Our Staff - Garfield Montessori

Meet The Staff

Casa Sole

Paola Cuevas | Lead Teacher

Mrs. Paola is the lead teacher in Casa Sole. She finished her Montessori Primary Training at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in the Spring of 2022 and has worked with children in Montessori schools for seven years. One thing she loves about GMS so far is the welcoming arms from all the staff and children and the sense of community and family. Garfield has already become her second home.

A fun fact about her is that she loves to play piano and bass. When she is not at school, she enjoys long walks with her dogs, quality time with her husband whilst playing piano and saxophone together, and time with family. Her favorite food is her mom’s homemade traditional mexican food. She was born in Mexico and Colorado has been her home since age 5. Being in the United States has allowed her to achieve this long dream of hers and she is so thankful Garfield has supported her on her path to becoming a lead Montessori teacher.

Victoria Sanchez | Assistant Teacher

Ms. Victoria is an Assistant teacher in Casa Sole and has been in Early Childhood Education for six years now. She is not YET Montessori Lead certified, but is planning to pursue her Montessori Certification by the year 2024.

She was born and raised in the North of Denver, Colorado. She speaks Spanish with English as her first language and in her spare time is currently learning ASL (American Sign Language). A few of her favorite things include visiting new local coffee shops, quality time with friends and family, and traveling the world. Oh, and any and all card games!

Ms. Victoria finds it such a great privilege to teach and invest in “our” littles. She is looking forward to what this school year will bring the Case Sole classroom.

Tamara Collom | Assistant Teacher

Ms. Tammy is an Assistant Teacher in Casa Sole and has been working in Education for 6 years.

She has just moved to Denver from the Midwest where she was born and raised (in many different cities/states).

She studied Early Childhood Education and Spanish at Miami University where she also discovered her passion for traveling and experiencing new cultures. After graduation she moved to Spain with the intention of teaching English and practicing Spanish in a real life setting for just one year… but she ended up staying for four years. In her last year, she got to experience her primary school transition to a Montessori school which led her to now exploring and continuing a career in Montessori Education. Ms. Tammy is a life-long learner and hopes to help role model that for our kids at GMS.

Casa Luna

Laura Wyrick-Beebe | Lead Teacher

Ms. Laura is the lead teacher in Casa Luna. She was born in Germany but raised in Italy by her American father and Italian mother. She grew up in Italy where she also pursued her education. She feels very fortunate to be bilingual. Laura has been in the education field for 13 years and also taught Italian to students (primary to lower elementary).

Laura moved to the United States in July 2018 and started as a primary assistant in a Montessori school in Florida while achieving her Montessori certification.

In 2019, she became a lead teacher and Assistant Director. Laura’s dream place was Colorado and she is very grateful for this opportunity to move here and grow professionally.

Ashley Ridge | Assistant Teacher

Ms. Ashley is an Assistant teach in Casa Luna and is so thankful to be a part of Garfield Montessori. She is from Torreon, New Mexico, a reservation in the Navajo Nation and is Navajo, Hopi, and Cherokee.

The Montessori philosophy is very near and dear to her heart. She has been studying with the Center for Guided Montessori Studies to become a Primary Lead Guide and is looking forward to doing her internship year here at GMS.

Before she found Montessori, she studied yoga and holistic nutrition at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Tempe, Arizona. In her free time, she loves to go on hikes, cook, and travel. A fun fact about her is that she is a Gong Master, she studied with Aradhana Singh to be able to teach Hatha Gong. She loves to play her gong and teach yoga when she has the time. Ashley looks forward to growing here at GMS!

Gabriela Quezada | Assistant Teacher

Ms. Gaby is one of the assistant teachers in Casa Luna. She has been thrilled to have started here at Garfield Montessori School in 2023 and has loved every moment. There is a saying out there that says ‘love what you do and you’ll never have to work a day in your life’ and she believes she is living it.

Ms. Gaby used to be a dental assistant aspiring to be a dentist, but life had different plans. When she had her daughter, she became cautious of the hands she was putting her in. Ms. Gaby is a very spiritual person and when she was ready to return to work, she asked for a sign and there it was, a help wanted sign for a Montessori school. She immediately took the opportunity to enroll her daughter and has felt privileged to be part of such a great school.

In her own time, she loves reading a good book and drinking a good blend of tea. She also enjoys the summertime. There is something about cooking out with the family and going on hikes, being in the sun, that just makes her heart glow.

Paige Ross | Assistant Teacher

Ms. Paige is one of the assistant teachers in the Casa Luna classroom. She is originally from Southern Ohio where she attended college and graduated with an Early Childhood degree from the University of Cincinnati. In college, she interned at a Montessori school where she fell in love with the idea of a Montessori style classroom and way of teaching. She’s been working with preschool-aged children for about 6 years and has taught as a lead teacher in two Montessori classrooms. Ms. Paige, her husband, and their animals moved to Colorado a few years ago to pursue the more adventurous and nature-filled life that they have always dreamed of. In her free time, she loves to explore the mountains with her husband and their dog Darcie. She also enjoys trying new restaurants around Denver any chance she gets. She’s very eager to become a part of the Garfield Montessori Family.

Administration

Kaitlyn Ogden | Director

Ms. Kaitlyn is deeply committed to the longstanding educational excellence of Garfield Montessori School. Ms Kaitlyn is deeply passionate about nurturing the potential within each child, with her journey in education beginning as a dedicated teacher before transitioning into educational administration. In fact, Ms. Kaitlyn was previously one of the Assistant Teachers in the Casa Luna classroom prior to supporting both classrooms at GMS and before her transition to an assistant director capacity.

Prior to working at Garfield, Ms. Kaitlyn worked at Thorne Nature Experience, an Environmental Education nonprofit in Boulder, CO. She worked as both an Environmental Educator teaching elementary students nature and science based lessons, and then as a Nature Preschool Teacher. During her time as a Nature Preschool teacher, she gained a love of hands-on, place based education and truly believes that children grow best when learning in nurturing environments with an emphasis on child-led and social emotional learning.

In her free time she enjoys skiing, hiking, attending concerts and spending time with her dog Gus!

Elisha Lewis | Floating Teacher

Ms. Elisha is a floating teacher here at Garfield, she’s getting the opportunity to be in both classrooms and has been loving it so far. She was born and raised here in Colorado. With English being her first language she was also taught Mandarin Chinese at a very young age as she’s also fluent in it today.

This is Ms. Elisha’s first year in Montessori, but she’s been working with children for a little over four years. She’s excited to continue to learn about the Montessori methods and grow here at Garfield.

Ms. Elisha is currently also in cosmology/barbering school where she’s gaining her licenses. In the free-time that she does have she enjoys reading, jewelry making, and spending time with her loved ones.