Administrative Team
Lauren Bolar
Director
Serving you since 2008
Lauren is an alumna of Tempe Montessori and has worked with children since 1999. She believes in the Montessori Philosophy and Pedagogy wholeheartedly. She continues to work for the children and let them guide her through their needs and developmental milestones. She received her BS in Business Administration from Arizona State University in 2009. She completed her AMI Assistance to Infancy (A to I) course from the Montessori Institute of San Diego in 2011 and completed her AMI Primary (3-6) course from the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies in 2018. Lauren was a Lead Guide in the Nido classroom for 9 years and oversees the education for 0-6. She also acts as the Associate Director of Tempe Montessori. She enjoys participating in community events and giving back to Ryan’s House and the Down Syndrome Association. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, travel and continuing her education.
“Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by a reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future.” Maria Montessori
Madison Mills
Administration
Serving you since 2020
Madison was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona. She is currently pursuing her Bachelors in Speech and Hearing Science at Arizona State University and will be finished in May 2022. She will eventually pursue a master’s degree in this field to pursue a career in Speech Pathology for children with special needs. She loves being around children of all ages and loves to watch each child individually grow. In her personal time, she loves spending time with her family, working out, and studying for school.
Jessica Cutty
Administration
Serving you since 2010
Jessica Cutty joined Tempe Montessori School in 2010. She attended TMS from ages 2yrs – 10yrs. Jessica graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis on Early childhood education and earned her Director’s Certification in Education from Rio Salado College in 2016. She has taught in various educational settings including traditional, private, charter and Montessori with children 0 – 6th grade. Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, reading and traveling. She is honored to be a part of the Tempe Montessori family.
“Our care of the child should be governed, not by desire to make him learn things, but by the endeavor always to keep burning within him that light which is called intelligence” – Maria Montessori
Educational Teams
NIDO Education – 3 months – 15 months
Shantidas Leyba
Lead Nido Teacher
Serving you since 2013
Shantidas is an Arizona native, wife, and mother to a very active daughter. She attended Tempe Montessori School from 3-9 years old and has always credited her curiosity and love of learning to her Montessori upbringing; she loves being back at TMS as an adult to guide other children in their own discoveries of themselves and their environment. In 2009, she received her degree in Fashion Design from Istituto Marangoni in Italy. She had been an assistant in the Nido room since 2013 and has completed the AMI Assistants Trainings for A to I (0-3) as well as for Primary. Shantidas is taking her Assistants to Infancy training at the Southwest Institute for Montessori Studies beginning in August of 2019. She is very passionate about Montessori education and is excited to be taking on the role of lead guide in the Nido room.
Nattiauna Tsosie
Nido Assistant
Serving you since 2018
Nattiauna’s career in the Montessori environment started as a student in the TMS elementary classroom. Since then, she attended New School for the Arts and Academics majoring in photography and ceramics. Unraveling her psyche through art led her back to her passion for peace and love. Ms. Natti has plans for furthering her AMI education, with big hopes of developing instrumental environments, beneficial for children and educators. With a Montessorian as a mother, she’s been taught children are the future. Finding a passion for helping the future has inspired many embers of change inside her heart. Said by Dr. Montessori “Whoever touches the life of a child touches the most sensitive point of a whole which has roots in the most distant past and climbs towards the infinite future”. She is back home where she grew up with friends, siblings, and many teachers. She could not be happier to continue to grow and be inspired by the beauty of the natural being.
Lulu Ahmed
Nido Assistant
Serving you since 2021
Lul (Lulu) has worked with children of all ages. She considers it a passion of hers. She is currently in school pursuing a degree in Elementary Education with aspirations to complete her credentials and be the lead of her own classroom. She enjoys reading, writing, cooking, movie watching, decorating, etc. She is excited to learn more about the Montessori pedagogy and be an assistant in the Nido classroom.
