About Us
Teaching Staff
| Foothills Montessori School - P1
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Maria Pate
Head Teacher
Maria is from Madrid, Spain, where she lived for 31 years. She holds a MA both in education and linguistics, with an emphasis in foreign language. She taught in Spain for 2 years and here in Las Vegas at Sunset Children’s World for 2 years. Maria has a daughter that attends FMS. She also lived in Turkey for 2 years on a military base. She was part of a dance company in Spain for 6 years, played professional basketball for 8, ran track for 5, and loves everything about music. |
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Lina Streit
Co-Teacher
This is Lina’s 4th year at Foothills Montessori School. She was born and raised in Costa Rica where she first became interested in education and began teaching. She moved to Illinois and taught Spanish at Zion Benton High School and at a preschool during the summer. She moved to Las Vegas 16 years ago and became a bilingual children’s instructor. She later worked for Merryhill School where she developed and taught Spanish curriculum. She is very excited to be working with the primary children and to see the positive effect that the Spanish Immersion Program is having on them.
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Diana Aguilar
Support Teacher
This is Diana’s 4th year of teaching at Foothills Montessori School in a Primary Spanish Immersion classroom. She loves working with children and was a nanny for 12 years before becoming a teacher. In her spare time, Diana enjoys reading, walking, dancing, spending time with her family, and being part of the Foothills staff.
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| Foothills Montessori School - P2
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Rosie Bushbaum
Head Teacher
Rosie has been teaching at Foothills Montessori School for 6 years. Before moving to Las Vegas, she taught in Alaska for 11 years. She has traveled extensively around Alaska and the eastern United States. She taught in Montessori schools in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She has a BA in education and earned her Primary Montessori Credential. Her hobbies are painting, traveling, reading, and designing and implementing new materials in her classroom. |
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Yesenia Quintero
Co-Teacher
Yesenia is from Los Angeles, California. She has a BA in liberal arts. She is also studying child development. She has been teaching for 8 years. She is trilingual: she speaks Spanish, Italian, and English fluently. She enjoys hiking, biking, dancing, singing, and going to the park with her daughter.
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Griselda Aguirre
Support Teacher
Griselda has been teaching 2-5 year olds here in Las Vegas for six years, and also taught in Mexico for an additional 5 years. She has a degree in child development and is pursuing an additional degree in English. She is a native, fluent Spanish speaker from Juarez, Texas, and is originally from Mexico. She loves to read and go to the park with her two young daughters. |
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| Foothills Montessori School - P3
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| Foothills Montessori School - P4
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Sandy Cannon
Head Teacher
Sandy is returning to us after a several year hiatus as an art gallery owner in Summerlin. She has taught for 10 years as an AMI certified teacher and has attended numerous AMS conferences. Her educational background also includes a BA in art. She is a fabulous artist and we are so excited to have her back! .
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Marie Stolz
Co- Teacher
This is Marie’s 5th year with Foothills Montessori School. She recently completed her Montessori training. She has spent 4 years as Extended Care Directress and has run several summer camps at FMS. Growing up the second oldest of eight children has helped her become a natural teacher. In addition to teaching, she enjoys country music, playing sports and the arts. |
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Pauline Well
Part-time Support Teacher
Pauline moved to Las Vegas five years ago from Chicago. She holds a BA degree in journalism and a minor in English. Her introduction to Montessori education was through her two nieces. Her desire to learn more about Montessori education led her to Foothills. She began as a substitute teacher and is now part of the P4 classroom. Pauline has a 2 year old daughter who she hopes to enroll at Foothills when she’s a little older.
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Mary Cohen
Part-time Support Teacher
Mary has a BA in early education and has worked as a learning disability evaluator. She is AMI certified and is AMS trained. She has been both an examiner and mentor for AMI. Mary is also an author of teacher’s manuals. She loves to iron and has two Montessori graduate children. Her passion is playing the role of grandmother to her grandchildren.
