CMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rachel Averch
Interim President
Rachel Averch is one of the founding members of the Colorado Montessori Association (CMA) and holds the esteemed position of a board elder. In 2022, she returned to serve on the CMA Board of Directors, showcasing her unwavering dedication to Montessori education in Colorado. Rachel’s educational journey has equipped her with a BA in Education Administration and AMS Primary Certification through the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. Her credentials further include a CDHS Director’s Credential and a Level IV Credential.
Rachel’s commitment to Montessori education extends to her role as the co-founder and President/CEO of The Montessori Children’s House of Denver, a prestigious accredited private school that she established in 1991. This institution has thrived over 31 years, expanding to three campuses and serving 275 students, ranging from 12 months old to middle school. With a personal connection to Montessori education as a former Montessori student and a strong legacy, Rachel is driven to ensure that every child can fulfill their unique potential through the Montessori Method.
Katie Torres
Vice-President
Maeve Fields
Treasurer
Maeve Fields has been working with children for over thirty years and has had the privilege of caring for hundreds of children in that time. She has a B.A in early childhood education, an A.M.S Montessori Teaching Credential and a Masters Degree in Leadership.
She has worked as a business consultant for many different businesses across multiple sectors including childcare, transportation and logistics, real estate and auto repair.
She is currently the Early Childhood Director at Jarrow Montessori School in Boulder, Colorado.
Maeve spent her early years in community theater and these skills have proven to be invaluable in the training videos and course content she has created. Her years as a sous chef in some of the best restaurants in the Bay Area have made her an excellent home cook. In her spare time Maeve likes to road bike, hike, swim and travel.
Hanna Desjardins
Secretary
Hanna Desjardins discovered her passion for Montessori education during a revolution and resistance course while pursuing a BA in Political Science. Inspired by Dr. Maria Montessori’s revolutionary pedagogy and her vision of peace, Hanna wrote an essay exploring the transformative and rebellious spirit behind the Montessori movement.
Hanna’s teaching journey began 15 years ago at Denison, Denver’s first public Montessori school. Since then, she has earned an AMI Primary Certificate and has served the Montessori community as a course assistant, field consultant, and examiner for the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies (MECR).
Hanna is deeply committed to fostering unity within the Montessori community through advocacy, inclusion, and collaboration. Her work reflects a steadfast belief in the power of the Montessori Method to inspire meaningful change.
Laura Alexander
Member at Large
Laura Alexander’s Montessori journey began when she followed her own children into Montessori education. Intrigued by the math materials and the allure of the golden beads, she started as a substitute in the Early Childhood classroom at her children’s school. Over the years, Laura’s dedication to Montessori grew, leading her to become an Early Childhood assistant and complete the Elementary I-II training at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies (MECR). Her journey has seen her take on various roles, including instructor, field consultant, seminar assistant, and supervising teacher at the training center.
For a significant portion of her career, Laura taught upper elementary for 12 years at the Montessori School of Evergreen before transitioning to an administrative role as the Middle School Division Head. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies, where she passionately fosters the growth and discovery of adult learners at all stages of their Montessori journey.
Rachel Kelley-Cohn
Member at Large
Rachel Kelley-Cohn is a Partner with the Wildflower Foundation, where she leads the organization’s growth and partnerships across Colorado. Prior to joining Wildflower, Rachel spent a decade with Teach For America, spearheading local and national initiatives to prepare alumni for principal roles. She also collaborated with the Denver Mayor’s Office and local charter networks to launch a collective impact campaign focused on diversifying Denver’s educator workforce.
Rachel began her career as an elementary teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools. After returning to the West Coast, she joined the New Teacher Project (TNTP), where she recruited, selected, and trained math, science, and special education teachers for the Los Angeles Unified School District. During her time in Los Angeles, Rachel also collaborated with KPMG consultants on a feasibility study for Weighted Student Formula and worked as a national recruiter for Building Excellent Schools (BES).
A native of California, Rachel earned dual degrees in Sociology and Communication Studies from UCLA and a Master’s in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University. She now resides in Golden, Colorado, with her husband and two young sons.
Aura Padilla
Member at Large
Aura Padilla is originally from León, Guanajuato, in central Mexico, and has called Colorado home for the past 14 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico. Her passion for working with children emerged during her time supporting kindergarten feeding programs before relocating to the United States.
For nine years, Aura served as a lead Early Childhood teacher at Montessori Children’s House of Denver (MCHD). In 2018, she earned her AMS Primary Certification through the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies (MECR) in Boulder, becoming a fully trained Montessori teacher.
Since 2022, Aura has shared her expertise as a Field Consultant for Spanish-speaking students at MECR. Currently, she is a Primary Lead Teacher at the Montessori School of Denver (MSD), where she continues to nurture children aged 3–6. Passionate about bilingual education, she enjoys teaching Spanish and mentoring Spanish-speaking educators interested in learning the Montessori Method.
Nicole Weaver
Member at Large
Bio Coming Soon
Katy Mattis
Acting Executive Director
Katy Mattis is a dedicated Montessori professional with a wealth of experience spanning various educational settings. She has been an Elementary Montessori guide, an instructional leader, and a principal in private, charter, and magnet Montessori programs. Katy’s passion lies in ensuring that leaders and teachers have the best tools and resources to support their work with children. For over a decade, she contributed to the educational landscape of Denver Public Schools, serving as a teacher, Montessori instructional coach, and principal at a Montessori magnet school.
