Staff

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. 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