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Meet the Team

Our team brings Montessori to life, providing students with a home-like, nurturing, quality educational environment.

Laura Pretty

Executive Director

Laura Pretty serves as the Executive Director of Monarch Montessori, bringing over 20 years of experience in public, bilingual, and Montessori education. She began her career as a middle and high school teacher in El Paso and Chihuahua and later worked in both traditional and charter schools in Denver. Laura is bilingual and holds a degree in Bilingual and Multicultural Education. She is a passionate advocate for Montessori education and believes deeply in the power of a child-centered, dual language approach.

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Leadership

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Shanna Myers​

Director of Student Supports

Read Shanna's Bio
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Noel Magee

Assistant Executive Director

Read Noel's Bio
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Mairi McCormick

Elementary Director

Read Mairi's Bio
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Brenda Reyes

First Steps Director

Read Brenda's Bio
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The Monarch Leadership team provides strategic vision and implementation of school goals. They provide leadership, support and assessment to ensure that every child is prepared to excel in education and in life.

Administration

The school administration staff helps keep Monarch running smoothly and our students healthy.

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Mea Brunson

Receptionist

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Veronica Hernandez

Elementary Enrollment/Receptionist

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Teresa Dyer

Assistant to FS Director

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Marlene Evans

School Nurse

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Ana Simental

Food Service Manager - First Steps

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Beto Pacheco

Maintenance

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Marroquin Gutierrez

Nurse Aide

Outdoor Learning

Keeping our 5-acre campus beautiful and supporting our children’s learning within it.

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Melanie Stewart Lopes

Facilities & Outdoor Learning Lead

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Francisco Ivan Alderete

Facilities Manager

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Becca Harley

Elementary Outdoor Learning Educator & Director of Children’s Farms in Action

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Beverley Brownson

First Steps Outdoor Learning Educator
& Montessori Lead

Infants (Nido)

Our Infants staff specialize in supporting students ages 6 weeks to 15 months old.

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Jessia Solis

Lead Teacher - Staff Leadership

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Maria Gonzales

Assistant Teacher

Toddlers

The Toddler team at Monarch specializes in supporting our children aged 15 months to 3 years old.

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Lacy Williams

Lead Teacher - Staff Leadership

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Lucia Dreglea

Assistant Teacher

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Mireya Guzman

Lead Teacher

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Arelis Garcia

Assistant Teacher

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Laura Guzman

Lead Teacher

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Leydy Herrera

Lead Teacher

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Lily Rengifo

Floater

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Sofiya Rozenberg

Floater

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Gisela Diaz

Assistant Teacher

Children’s House

The Children’s House staff supports students ages three and four years old, and kindergarteners.

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Roxana Simental

Assistant Teacher

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Nirmala Gupta

Lead Teacher

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Elizabeth Hernandez

Assistant Teacher

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Jessica Colman

Lead Teacher - Staff Leadership

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Dalia Devia

Lead Teacher - Dual Language

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Kristhel Duran

Lead Teacher - Dual Language

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Lane Pomeroy

Co-Teacher

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Rosa Ninez-Quintana

Lead Teacher - Dual Language

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Aleydimar Del Carmen Cordero

Assitant Teacher

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Mary "Lily" Guterrez

Teacher

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Marisol Guzman

Lead Teacher

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Mychal Howard Williams

English Floater

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Gloria Saldana

Assitant Teacher

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Veronica Saldana

Teacher

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Tierrah Neal-Beals

Co-Teacher

Lower Elementary

The Lower Elementary school team supports students in grades first through third.

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Maria Berman

Lead Teacher - Dual Language

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Sandra Martinez

Co-Lead Teacher - Dual Language

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Ronnesha Handy

Co-Lead Teacher

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Gina Macias

Co-Lead Teacher - Dual Language

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Lizeth Araiza

Assistant Teacher - Dual Language

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Paola Gomez

Co-Lead Teacher - Dual Language

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Kim Price

Co-Lead Teacher

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Pilar Birrell

Assistant Teacher

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Aline Himmelrick

Assistant

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Raven Ritzie

Co-Teacher

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Jose Reyes

Co-Teacher - Dual Language

Upper Elementary

The Upper Elementary team specializes in supporting students in fourth and fifth grade.

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Sakeenah Franzen

Lead Teacher - Staff Leadership

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Leslie Snyder

Newquist Lead Teacher

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Monica Ramon

Assistant Teacher

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Adrienne Anderson

Lead Teacher - Newspaper

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Luis Alonzo

Co-Teacher - Dual Language

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Lilly Cottam

Co-Teacher

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Tarylin "TeeTee" Nelson

Assistant

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Ashley Rodriquez

Co-Teacher - Dual Language

Specials & Support

Our Specials and Support team members support students with enrichment, interventions and more.

