Toddler, 18 months-3 years
Miri Vilar
Toddler Lead Teacher, Honeysuckle Class
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- Miri is a native of Puerto Rico. She received her certification in Montessori Infant-Toddler in 2007 and has been working with this age ever since. She did her internship in toddlers with Jarrow many years ago, and is thrilled to return to be a lead teacher in our toddler community.
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Angie Benjamin
Toddler Associate Teacher, Honeysuckle Class
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- Originally from Chicago, Angie was born and raised in the Midwest and went straight into early childhood foundations. She worked as a lead preschool teacher when she first moved to Colorado in 2005. Angie spent time traveling only to return to Colorado to be a part of the families she knows so well through Jarrow. Eventually her journey landed her a position here in the community she adores and brings her own family into. Angie started as an assistant here in January 2016. "Each week I am reminded of the core values I share with Jarrow. This is why I love being a part of our family."
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Jaime Gilbert
Toddler Lead Teacher, Mulberry Class
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- Jaime earned her Infant and Toddler training from Montessori Educational Center of the Colorado Rockies in 2014. Prior to that, she studied psychology, history and different types of life sciences at MSCD and FRCC. Jaime has worked with young children throughout her life. She has always felt an inner passion and innate fondness for working with and teaching children, which led her to this career path. Jarrow was fortunate to have Jaime as a regular substitute in the beginning of the school year, until a position opened in Rm. 4’s Jr. Elementary classroom, where she has been working as a Jr. Elementary Assistant Teacher. She previously worked at Boulder Community Hospital as a dietary specialist where she discovered a passion for tasty, healthy food, which she loves finding new and exciting ways to incorporate into her daily interactions with students. When she’s not in the classroom, she loves reading and writing, taking her dog, Kaya, out for long walks and spending time with her family and friends.
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Jen Risch
Assistant Toddler Teacher, Mulberry Class
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- Jen is a 3rd generation native of the Humboldt Redwoods in Northern California. Before matriculating to UC Berkeley in 2002, she built trails in the back country as a crew leader for the California Conservation Corps; surveyed kangaroo populations for the Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers; was an Apprentice for the S.F. Carpenter's Union; receptionist for the California Appellate Project, defending death row inmates; handled quality control of Breda Transportation's commuter trains assembly for S.F.'s BART system; and was an active, long time Board Member for heavy equipment manufacturer, Amulet Manufacturing. Jen has been working toward her B.S. in Conservation and Resource Studies and plans to start her American Montessori Society Toddler credential training this upcoming summer. She has lived in Boulder since 2011 and has worked at Jarrow since 2013. She's raising two Montessori children, both currently in Jarrow's Lower Elementary.
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Primary, 3-6 Year Olds
Karin Cassidy
Primary Lead Teacher, Sequoia Class
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- Karin graduated from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies with her Primary, 3-6 certification in 1998. She holds a BA degree in Behavioral Science/Elementary Education from Metropolitan State College of Denver and has been teaching Montessori for 20 years. Karin has had extensive literacy training, including Orton Gillingham and has her certification teaching Children's Yoga. Karin dreamed of working at Jarrow since her first workshop on campus in 1998. She loves the spirit that is felt the moment one walks through the gate. "The attention and love that is given to the children and families here is apparent and enormous."
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Norma Grossman
Primary Assistant Teacher, Sequoia Class
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- Norma has a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Education from Universidad Del Noreste in Mexico. She has worked in Education for 25 years, teaching preschool age children. Before moving to Boulder in 2015, Norma worked for 15 years as a Teacher's Assistant at Santa Cruz Montessori School in California. "Having the opportunity to work in a Montessori School has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life; a dream job. I am looking forward to being part of Jarrow's highly regarded and accredited program."
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Shelley Reynolds
Primary Lead Teacher, Maple Class
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- Shelley graduated from Western Carolina University with degrees in Therapeutic Recreation with an Outdoor Education focus, and Secondary Education in English. She completed her Montessori training with the Southwestern Montessori Training Center from Denton, Texas. She has been an educator for more than 25 years, twenty of those in Montessori schools, including Mount Sopris Montessori in Carbondale, Colorado and Greensboro Montessori School in Greensboro, North Carolina. Shelley brings a deep interest in supporting parents in bringing Montessori practices into the home as children mature, and she avidly follows the recent research being done with learning and brain development. She is very happy with how welcoming and supportive all the Jarrow family has been, and looks forward to a great partnership.
