The Desert Willow Classroom

Wendy Clary - Lead 3-6 Teacher

Ms. Wendy was born in Brooklyn, New York. She later relocated here to New Mexico where she met her husband and started substituting for APS. She was eventually introduced to the Montessori Method and fell in love. Ms. Wendy received her National Center for Montessori Education (NCME) Primary Certification in Los Alamos, New Mexico. She is also a current member of the American Montessori Society (AMS), The Montessori Foundation, The New Mexico Montessori Network, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Ms. Wendy has two daughters, a dog, and is a grandmother of four. In her free time, she enjoys leisurely reading, interior decorating, and fashion design.

Thari Kaunaratne- 3-6 Co-Teacher

Ms. Thari is originally from Sri Lanka, she moved to Albuquerque nineteen years ago. Ms. Thari began studying in the Faculty (school) of Law at the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka. She then married and moved to the United States. Ms. Thari was a stay at home mom for 10 years. In 2010 she began working at Academy Montessori, received her 45 hr. certificate from UNM, and is currently enrolled in CNM to complete her Early Childhood Development Certificate. Ms. Thari loves working with the children in the Montessori environment where they are encouraged to be independent learners.

In her free time, Ms. Thari enjoys dancing, reading, and home decorating. She is married and has two daughters, ages 10 and 17.

The Juniper Classroom

Donna Pearce - Lead 3-6 Teacher

Ms. Donna is originally from the east coast, but most recently came to us from Academy Montessori. Ms. Donna has been a Montessori teacher for over 15 years. She received her training through The National Center for Montessori Education.

Ms. Donna enjoys working with children and helping them reach their full potential and achieve a life long love of learning. She has been married for 31 years, has three children, and three perfect grandchildren.

Sujani Kaviratne - Assistant 3-6 Teacher

Ms. Sujani is originally from Sri Lanka, she moved to the U.S. in 2002. Ms. Sujani began her working career as a pharmacy tehnician. She then became a stay at home mom until her children began middle school, at which time she began working at Academy Montessori as a substitute teacher. She worked at Academy Montessori for 4 years. She just recently received her 45 hour certificate from CNM. She enjoys working with children and looks forward to seeing their beautiful faces every day. Ms. Sujani and her family love to travel, they take at least one long road trip every year. She also loves animals. She has two dogs and a very large marine fish tank with corals and beautiful fish in it!

The Pinon Pine Room

Renee Sedillo - Lead 2-4 Teacher

Ms. Renee was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She received her 3-6 certificate from the World Wide Montessori online training program. She also has her certificate in Early Care, Education and family support. Ms. Renee has been working for over 18 years as an assistant and lead teacher in toddler and 3-6 environments and absolutely loves it. She and her husband have been married for twenty years and have two wonderful sons. Both of her children attended Montessori schools and are now excelling academically. In her spare time, you can find Ms. Renee volunteering at her church.

Tami Sexton - Assistant 2-4 Teacher

Ms. Tami was born in Lovington, New Mexico but has been living in Albuquerque ever since she can remember. Children have always had a very special place in her heart. She greatly enjoys taking care of them as well as the elderly. Ms. Tami is new to Montessori but hopes to use her kind, nurturing personality to lead the toddlers on their path to success. In her free time, Ms. Tami enjoys taking early morning walks and meeting new people.

Administration

Susan Lucas - Front Desk & Assistant Director

Ms. Susan was born and raised in Farmington, NM. Susan holds a B.S. degree from UNM in elementary education. Ms. Susan has been teaching for the last 17 years. She taught in a public elementary school in Shiprock, NM for five years. She moved to Colorado and taught in a traditional preschool for seven years. Ms. Susan moved to a Montessori school where she earned her Montessori credential from NAMC and was a lead 3-6 year old Montessori teacher for the last 5 years. Ms. Susan also holds a Colorado Early Childhood Level 4 credential, A New Mexico elementary teaching license, and a Colorado large center directors license. Ms. Susan is married and has two adult children. In her spare time she loves to travel, garden, shop for antiques, research her genealogy, and create family scrapbooks.

Wendy Clary - Director & School Board

Rebeca Riley - Campus Assistant

Aftercare Classroom

Ms. Thari -Aftercare Teacher

Samantha Klotz - 2-4 -Aftercare Teacher

Ms. Sam grew up in Hilsboro, Oregon and studied Cultural Antropology at the University of Oregon in Eugene. It was in college where she decided she would like to open a non-profit for underprivileged youth. This began her journey of working with children and homeless teens in schools and shelters. Although, she has learned much from these experiences, she would like to learn more about the Montessori method. She looks forward to absorbing all that she can, while sharing her interests with staff and children. Ms. Sam's interestes include song writing, singing, yoga, print making, and learning about cultures different than her own.

Aftercare Campus Assistant

Ms. Rebeca was born and raised in Santiago, Chile. After high school Ms. Rebeca studied and worked as a dental assistant in Panama City, Republic of Panama. She moved to New Mexico in 1998. Ms. Rebeca began her Montessori work at Montessori of the Rio Grande as an assistant teacher in the toddler program for 8 years. She has taken several early childhood continuing education classes.

Ms. Rebeca also comes to us from Academy Montessori, where she worked for the last 2 years.

In her free time, Ms. Rebeca enjoys gardening and landscaping, working out, bicycling, and camping in the Carson National Forest.

Afternoon Enrichment Instructors

Monday - Art & Music

Lead Teachers work with the children to discover music through singing, playing instruments, and gross motor movement that ties in with their various units of study.

Tuesday - P.E.

Ms. Rebeca guides children through organized sports and games that are appropriate to the children's developmental stages. Working on gross motor skills and development is an important part of Montessori education.

Wednesday - Dance

Ms. Thari leads the children through various dance and movement exercises.