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Laura Weiner

Physical Education Teacher

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Jerod Sarlo

Music Teacher

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Melissa Tomlin

Second Language Development & Intervention

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Anna O’Bren

Psychologist

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Sam Adams

Licensed Social Worker

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Chonlati "Nam" Fernandez

Second Language Development & Intervention

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Samantha Belter

Special Education Teacher

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Alexa Bracken

Special Education Assistant

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Marina Delgado

Social Worker

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D'Ambrose Finch

Behavior Intervenstionist

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Christina Geubelle-Leggett

Special Education Assistant

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Melanie Stevenson

Special Education Teacher

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Michelle Vigil

Special Education Assistant

Join the Monarch Team

See our open positions and learn more about what it’s like to be a part of Monarch Montessori.

Careers at Monarch
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Laura Pretty

Executive Director

Laura Pretty serves as the Executive Director of Monarch Montessori, bringing over 20 years of experience in public, bilingual, and Montessori education. She began her career as a middle and high school teacher in El Paso and Chihuahua and later worked in both traditional and charter schools in Denver. Laura is bilingual and holds a degree in Bilingual and Multicultural Education. She is a passionate advocate for Montessori education and believes deeply in the power of a child-centered, dual language approach.

A longtime champion for equity, Laura brings an international lens to her work and promotes inclusive practices that reflect the diversity of our community. Under her leadership, Monarch has expanded its dual language program, deepened its Montessori practices, and launched innovative projects like the Outdoor Learning Program and the Middle School expansion. As both a school leader and a Monarch parent—her daughter is a proud Monarch graduate—Laura is deeply invested in the school’s mission and future. She values strong relationships with families and staff, and is committed to creating a joyful, nurturing environment where every child can thrive. When not at school, you can find her reading, hiking, or spending time with her dog, Goalie.

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Shanna Myers

Elementary Instructional Coach

Shanna Joined Monarch in 2017 as a classroom lead teacher and has moved into a coaching position to support our elementary staff. She was drawn to the Montessori method because of the choice it provided our young learners. Shanna holds a Masters in Special Education , a BA in Elementary Education, and her Montessori training. This Colorado native loves spending time with her family, sharing the outdoors with them and reading books.

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Noel Magee

Assistant Executive Director

Noel Giametta Magee is a founding member of Monarch Montessori and a key player in the formation of the school’s mission and growth over the years. Noel has 6 years teaching experience, prior to becoming employed as a school administrator. Administrator specialties include grant writing, building expansions, balancing budgets, HR, compliance and payroll. Noel’s educational background is centered around Early Childhood Education; including a BA in Human Development with a Minor in Early Childhood Education, and Graduate Degree from the University of Colorado in Early Childhood Special Education. Additional credentials include; Early Childhood Teaching Certification, Large Childcare Center Director Certification, and a Montessori Teaching Certification.

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Mairi McCormick

Elementary Director

Ms. Mairi began her educational career teaching English and Cultural Studies at Shandong Jianzu University in Jinan, China. Additionally, she worked at Volunteer Teaching Corps, inner city schools in Chicago, and Montessori Charter schools. Mairi holds a Master’s Degree in Education and Social Policy, BFA in Interdisciplinary Art and Art History, Special Education and Teaching endorsement, and Elementary Montessori Teaching certificate. Mairi was attracted to Montessori as a philosophy and as an educational process. What keeps her in a Montessori School, is the unwavering belief in every child’s potential. At Monarch, we do not restrict the child’s potential with our own limited imagination, but we ensure that every child is valued. We also work hard to create a dynamic definition of what “valued” means and honoring that definition and belief is embedded in everything we do.

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Brenda Rangel

First Steps Director

Brenda Reyes-Rangel has been working at Monarch since April 2010, serving as a lead teacher, then a team supervisor, and now serving as the Director of First Steps. Brenda is well-versed in development at each level, and brings a wealth of experience to early childhood leadership. Brenda is a licensed Director and Montessorian, with extensive training through the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. Brenda loves the Montessori curriculum, especially its focus on freedom of movement for children, who need to be able to move their bodies! It is through this preparation of the environment that gross motor skills develop faster and stronger. In her free time she likes to be with her family. Brenda is a mother of three beautiful children and loves traveling to Texas to visit family.

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