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Foothills Montessori School - E1
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Denise Crosby
Mathematics/Science Denise recently moved from Michigan, where she was the assistant principal of a Montessori charter school. We are privileged to have her on our staff! She holds a BA in education and a BA in reading therapy. She is AMS Montessori certified for 2½-12 year olds. She has been teaching since 1976, and has taught Montessori with all ages from toddlers to junior high students. She has also taught math and music and is a master reading therapist. Her hobbies are going to the movies, reading, music, and spending time with her 5 children and 2 granddaughters. She absolutely loves teaching, and is really looking forward to being a part of the FMS community. |
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Arlene Dreitzer
Language Arts
This is Arlene’s 5th year teaching at Foothills Montessori School. Before coming to Henderson, she taught gifted and talented students for 28 years in New York. She holds a BA in education and an MA that is heavily concentrated in reading mastery. In 1994, Arlene was selected as the Most Outstanding Teacher of the Year in School District 18, located in Brooklyn, N.Y. In addition, the New York State Assembly designated her for a special honor as the recipient of a 1999 Dynamic Woman Award. Her experience with upper elementary and middle school students has been and continues to be a constant source of joy. Her grandsons attend Foothills Montessori School and they are all happy to be a part of the Foothills family. |
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David Boshko
Science/Social Studies
Mr. Boshko has been teaching for an impressive 29 years. Previously he taught at Greenspun Junior High and then at Bob Miller Middle School, both located in Henderson. Mr. Boshko has received several awards for his effective and engaging teaching style, such as the Social Studies Council of Nevada Outstanding Teacher of the Year and City of Henderson Outstanding Educator Award. He was also inducted into the Clark County Hall of Fame for Excellence in Education. Mr. Boshko loves his students, history, teaching, telling stories, traveling, antiques, nature, and good food. He has many fun field trips and activities planned for the upcoming school year, so be prepared to learn a ton and have a blast! | |
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| Foothills Montessori School - E2
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April Dane
Head Teacher
This is April’s 6th year as an elementary teacher at Foothills Montessori School. She has an MA in elementary education and is Montessori certified. Before she came to FMS, she was a teacher for 12 years. She has two daughters, ages 19 and 23. She is passionate about traveling and has visited several countries, including Egypt, Africa, Turkey, Italy, and Switzerland. She loves being a teacher at FMS. |
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Melissa Martin
Co-Teacher
This is Melissa’s 8th year teaching at Foothills Montessori School. Before teaching in the Lower Elementary Program, she spent 2 years as a support teacher in the Primary Program. She has a BA in elementary education and a minor in music. She spent 7 years working in special education before moving to Las Vegas. She has 4 children and 4 grandchildren. |
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Amy Sandqvist
Support Teacher
Amy has taught for 21 years, and 8 in a Montessori classroom. She completed her primary training at London Montessori Centre, and her Lower Elementary training through the American Montessori Society. She has 2 sons who are students at FMS and is proud to have imported her husband, Par, from Sweden. They lived in Sweden together for 7 years and in Belgium for 3 before relocating to Las Vegas. She says she loves to teach because she loves to learn, and appreciates the opportunity to inspire children. | |
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| Foothills Montessori School - E3
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Nina Jacobi
Head Teacher
Nina joined our staff 6 years ago after moving here from San Francisco, although she is a native Las Vegan. She has a MA in education and a BA in elementary education and is also Montessori trained for ages 3-6, 6-9, and 9-12. She has 16 years of teaching experience, and it shows. Nina recently received her certification as a yoga instructor for children. Nina is well-loved by her co-workers and students. Her daughter has been a student at FMS since she began teaching here. |
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Stacey Knudsen
Co-Teacher
This will be Stacey’s 3rd year at FMS. She holds a BA in piano performance, and has taught piano for 12 years. She taught elementary school in Utah before moving here to Las Vegas. She was actually in a Spanish Immersion program from kindergarten through high school and is a fluent Spanish speaker. Her hobbies include volleyball, running, and music. She is very excited to work with the children in E3! |
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| Noemi Perez
Support Teacher
Noemi has recently achieved her United States Citizenship and comes to us with extensive education experience while living in Mexico. Her experience includes: resource teacher, teacher trainer and program supervisor, and principal of a pre-elementary school. Noemi moved to Las Vegas in 2001 and she is excited to work for her 2nd year in the E3 classroom. | |
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| Foothills Montessori School - E4
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Maija Alanen
Head Teacher
Maija has been at FMS for 9 whole years now and one of our founding teachers. After teaching primary-aged children for 11 years she took the leap to elementary, and she is loving every minute of it! This is her 6th year in the Lower Elementary Program. Prior to moving to the southwest, she taught for 6 years in Minnesota and for 3 years in Alaska. She definitely does not miss those northern winters! She believes FMS is an amazing school and feels lucky to be a part of its magic! |
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Brenda Montoya
Co-Teacher
Brenda fell in love with Foothills Montessori School while researching education options for her son. As a stay-at-home mom, she interacted with children through volunteer programs such as Boy Scouts and the PTA. Brenda has an extensive education background, which includes Montessori training and loves children, and therefore she jumped at the chance to start working at FMS. She has been teaching here for 6 years and couldn't be happier! |