Toddler Education – 15 months – 3 years
Cindy Draper
Lead Toddler Teacher
Serving you since 1998
Cindy is an Assistant to Infancy Directress at Tempe Montessori School since 1998. In 1993, she graduated with an Early Childhood Development Associates Degree from Northland Pioneer College. In 2003, she successfully completed the AMI Assistants to Infancy Course taught by Dr. Montanaro. Before working at TMS, her time was devoted to teaching and guiding Navajo families through center and home base Headstart and Family and Child Education (F.A.C.E.) Programs, assisting public elementary teachers, as well as the Department of Health and Nutrition. During her Montessori Journey, she has been balancing her time continuously empowering parents, children and herself with knowledge during class time, home consultations, babysitting, educational courses and trainings around the globe. Outside of her commitment to educating young ones, she runs a single mother household and remains active in preserving the Earth, sacred sites, traditions, ceremonies and homelands of Indigenous People around the world. She believes all children deserve to successfully thrive holistically in the environment around them. She truly values her role as a guide to the children and families as we build their foundation for the rest of their lives, together.
Kaili West
Classroom Assistant
Serving you since 2021
Kaili is an Arizona native. She attends Arizona State University and is majoring in Business Marketing. She has babysat kids for 5 years and has loved every second of it. She has enjoyed getting the opportunity to interact with kids at several different levels over the years from a gym childcare worker to a nanny. She loves how Montessori allows the kids to be hands-on and experience things from a more tactile environment. She is eager to continue to watch the children blossom at TMS.
Cailin Mills
Lead Toddler Teacher
Serving you since 2019
Cailin is a native Arizonan and has worked with all ages of children for 15 years. She has focused solely on Montessori since 2013. Cailin is pursuing her bachelor’s in psychology at Arizona State University and will be finished in December 2019. She eventually wants to pursue a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. She has a true passion in Montessori specifically with the toddler age group. She has completed her AMS 0-3 years through North American Montessori Center. Cailin is very excited to join the TMS culture once again. In her free time, she loves to hike, travel, and workout.
Rebecca Hawley
Toddler Assistant
Serving you since 2021
Becca grew up on a ranch in a very small town in North central WA. She moved to Arizona in August of 2021. She has 7 brothers and 1 sister who still live in Washington. She grew up rodeoing and raising market cattle, while also playing volleyball & basketball. She is very excited to be joining Ms. Cailin’s classroom and getting to know the kids better!
Primary Education – 3-6 years
Smita Devani
Lead Primary Teacher
Serving you since 1997
Ms. Smita was born in Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa. After finishing high school, she moved to England to further her studies in computers. She married her wonderful husband and moved to Canada, where she pursued her career in computers. She moved to Arizona in 1994 and joined TMS in 1997 as an assistant. Smita completed her AMI training in May 2004. She enjoys children and has two girls who are TMS alumnae. Her broad awareness clearly perceives the many activities all around her as she guides and coaches the work of the children. With many years of experience and expertise in her field and with her love and passion for the Montessori Pedagogy and Philosophy, she helps guide the children daily. She loves observing the children grow and develop into their fullest potential.
Dhara Parekh
Primary Assistant
Serving you since 2017
Dhara was born and raised in Mumbai, India and moved to the USA in 2009. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Home Science with specialization in Early Childhood Care and Education. Dhara completed the AMI Primary Diploma from the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies in Phoenix in 2013. She has four years of experience working in a Preschool in Mumbai, India and has been a teacher assistant at an After-school Program in NJ. Her hobbies are Swimming, Hiking and Watching Movies. “I am very motivated to apply my knowledge and experience and commit myself in making a difference in a child’s life by understanding children’s needs and guiding them in their development during the early years.”
Jennifer Kossman
Primary Aftercare Assistant
Serving you since 2014
Jennifer has been with the Tempe Montessori Community since 2014. She has been helping assist the Primary students during the day and with the Elementary students in the Aftercare program. She loves being around children of all ages and especially getting to know each one through their love of learning. Jennifer grew up in an Air Force family and that’s how she developed a love for traveling and meeting new people. She has attended Scottsdale Community College and has a passion for all aspects of film making, creative writing, and the art of storytelling. She loves 80’s and 90’s movies and loves all Keanu Reeves movies.
Ashlee Saenz
Lead Primary Teacher
Serving you since 2011
Ashlee first joined Tempe Montessori in 2011 working as an assistant in the Primary classroom. She completed her AMI training from the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies in 2016. She is a mother to a 9-year-old son who is a Tempe Montessori Alumni. She truly believes the Montessori philosophy provides the most natural way for children to learn. The hands-on, individualized materials and methods are what allows the Montessori child to understand concepts to their core. She loves the passion and understanding that she sees from her students. The community that is developed in a Montessori classroom is so unique and real-world. For three years she is with a student and their family. She observes them interact as a learner and a teacher as they progress from the first year to the third year. It truly is a community of learners and teachers.” During her free time, she enjoys crafting, hiking, water sports, and spending time with her family.
