About the Staff

"Montview celebrates the joy and magic of childhood and the value of learning through play, which in turn brings joy to my teaching.  I am proud to be part of a school that honors childhood and builds community." 

Lisa was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up in Ventura, California. After college, she moved back to Seattle and lived there for 10 years before moving to Denver. She graduated from Ventura Community College with an associate degree, from Cal Lutheran University with a BA in Liberal Studies and English Literature, and from Pepperdine University with a Master's in Education. She began teaching at Montview in 2011.  Before that she taught elementary school for 9 years. Lisa says, "I believe children learn best when they are loved and supported and encouraged to discover the world around them." Lisa and her husband met while teaching at the same school and had a second wedding ceremony so that all their students could be included in their celebration. Their joy is raising their two wonderful boys, who are "quickly becoming young men!" Lisa's world revolves around kid activities and her houseful of pets.

"I choose to work at Montview because I genuinely believe in play-based preschool and the entire philosophy behind Montview."

Robin was born in New Jersey but moved to Colorado when she was just 4 years old. She says, "I like to think that I got here as soon as I could!" Robin has a BA in international affairs (with a French minor) from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania and an MA in international affairs from American University in Washington, DC. She worked for many years in international education - first at a nonprofit in Washington DC, and then as an International Student Advisor at the University of Denver. She became a stay-at-home mom when her kids were born and after her 3rd kid finished at Montview and went off to kindergarten, she decided to stay on as an Assistant Teacher. That was in 2008! Robin never thought she would be a teacher but loved Montview when her kids went here and wasn't ready to leave. Robin believes play-based learning is the best gift we can give our children and she'll tout all its virtues to anyone who will listen to her! Not only does she love working at a play-based preschool, she also loves working in a co-op. Her favorite part of teaching is forming relationships with both the kids and their families. Robin has lived in Park Hill with her husband and 3 teen – twenties kids for almost 25 years. She loves baseball, anything outdoors and photography. Her favorite thing about working at Montview " is that not a day goes by when the kids don't make me laugh."

"I teach at Montview because I fell in love with the experiences my own two children had while attending the school. They were given the freedom to just be children, which is a very powerful thing. I want all children to feel that magic!"

Valerie is from Grosse Ile, Michigan. She has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, with minors in Art Education and Language Arts Education. She has a master's degree in Early Childhood Education. She has been teaching for over ten years.  After becoming a parent, Valerie believes more than ever in the importance of play. She is in awe of children's natural curiosity and unlimited wonder and views childhood as a precious time, a time when "we need to let kids be kids." As a teacher, Valerie has worked hard to make her classroom one where children feel safe to explore and safe to try. She provides students opportunities to be who they are, while giving them opportunities to grow. Both Valerie's son and daughter attended Montview.  She loves the magic of the school, the play-based philosophy and the community the school inspires. According to Valerie, "Montview is special because it gives children the space to be children. It gives them the opportunity to explore, to express, and to become immersed in their wonders. We meet the children where they are, while encouraging them to take ownership in becoming who they will be." She subbed at Montview while her daughter was in her 3rd year of preschool, then took on an Assistant Teacher position in one of the Tuesday/Thursday classrooms. Valerie is now a Lead Teacher at Montview. She lives in North Park Hill with her husband, two children, and their Italian Greyhound. As a family, they love to go camping, hiking, and skiing.

"I loved Montview as a parent, and when I had the opportunity to join the staff, I was so excited.  It is a great fit for me since I love kids and know how important ECE can be to a child.”

Cathrine grew up all over the world.  She went to high school and college in Tucson, Arizona.  She is married and has two daughters who are Montview alumni.  Cathrine’s background is in marketing; however, both her parents were teachers.  As a teacher, Cathrine tries to instill a love of learning by encouraging interests and exposing kids to an array of topics through hands-on experiences and lots of books!  Catherine was a Montview parent for 5 years.  She really loves the relaxed atmosphere here.

"I came to Montview because I saw it was a place where best practices thrive. I've stayed because the community of staff and families are supportive, and because we never stop growing and learning as a team."

Julie is originally from St. Louis. She earned her B.S. Ed. from the University of Missouri and has continued to study Early Childhood Education here in Colorado. She's been in the field for over 25 years, both as a teacher and a trainer. She is a "play-based" veteran and enjoys the challenge of being responsive to children's interests as well as intentional in ensuring their environment is infused with challenges important to future success and fulfillment. She believes "learning happens in the context of positive and authentic relationships," and she actively promotes social and emotional learning in the classroom. She emphasizes validating children's feelings and problem-solving with peers. She says "Most of all I love getting to know children as individuals, sharing in their joy and entering their unique worlds on their terms. It is my goal to truly know your child." Julie has been a lead teacher at Montview since August of 2015. In her free time, she enjoys being an artist, camping, bird-watching, and loving her dogs.

