. In early 2020, Ms. Melissa pursued an infant/toddler teacher position at KinderCare Learning Centers where she developed her instructive practices. Read more

Ms. Flor Roshnaye has over three decades of experience in childcare. She helped build childcare programs at the Mission Valley YMCA to work in the food service department for the San Diego Unified School District. She enjoys seeing the growth of all the children she has taken care of over the years. Seeing them go from children to high school and college graduates makes her very happy. Read more

Ms. Olivia Ventimiglia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UC Santa Cruz in 2021. She most enjoyed her Child Development and Child Psychology courses and has been enthusiastic to apply what she learned in her courses to her role at La Jolla Montessori School. Read more

Ms. Kalpana Masaram earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Sciences from MIST Engineering College and a Master of Science Degree in Informational Technology from ASTRA University in India. After graduation, she worked as an Assistant Professor teaching Sophomores and Juniors IT-related coursework at an Indian University. She enjoyed the academic teaching environment and inspired her students engaging them in group discussions. Read more

Ms. Luz De Leon earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Language Teaching in English, Spanish, and French in 2018 at el Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexico. She also earned an AMI Montessori Orientation Certificate for children 3 - 6 years of age in 2020 at el Fundación Argentina Maria Montessori in Argentina, Buenos Aires. Ms. Luz has experience working with children since 2009 and hopes to make a better world by teaching the young ones using the Montessori method. Read more

Ms. Ally Tirendi earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from UC San Diego in 2023. She most enjoyed her course in Introduction to Early Childhood Education and hopes to continue to teach science one day. Ms. Ally is from New Jersey and came to San Diego three years ago. She grew up teaching children to dance, working at the YMCA, and has experience babysitting. Read more

Ms. Lindsay Crowe earned her Associates degree in General Education at San Diego Mesa College and her Bachelor's of Science Degree in Child and Adolescent Development at California State University, Fullerton in June of 2020. She has worked with children since she was 18, but has worked in early child development jobs since 2020 from being a toddler teacher to a behavioral therapist for children of all ages. She hopes to get her certification in early childhood special education and graduate with a Master's degree in pediatric occupational therapy in the next five years. Read more

Ms. Rachel Pigula earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Fairfield University in 2019. Since then, she has worked as a private nanny, as well as taught and explored the world of yoga and Ayurveda. Ms. Rachel aims to marry these ancient practices with early childhood education in order to infuse mindfulness into the classroom. Read more

Ms. Sage Gamble earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Arizona in 2022, where her favorite area of study was Child Developmental Psychology. She aspires to pursue a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in the future. Read more

Ms. Courtney Miller attended both Humboldt State University in Northern California and the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Integrative Animal Biology. She worked in the science field after graduation from working with big cats at a zoo to working in quality control in the beer industry. Ms. Courtney has also held many child-related jobs over the years. During her childhood, her mother ran a daycare business in their home. Being around children throughout her childhood and adolescence ignited her love and passion for working with younger children. She worked as a gymnastics instructor, swimming instructor, gym teacher at My Gym Children’s Fitness Center and as a nanny for several families in Virginia Beach. Ms. Courtney believes she has found her calling in the Montessori method and is currently finishing up her Childhood Education courses so that she may train to be certified as a Montessori Guide. Read more