Charlie Wall
Classroom Assistant
Serving you since 2022
Charlie was born and raised in Kerry, Ireland. At 16 years old, she moved to San Jose, California with her family. Charlie has been living in Tempe since 2018 and attended Arizona State University. In December of 2021, she received her bachelor’s degrees in psychology and in human and family development. In her free time, she loves going to concerts, cooking, and spending time with her friends and family. She is very excited to join Mrs. Ashlee’s room and to get to spend time getting to know the students.
Bethany Martin
Classroom Assistant
Serving you since 2022
Bethany is a Native Arizonian. She is currently studying behavioral science, special education and early childhood education from Grand Canyon University. She has four years’ experience working in traditional education and is drawn to the Montessori philosophy and its natural inclination to follow the child’s developmental needs. She enjoys hiking, organizing events and activities and has plays the violin.
Kimberly Reyes-Arroyo
Lead Primary Teacher
Serving you since 2015
Kimberly is currently a student at Arizona State University focusing her studies to Major in Psychology and a minor in Social Work. Kimberly completed her AMI Primary training in 2020. She has a certification in food chemistry, and some CNA experience. She loves Montessori because of the rawness of letting the child explore and learn from their environment without the pressures of a traditional schooling experience as well as allowing the child to naturally develop their intellect at a young age with a natural interactive approach and connection with the world around them. In her personal time, she loves cooking, baking and DYI projects. She is a new mother to her wonderful son Dante and loves him dearly and is excited as he navigates his self-construction in the Montessori environment. She is excited to work with present and future families in the TMS community.
Elementary Education – 6-12 years
Mary Williams
Lead Elementary Teacher
Serving you since 2021
Originally from the East Coast, Mary moved out to Phoenix with my husband and completed her AMI Montessori training at the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies. After receiving her AMI diploma, She worked as a lead in Lake Tahoe. She her husband and baby, moved home to Phoenix to establish roots. She enjoys spending time outside hiking, rock climbing and biking, and also love going to concerts, trying new foods, cooking and spending time with family. She very excited to be a part of this community and working with the children.
Maribel Vega
Elementary Assistant
Serving you since 2018
Maribel has three children and two stepsons. She has a passion for working with children and it is what she loves to do. She has been working with children for as long as she can remember and can’t wait to learn more about the Montessori Philosophy. She enjoys seeing them grow and learn different things. It makes her proud because she is making a positive difference in every child’s life.
Jelana Ortiz
Classroom & office assistant
Serving you since 2022
Jelana was born in Denver; Colorado and she was raised in Arizona. She is currently going to ASU for a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a minor in French. She was first introduced to the philosophy of Montessori in Motril, Spain where she spent some time volunteering at a Montessori school. What drew her in was the deep level of awareness and consciousness that is emphasized in a child’s environment. In her spare time, you can find her out in the mountains or exploring
Picture coming soon!
Daniela Espindola
Float & Aftercare Assistant
Serving you since 2021
Daniela is an Arizona native. She is currently attending Arizona State University and is majoring in Elementary bilingual education. She is first to attend college in her family. Education is very important to her. She has a passion for working with children, hoping to one day have a class of her own- she enjoys working with fourth graders! She enjoys assisting in aftercare and learning more about Montessori. During her free time, she loves to spend time with her dog Mars, plant shopping, and building her portfolio for film photography.
Abbigail Popelier
Float/ aftercare
Serving you since 2022
Abbi grew up in the midst of Apple orchards and lakes in a small town in North Central Washington. She was raised on a farm with countless horses, cows, goats, pigs and more. Abbi grew up babysitting, nannying, and further interning at a Pediatric Occupational Therapist Clinic throughout high school. Abbi loves to be active and take advantage of the outdoors as much as possible. She is currently attending Arizona State University as a junior on her path to become an early intervention occupational therapist. Since she grew up horseback, rodeoing and roping every day, Abbi one day hopes to use horses in her therapy practices. Abbi is passionate about working with kids and watching them grow into aspiring individuals each day!
Phone: 480-966-7606