Faculty

Ms. Jolie, Toddler South Montessori Guide, has been with Escuela del Sol since…basically forever! Her mother taught here and she is an Escuela alumna. Ms. Jolie earned an Associate’s degree in Science, holds a Pharmacy Tech degree, and gained American Montessori Society (AMS) Infant/Toddler certification from the Montessori Teacher Education Center San Francisco Bay Area. She loves the freedom the children and teachers have to grow and foster learning.

Ms. Leslie has been working with children since 2016. She received her Child Development Certificate from Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) in 2020. Ms. Leslie is looking forward to working in a Montessori environment and sharing her bilingual abilities with the Toddler Community. Ms. Leslie loves animals and nature. When she isn’t spending time in the classroom, she enjoys being creative with drawing and painting.

Ms. Shaina is an Escuela del Sol alumna and the parent of an alumna who attended Escuela from Early Childhood – Toddler through 5th grade. Ms. Shaina earned her Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) certification in 2014 at the Montessori Institute of Denver. She worked at Escuela as an Assistant Guide in Primary for four years, then moved to Portland, Ore., where she was a Toddler Assistant Guide before coming home to Escuela to become a Toddler Montessori Guide. A fun fact about Ms. Shaina is that both she and her daughter were in Ms. Cristina’s class.  

Ms. Rhian has officially been at Escuela del Sol since 2011, but began volunteering at Escuela events before that. Ms. Rhian holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of New Mexico, and she is Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) trained (Assistants to Infancy). She grew up and attended Montessori schools, from Early Childhood – Toddler through 5th grade, in both Maine and New Mexico.

Ms. Joslynn is an Albuquerque native who has been active in the Montessori community for over two decades. She received her Primary credentials from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies (MECR).  She joined the Escuela team in 2018.

Ms. Colette grew up in small-town Raton, New Mexico, and moved to Albuquerque to pursue her degree in Political Science at the University of New Mexico. During school, she discovered her love for working with children, first while working at a before-and-after school program, then a preschool. Ms. Colette enjoys reading, crafts, keeping up with the news, and eating green chile with literally everything.

Shardae LeDouix is from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and transitioned to the city of Albuquerque in 2008. Shardae graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Mexico, where she double majored in Family Studies and Psychology. Shardae has been with Escuela
del Sol Montessori since 2011, where she has served as a jack of all trades. She has served as the Lead Guide for the Harwood Summer Art Camp for 4 years, Elementary Extended Day guide, and she currently works with the Primary children in the Yellow Room. Shardae values her time spent at Escuela, and makes it her job to create a home away from home for each and every child. She is also excited about celebrating her 10th year this year as a part of the team!

Ms. Gretchen has been teaching since 1998, joining Escuela in 2006. She grew up in Brooklyn, NY, then Maine. She possesses a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (Montessori concentration) from Endicott College. First earning her American Montessori Society (AMS) Infant-Toddler credentials at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Boulder, Colo., Ms. Gretchen later returned to earn Primary certification. Prior to working at Escuela, she spend two years working in a conventional private school before returning to Montessori, secure in the knowledge that this is where she truly belongs. Ms. Gretchen also ‘moonlights’ in the office after school as a member of the administrative team and she volunteers on school accreditation/reaccreditation teams for AMS. Gretchen has twin daughters, Rhian and Dylan, who attended Montessori schools from ages 3 through 5th grade. Ms. Gretchen has owned several small businesses, is a licensed cosmetologist, and loves to travel.

Ms. Maria Mendoza Morales was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, the capital city of that province. Ms. Morales moved to Arizona as a child, with her parents and three siblings, relocating to New Mexico seven years ago. She is currently studying at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) to earn her degree in Early Childhood Education. She is excited to share her heritage language of Spanish with the students and discover a different type of education in a Montessori environment.

Ms. Elizabeth has worked with kids since she was a teenager working at a local children’s art school. She has a degree in Art Education from the University of New Mexico and has worked at Escuela for over 30 years where her children went to school from Early Childhood – Toddler through 5th grade. Ms. Elizabeth continues her passion of working with children in Escuela Extended Day. She has also been an Escuela Primary Assistant Guide. She loves the feeling of freedom when riding her bike and recently discovered a love of gardening.

Ms. Inga, Montessori Guide in Jr. Elementary – East, came to Escuela in 2004.  She grew up in Seattle, and earned a Master of Education from Loyola University, and Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) 6-12 credentials from the Washington Montessori Institute. Ms. Inga has been a Montessori Guide and also worked as the Elementary Coordinator. Inga loves Montessori for its love of learning, deep study, child advocacy, and imagination of childhood.

Greg Glassman has been part of the Escuela community for over 8 years.

