Dr. Heather Davis is the Director of La Jolla Montessori School. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Child Development from the University of Georgia in 2001 and spent the first 15 years of her career working in public teacher education. In 2014, she relocated to San Diego and was able to pursue her long-time interest in Dr. Maria Montessori’s work. She trained as an AMI Primary Guide at the Montessori Institute of San Diego (MISD) and has experience serving as a Head Guide, a floating teacher, and an Administrative Assistant at AMI-affiliated schools, including three years as an English-speaking guide at MISD’s bilingual program from 2016 to 2019. 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. 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

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. 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. Wendy Lewis earned her Montessori degrees in Infant and Toddlers (0 - 3 years) as well as in Primary education (2.5 - 6 years) from American Montessori Society (AMS) in 1997. With over 25 years of experience in Montessori education, she is passionate about creating nurturing environments where children can develop to their full potential and thrive—which has always been a priority in her professional life. Her career has encompassed a diverse range of roles as an educator including Assistant Teacher, Head Montessori Guide, and owner of her own Montessori school. Ms Wendy has also served as part of a multidisciplinary team supporting children with special needs. This breadth of experience has equipped her with a strong foundation in early childhood education and a proven track record of success. 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 completed her training to be a Primary-level assistant teacher in 2025 through the AMI Washington Montessori Institute. She aspires to pursue a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in the future. 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

Ms. Laura Juarez earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2018 and completed her AMI Primary certificate to be a Head Spanish Guide in 2024 through the Montessori Stoppani Training Center in Tijuana. She is originally from Tijuana and began her professional career working as a Head Guide at Jardín del Saber 'Albert Einstein'.Ms. Laura strongly believes that the Montessori method is the ideal way to unlock every child’s potential. 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. 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. 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. 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. Mariela Martinez is a passionate toddler teacher with a degree in Early Childhood Education from the Centro Superior de Pedagogia Mentor Mexicano. She is currently completing her AMI Montessori 0-3 years Infant/Toddler training from Montessori Stoppani. She has 9 years of experience working with young children, and she is dedicated to fostering curiosity and growth in the early years of education. 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. Ms. Natalie is originally from Palmdale, CA and moved to San Diego in 2024. She found La Jolla Montessori School while working as a Preschool substitute teacher and quickly felt drawn to the Montessori way. In addition to her early childhood coursework, Ms. Natalie has participated in several Montessori professional development workshops. She believes working with children is her gift and direction forward in life. Read more

Ms. Lili Garcia received her Associate’s Degree in Early Education from Southwestern College in 2006 and then her combined AMI Assistants to Infancy and Primary Diploma for children ages 0-6 years old from The Montessori Institute of San Diego (MISD). Ms. Lili worked as a Spanish Toddler guide at MISD’s Children’s House for 14 years. Throughout the school year, she supported teachers-in-training in learning to manage the toddler environment and in the summers, she assisted in the Assistants to Infancy teacher training, including supervised teaching practice. She was among the first teachers to launch La Jolla Montessori School in 2019 and was excited to launch the new Infant Nido Program (6 months - 2 years) in 2026. Read more

Ms. Riley Baumann earned a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from California State University Channel Islands in 2025. She completed over 500 hours of student teaching in both an infant classroom and a kindergarten classroom. Before moving to San Diego, she spent three years working at an elementary school with 2nd graders. She is thrilled to join the team at La Jolla Montessori School. She is new to the Montessori method but is excited to learn more about how to support the youngest members of our community. 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 Information 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. After her marriage and coming to the United States of America, she joined Wisconsin Montessori school as an Assistant Teacher to continue her passion for teaching children early development skills while being a mother of her first child. 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. 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

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. 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. Annabelle Anderson earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Art from George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, in 2021. She has spent many years working as a summer camp counselor for art and theater camps. She has worked as a photographer for school picture days and worked with many different elementary schools throughout San Diego County. Prior to joining the LJMS team, she worked as a full-time nanny. Recently, she became fascinated with the Montessori method and how to support child development. Ms. Annabelle is currently working on completing her Early Childhood coursework and Montessori training, where she can continue to strengthen her newfound joy in teaching. 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