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Vickie Winkel
Support Teacher
Since her husband is in the military, Vickie has lived all over the country. She moved to Las Vegas 5 years ago. She received her BA and MA from BYU. She taught school for 4 years in Phoenix. She has had a lifetime love of music and has participated in choirs and singing groups throughout her life. She has had voice training, plays the piano, and has raised 4 musical children. She is a talented quilter and often volunteers in the community. Vickie has been part of the E4 team for the past 2 years. | |
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| Foothills Montessori School - E5
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Danna Karlavage
Head Teacher
Danna went to a Montessori School as a child and her early vivid memories are of cutting carrots. Now a mother herself she wants this system of education for her child. As an educator Danna had the privilege of teaching 7 years in Brooklyn, a setting where collegiality and passion were the norm. In this setting she was to work directly with the famed educator Lucy McCormick Calkins, the founder of the Writers' Workshop and Literature Circle movement, and to have her classroom used as a model. After the experience of working in a district where she felt she was able to teach in ways that make sense for children, evidence respect for every individual, inspire and support learning, and where she could learn and grow and contribute as a professional; she found it difficult to return to systems that were not to this level. Foothills Montessori School is just the kind of setting she has been looking for here in the west. She brings with her 8 years of teaching experience in both general education classrooms and Asperger Syndrome classrooms and has a Master's Degree in education. Danna has one child and lives near the school with her husband who is a police officer. |
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Meghan Kramer
Co-Teacher
While pursuing her Masters in Curriculum and instruction, Meghan was re-introduced to the Montessori Method and realized that this method "closely ties with (her) own philosophy of teaching." She recently moved here with her husban who is attending medical school in Henderson. Upon arriving, Meghan began searching for a place where she could learn more about this method and hopefully get the opportunity to teach in a Montessori environment. |
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| Foothills Montessori School - E6
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Jennifer Harrington
Head Teacher
Jennifer has several degrees including a BA in psychology with a minor in Spanish studies and an MA in education with an emphasis on instructional technology. She spent a year studying in Barcelona, Spain and continues to speak Spanish with her two children who attend FMS. Jennifer is Montessori certified in Early Childhood and has completed Elementary I training at Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Boulder, Colorado. She earned her multiple subject credential and taught 1st grade. She has also worked as an instructional designer creating online training courses. She grew up in San Jose, California and moved here five years ago with her family. She loves to travel, spend time with her family, read, and work on home improvement projects.
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Kristin Crawford
Co-Teacher
This is Kristin’s first year at Foothills Montessori School. She has an MA in elementary education with both a reading and gifted and talented endorsement. Before moving to Henderson, she taught 5th and 6th grade for five years in Glendale, Arizona. She is excited to return to the classroom after taking a few years off to spend time with her children. | |
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| Foothills Montessori School - Art |
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Angela Drew
Angela graduated with a BA in fine arts from the Corcoran School of Art in Washington , D.C. This is her 5th year at Foothills Montessori School. Before coming to FMS she taught Art at the Brentwood Montessori Academy in Nashville, Tennessee. She has worked in Public Programming for both the Maryland Museum of African Art and Walters Art Gallery. In addition, she worked with a team to develop multi-cultural, environmental education, and awareness-building programs at the World Resources Institute. In recent years, she has worked as a freelance artist and private art instructor. She has 2 children, a son and a daughter, who attend FMS. She loves to paint and hike with them every chance she gets. | |
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| Foothills Montessori School - Sports / P.E. |
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Cynthia Parmentier
Ms. Cynthia graduated with a double major in Health and Physical Education. She is also licensed in the State of Nevada as a Physical Education specialist (K-12) and Health Education (6-12.) She has been the acting Athletic Director and P.E. specialist at St. Viator School for the last 16 years. Ms. Cynthia is looking forward to building an Athletic Program at Foothills and is excited about implementing exciting sports and activities throughout the year.
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| Foothills Montessori School - Music |
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Linda Davis
Linda is a very musically talented individual She holds a BA and an MA in music education. She is certified in Orff Schulwerk. She taught for 7 years in the Clark County School District, and taught private flute for 24 years. She has played in 3 community symphonies in Nevada, California, and Washington. She loves to take her ATVs offroading, play the flute, and to frolic with her menagerie of animals...dogs, cats, and a gecko! She is very excited to make music and put on performances with the students this year! | |
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| Foothills Montessori School - Outdoor Classroom |
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Amber Varricchio
This will be Amber's 22nd year of teaching. In the past she taught preschool and women's and children's health care classes. This is her 3rd year teaching at FMS. Her children have attended FMS for many years. In the mornings, she teaches the primary children in the Outdoor Classroom and gives botany and horticulture lessons to the elementary students. She has a BA in philosophy. Her true love and calling, however, is gardening. She invites everyone to visit her lovely on-campus garden to sample the seasonal produce and help her feed her chickens! | |
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