Ms. Paloma was born and raised in Albuquerque and is an alumni of Escuela del Sol. She graduated from University of New Mexico with a dual degree in Special Education and Elementary Education. Ms. Paloma’s early childhood experiences at Escuela inspired her interest in pursuing a teaching career, and she believes that a Montessori classroom provides the ideal environment for children to learn and grow. She has a passion for traveling, scuba diving, hiking and many other outdoor activities.

A Houston native, Mr. Ben began working at Escuela del Sol in 2015. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from University of New Mexico, and recently completed his Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Elementary I Montessori credential training from the Montessori Institute of San Diego. Mr. Ben began his teaching journey in 2007 while living in Barcelona, Spain, and teaching English.  He returned to Albuquerque, where he worked as a classroom assistant and volunteered at arts organizations. This led him to the Harwood Art Center,  and eventually to Escuela, after  participating Montessori Journey, where he finally got a better grasp on fractions! Mr. Ben enjoys creating art, being in nature, cooking, learning, and spending time with his son, who is in the Blue Room. As the Lead Guide in Senior El, Ben is drawn to Montessori for the presentation of materials and tactile nature, and the scientific methodology it utilizes to empower children in taking an active role in their own education.

Ms. Shereen Zangeneh is a visual artist with a BFA in Studio Art from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has worked as an art instructor for adults with disabilities since 2014, and is now excited to adopt a child-centered learning approach as a Support Guide. Ms. Shereen is also an avid plant lady and a new mother to a 6-month-old infant, Nasim. Ms. Shereen lives on the West Side with her husband, Israel, and two dogs, Kiko & Ramon. She looks forward to meeting Senior El families next week during classroom visits!

Ms. Tanesia is a Montessorian, educator, social activist, poet, artist, and parent, who believes in the importance of community engagement and teaching students to be global citizens. She has over 15 years experience teaching students of all ages and currently serves as the Jr. High Guide and Adolescent Program Coordinator, where she guides 7th and 8th grade students, and oversees a team of teachers and community partners. Ms. Tanesia holds an AMS diploma at the Elementary Level, and an AMI/NAMTA Orientation to Adolescence Studies Certificate. She is a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans where she earned her B.A. in English Literature/Creative Writing and San Francisco State University where she earned her MFA in poetry and poetics. Ms. Tanesia is active in the local arts’ community where she has shown work and performed around Albuquerque. Her written work has been published and has been featured in exhibitions at Harwood Art Center. She is the 2018 recipient of the Bretta Weiss Award for Excellence in Montessori for Innovation. Ms. Tanesia was born and raised in Albuquerque and is proud to be of service to her local community through her passion for arts education, social justice and creative collaboration.

Jordan was raised in New Mexico and is back after receiving Bachelor of Arts degrees in Creative Writing, and Media and Visual Culture from the University of Redlands. Jordan believes education is a process of growth that begins first and foremost in our schools, but if done right instills an attitude that continues that process indefinitely and is only improved by helping others in their own process. Living that belief, Jordan is always looking for opportunities to grow with others in  community and is why they joined the Escuela del Sol team in 2021.

Spanish Studio Guide, Emily Schuyler has been at Escuela since 2003, where she was the lead guide in the White Room.  She grew up in Kearney, Nebraska, received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Textile Design from the University of Kansas, and earned her Association Montessori Internationale Primary credentials from Perugia, Italy. Ms. Emily believes Montessori education offers real, daily opportunities to create a better world and practice lifelong learning.

Robin (she/her) has been the administrative assistant and farm manager for three different organic farms and has found her joy in supporting families in education. She has a background in food justice, agriculture, and community organizing. Robin was born and raised on Tohono O’odham and Yoeme homelands in the Tucson valley. As a proud Xicana, Robin’s work is rooted in building resilient relationships with land and community and celebrating the power, wisdom and blessings of her ancestors. When she isn’t working, she can be found walking along the Bosque, reading a good book and dabbling in watercolor. Robin is so excited to join the Escuela del Sol community!

Ms. Sandra moved to Albuquerque with her husband in 2021 and worked as an assistant NIDO guide at Montessori ONE Academy. She is passionate about staying in touch with her inner child, and this allows her to foster connections with the children she works with. She is driven to help children to grow in their most authentic selves while she grows alongside them. Ms. Sandra considers herself to be a “student of life” and enjoys learning through direct experience, but eventually would like to earn a degree in Early Childhood Education. She made a promise to her dear friend Barbara, who is 87, that she would graduate in the next 3 years. Ms. Sandra was born in Nochistlan, Zacatecas, Mexico, and immigrated with her mother Nevada when she was about 3 years old. In her free time, you might find her painting, hiking, rock climbing, gardening or with family in Nevada.