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Jean Offutt
Primary Lead Teacher, Blue Spruce Class
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- Jean received her B.A. in English Literature from Denison University in Ohio and her AMS Certification from Houston Montessori Center in Texas. With more than 30 years of experience as a Montessori lead, she’s taught in Texas, Maryland, and Colorado, in schools ranging from a one-room, parent-run school to a large school with 4 locations serving almost 400 students. She first came to Jarrow in 1996 and taught here for the next decade. Jean has been on the staff of two different Montessori Teacher Training Centers, as the Language Curriculum Instructor. Over the last 15 years, she has often served as a Field Consultant for Montessori Interns for MECR, the training center in Boulder. In 2015, Jean became ECE Director Qualified and returned to Jarrow. “From within moments of visiting a Montessori classroom for the very first time, I knew I’d found my life’s work. It just felt right. So it is with great pleasure that I am here at Jarrow. I am thrilled to be, once again, a part of this vibrant community.”
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Lower Elementary, 6-9 Year Olds
Colleen Wojnar
Lower Elementary Lead Teacher, Beech Class
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- Colleen has a BA in International Business. While raising her four children, she began her career in education. She was a reading teacher for a Lower Elementary classroom of a Montessori School in Florida for nine years. She moved to Colorado in 2014 and this is her second year at Jarrow. "I feel blessed that I have been guided to a career in Montessori education, which has led me to Jarrow. I appreciate the opportunity to work with such a dedicated, talented staff, and thank the families for sharing their children with us. In such a short period of time, Jarrow has become my second home."
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Nina Lindeke
Lower El Assistant Teacher and Literacy Specialist, Beech Classroom
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- Nina is a Colorado native who grew up here in Boulder. She holds Montessori Primary and Lower Elementary credentials, and has a B.A. in Integrative Learning and a Masters in Montessori Integrative Learning. Nina has over 8 years experience running summer camps both in Florida and Colorado and possesses over 15 years teaching experience. She currently sits on the board of directors for the Colorado Montessori Association. She is a lover of science and nature and holds a sense of wonder towards the world around her. "I love sharing peace and love with the Jarrow community, and that the children are honored and celebrated as individuals."
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Elise Keleher
Lower El Lead Teacher, Juniper Class
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- Elise is AMI 6-12 trained from Washington Montessori Institute in Columbia, Maryland. She has a Masters Degree in Education from Loyola College in Maryland, and is Public School Certified in Elementary Education, through University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. She has two years of Special Ed work with Poudre School District in Fort Collins and has been teaching a Jarrow since 2007. “I love Jarrow because it honors teacher’s individuality and uniqueness as educators and strives to be true to Maria Montessori’s vision!”
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Vania Wong
Lower Elementary Assistant, Juniper Class
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- Vania received her B.A in Arts Education from the University of Concepcion in Chile, and her M.A. in Cultural Management from the University of Catholic Santiago in Chile. She has pursued her love of art for many years as an art teacher in Brazil and Boulder. Most recently she completed her Montessori Elementary Certification at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies.
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Upper Elementary, 9-12 Year Olds
Danielle Bahl
Upper El Lead Teacher, Cypress Class
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- Danielle has her BS in Human Development and Family Studies, with an Emphasis in Early Childhood Education and is AMS Certified and trained to teach EI & EII. She has been at Jarrow since 2003. “I love Jarrow for its community, children, campus, freedoms, and for its dedicated teachers. I appreciate and value the space to put into practice genuine Montessori view and methods.”
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Matt Diss
Upper El Assistant Teacher and Literacy Specialist, Cypress Class
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- Matt is a professional educator focused on progressive learning strategies. In 2011, he graduated from the University of North Florida (NCATE) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Secondary Education and began teaching AP courses at Douglas Anderson School of Arts in Jacksonville, FL. Matt has taught in a wide variety of schools and settings including not-for-profits, magnet, public and private schools. After moving to Boulder in 2014, he received training in Orton Gillingham, Lindamood-Bell, Great Leaps, COGMED, SAT/ACT prep and MC2. Matt has worked with students from Jarrow Montessori, Watershed, Shining Mountain and the majority of public schools in Boulder County. "I am pleased to continue my work at Jarrow Montessori. I am greatly interested in the Montessori principles, and I look forward to sharing knowledge with the Jarrow community."