Katy’s qualifications are extensive, including AMI diplomas in both Assistants to Infancy and Elementary education, an M.Ed in Montessori Education from Loyola College, as well as Colorado state teacher and principal licenses. Currently residing in Colorado with her family, Katy is not just an educational professional but also a proud mother of two children who attend public Montessori schools. She is deeply committed to making the strength and beauty of Montessori education accessible to all.
Desired
CMA Committees
Members may become involved in any aspect of CMA work. This is your organization and we welcome your suggestions, your ideas, and your experience. Let us know if you are available to assist with any of the following tasks by contacting CMA.
- Advocacy and Policy: Monitoring and interpreting current and proposed state regulations that affect Montessori practice.
- Events: Coordinating speakers, locations, registrations, and food.Marketing and
- Membership: Processing registrations and outreach to new members
- Public/Private Coalition: Promoting relationships between the two sectors
If you’d like to contact CMA, email us at: info@coloradomontessoriassociation.org
ELDERS
Martha Teien
Martha is the Founding and Executive Director of Mountain Montessori. She has a BS in Biology from Le Moyne College and an Early Childhood Directorship from the State of Colorado. Her Montessori training for Primary Level was completed through Montessori Educational Programs International (www.mepiforum.org) in 1995. Martha’s internship was a full year at Vail Valley Montessori School in Minturn, Colorado. Martha obtained her Masters of Education in Montessori at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN in 2010.
Martha has been a member of the Board of Directors for Montessori Educational Programs International (MEPI) for 4 years. Presently she is serving as the President of MEPI.
Prior to coming to Mountain Montessori in 2004 as a founding teacher, Martha helped co-found Montessori Children’s House in Edwards, Colorado, and Eagle Montessori in Eagle, Colorado. Martha has 5 children who are Montessori educated. Most of her free time is spent enjoying their soccer games, volleyball games, and telemark competitions. Martha also loves to run, hike, and read.
Kathryn Ross
Kathryn has been involved in Montessori education since 1972 and has AMI and AMS training at the primary level. She and her late husband founded Mt. Sopris Montessori School in Carbondale, CO, in 1980, and co-directed it for twenty years. From 2001 – 2004 she and her husband lived and worked in Montessori schools in Philadelphia. Upon returning to Colorado, Kathryn served at head of school at Children’s Garden Montessori School in Denver.
Currently, Kathryn is an adjunct professor for The Institute for Educational Studies at Endicott College, and an instructor for the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies, where she is the coordinator for the Administrator Course. She is a graduate of TIES at Endicott College, and her Master’s Thesis won the AMS award for best Montessori-focused Master’s Thesis in 2008.
Jackie Greenbaum
Jacquelyn “Jackie” has worked in Montessori for over 15 years. She has worked with students and families from prenatal education through Elementary. Jacquelyn has her AMI Montessori certificate in Assistants to Infancy (0 to 3 education) from The Montessori Institute in Denver, BA in Statistics and Mathematics from Rutgers University, Rutgers College, and M.Ed. in Education, specializing in Montessori Education, from Xavier University. She has taught in Nido, Toddler, Primary, and Elementary classrooms, consulted in classrooms of all ages, managed Montessori schools worked as a mentor for new teachers and assistants, and created Parent and Teacher Education workshops on a variety of topics. She has worked in Montessori schools and at Montessori training centers around the country.
Jacquelyn has done research in Montessori and early childhood education and plans to continue and expand her work. She is currently an active Board Member for the Colorado Montessori Association and enjoys supporting Montessori initiatives. Jacquelyn spends time in the summer working with The Montessori Institute in Denver and expanding Montessori education for all.
Jacquelyn has been living in the Parker area for over 10 years. She enjoys many of the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer including camping, hiking, and snowshoeing.
Rachel Averch
Rachel Averch is one of the founding members of the Colorado Montessori Association (CMA) and holds the esteemed position of a board elder. In 2022, she returned to serve on the CMA Board of Directors, showcasing her unwavering dedication to Montessori education in Colorado. Rachel’s educational journey has equipped her with a BA in Education Administration and AMS Primary Certification through the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. Her credentials further include a CDHS Director’s Credential and a Level IV Credential.
Rachel’s commitment to Montessori education extends to her role as the co-founder and President/CEO of The Montessori Children’s House of Denver, a prestigious accredited private school that she established in 1991. This institution has thrived over 31 years, expanding to three campuses and serving 275 students, ranging from 12 months old to middle school. With a personal connection to Montessori education as a former Montessori student and a strong legacy, Rachel is driven to ensure that every child can fulfill their unique potential through the Montessori Method.
Directory of Founding Schools
Colorado Montessori Association Founding Schools & Organization
Each of these schools and organizations gave a generous donation to the Colorado Montessori Association in order to ensure a successful foundation for the association. We are so grateful to be in partnership with such a motivated and dedicated community. Please be sure to click on the links below and learn more about each founding partner.
Montessori Children’s House of Denver
Montessori Academy of Colorado
Children’s Garden Montessori School
St. Vrain Community Montessori School
Mountain Shadows Montessori School
Betsy Hoke: Montessori Consultant and Speaker
Phone: 303-514-0363
Email: bhoke7777@gmail.com