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Administration
Marlena Carlson
Business Director
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- Marlena has a MBA in Finance and over 20 years of experience in corporate financial management. She has been Jarrow’s Business Manager since 2011. “I really enjoy the kids, the professionalism and the commitment of the teachers. And I love working with a professional and fun Administrative team!”
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Gavin Green
Director of Admissions
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- Gavin has a BA in Art from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a Masters in Art Therapy from the University of Illinois, Chicago. She is a Montessori graduate and former Montessori assistant teacher. She has been at Jarrow since 2010. She is getting her Montessori Administrator Credentials at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. “Jarrow feels like coming home. Being a Montessori child myself gives me a great passion for the philosophy, and great appreciation for the teachers. I love getting to share this passion with families at Jarrow and help them find their connection to the school.”
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Maeve Fields
ECE Director
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- Maeve Fields has a BA in Contemplative Education from Naropa University and a Primary Montessori Teaching credential from M.E.C.R. She has worked at Jarrow on and off since 2010. “I have worked at and observed in many Montessori schools over the years and the first time I came to observe at Jarrow I was instantly impressed. Now I work here and my daughter is a student. I am so happy to be a part of this wonderful school and community.”
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Courtney Laurell
Director of Opperations
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- Courtney has a B.A. in Human Development with an Emphasis in Ecopsychology from Prescott College, and a California K-8 Teaching Credential. Courtney most recently taught 4th grade at Mountain Phoenix Community School in Wheat Ridge, but her strongest background in education has been adventure and Environmental Education. Courtney taught Environmental Education at several residential outdoor schools in California. She also created programs, guided tours, and managed staff while working closely with the National Park Service as a naturalist in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks for the Sequoia Natural History Association. She loves facilitating experiences in which children and adults push their limits and discover deeper aspects of the self through outdoor adventure and develop a connection with nature. Courtney has worked for organizations such as Voyageur Outward Bound School, Avid4Adventure, and many others. When she's not multitasking at Jarrow, you can find her climbing, backpacking, running, gardening, woodworking, hosting fun events, or attempting to om. Courtney is basically just a kid who has vowed to never let her spirit die, so working at Jarrow with all of the fabulous kiddos, staff, and parents who make up its community is extremely fulfilling.
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Barry Dugan
Facilities Manager
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- Barry has a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Colorado State University Pueblo, and worked mainly as a mechanical project engineer in the beverage can industry. He enjoys the Jarrow faculty and administration, and has a deep respect for their dedication. Barry's fond of the open, verdant campus at Jarrow that he cares for so well, and has acquired an appreciation for Montessori education. "I also like the opportunity to practice my appalling but hopefully improving foreign languages with some of the parents and staff (Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese (Mandarin), Italian, Korean, Indonesian anybody?)".
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Enrichment and Specialists
Chad Blohm
Physical Education and Movement Teacher
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- Chad has a Bachelors Degree in Communication from Ramapo College of New Jersey, and was Montessori trained at Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. Chad has been at Jarrow since 1996. “Jarrow is the school I always wished I went to as a child! Now as an adult I have the best of both worlds, teaching and learning with all of the great students at Jarrow!”
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Tania Henderson
Art Teacher
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- Tania has a BFA in Illustration from Rhode Island School of Design and is a trained Brain Stimulation Therapist working with Boulder County’s Dementia population. She has been at Jarrow since 2010. “I love Jarrow especially for the moments in my classroom when there is that audible ‘hum’…when the students are so engrossed you can hear them discovering something new!”
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Amy Ransom
Environmental Education Instructor
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- Amy’s calling to Montessori and nature-based education began at the University of California, Santa Cruz where she graduated in 1999 with a self-designed major: Holistic Education with a focus on Creative Expression, Spirituality and Ecological Thinking. Since then, she has become certified in Lower and Upper Elementary Montessori education, has lived and taught Montessori and Yoga internationally, and has continued her involvement with various Ecology Centers around the world. Amy’s teaching style incorporates outdoor, hands-on activities that awaken a sense of connection and stewardship between children and the natural world. She is continuously inspired by her work as Jarrow Montessori’s environmental educator.
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