“My favorite thing about Montview is the community we build with all the families.  It’s so important to be surrounded by people who are here to help them grow and a part of that is having teachers, family members and friends who all have good relationships with one another.  “

Madi currently lives in Columbine but spent most of her life moving around the Midwest and East Coast. She loves to travel and has gone out of the country several times through a photography study abroad program. Traveling has given her the opportunity to immerse herself in other cultures, giving her a new perspective on the world. She is currently working on completing her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education at Metro. She has been working with children for 8 years. This is her second year at Montview, and she excited to continue growing as a teacher alongside such an incredible team of creative, dedicated, and passionate teachers. As a teacher, she values supporting children in their individual growth as they learn to navigate their lives and the world around them. Her teaching style is always changing depending on the children she is working with. She follows their lead and enjoys bringing their interests into the classroom. She is looking forward to another amazing year at Montview!

"Montview has allowed me to encourage development and open doors for kids to create and invite those spontaneous connections! The love of learning is a joyous journey that is fostered by the loving environment here at Montview."

Michelle's own children and the love of little people are what led her to a career in Early Childhood Education. She has been working with children for over 10 years.  She began teaching at Montview in 2020.  Before Montview, she taught the Parent-Tot classes at Denver Cooperative Preschool and prior to that, served as an Assistant Teacher at Denver Academy. Both of her children attended a cooperative preschool and she believes in play-based curriculum. Now that her daughter is off to college and her son is attending High School, she says she has seen the remarkable benefits of a play-based preschool.  She credits her children’s participation in a play-based curriculum for their energetic involvement in the community, their compassion for others, and their passion for learning and she is excited to be able to pay it forward! Michelle says that the curriculum, the caring staff, and the engagement of parents are just a few things that brought her to Montview. As a 3rd generation Coloradoan, you can usually find her in the mountains. She loves to hike, ski, and enjoy those simple moments in a secluded cabin with her family. If she's not in the mountains, you can find her walking her husky mix around any one of Denver's great parks. 

" My favorite aspect of is the strong connection I feel for the team. I love how everyone is on the students' learning team; from parents to teachers to admin, we are all a part of the great building of knowledge that takes place in these formative years."

Jen grew up in Northglenn, Colorado. She has a bachelor's degree in human development from Metro State University. She has been teaching in the classroom in both public and private schools for ten years but has worked with children in pre-schools, as a nanny and soccer coach for 20 years. Jen believes that teaching is creating an environment that has the potential to transform students in cognitive, emotional, social, intuitive, creative, and spiritual ways. 

She strongly believes in a learner-centered approach in which the teacher leads the students to a greater understanding of and care for themselves, others, and the environment. She wants to create students who have a love of learning because if you like learning, life will be large! Jen loves spending time with family and friends. You will often find her reading, gardening, bowling or watching her beloved Broncos! 

Jen is new to the Montview Community and chosen to share her gifts and talents with Montview because she has spent many years in the Park Hill Community and loves the feel of the neighborhood. She is also excited to bring her passion for science and engineering to a community that has given her so much over the years! She feels very connected to the ideals and standards that Montview Community Preschool exudes!

"I love the collegial, thoughtful and cooperative nature of the school. Montview has a coherent, clear vision of the kind of education that allows young children to thrive. This philosophical unity gives teachers the freedom and creativity to pursue a diversity of approaches in each of their classrooms. I learn so much simply by poking my head in another classroom." 

San was born in Indonesia, but she grew up in northern New Jersey. She attended Yale University, receiving a bachelor's degree in Economics & Political Science and, 7 years later, an MBA. In 2011 she completed an Early Childhood Teacher Certification from Colorado State's Division of Child Care. She began teaching at Montview in 2007 during her daughter's last year of preschool and has never left. San believes that the skills a child requires in the long run (persistence, resilience, a knowledge of themselves and others, innate self-discipline, a personal sense of agency, an abiding delight and curiosity in the world around them) are best cultivated through experiential learning. Young children's 'play' provides a portal for us as teachers to enter into their world, where they are highly motivated and open to learning. It is great fun, but it is fun infused with serious intentions. San lives with her husband and her daughter has now spread her wings! In her free time, San enjoys reading, cooking, practicing aikido, and entertaining her two cats as best she can.

"Along with all the wonderful child-centered work we do, I believe that one of the most unique parts of Montview is it's longevity. I think it is amazing to have students who are legacies. I love being part of this Park Hill tradition!"

Julie was born in Watertown, South Dakota and grew up in Minneapolis. She went to Minnetonka High School and then to Kenyon College in Ohio where she earned her BA in English Literature. She then moved to Vail, Colorado, and after a couple of years of ski bumming, she settled in Denver. She attended Community College of Denver to earn her Group Leader Certification Early Childhood and has been in this field for over 10 years. She believes in her core that "play is the best and most natural way for preschoolers to learn about themselves and the world around them!" Julie says her favorite part about working at Montview is the people - "My coworkers, the families, and of course our precious students!" She lives in Mayfair with her husband Brian, her dog, Stella, and her two sons, Will and Henry who are both Montview Alum.

"I love Montview because of the staff and their positivity."

Stephanie is a native to Colorado. She has a master's degree and 3 years of teaching experience. She believes that education is essential to our lives and can also be informative and fun. When she is not teaching, she loves hiking in the summer with friends and snowshoeing in the winter. She loves to check out local burger places. Stephanie is new to Montview and excited to meet and get involved in the community. She has chosen to share her gifts and talents with Montview because she loves helping others and finds supporting her local community important. 

"Montview is a magical place. When I first visited, I was blown away by the warm, imaginative classrooms and outdoor space. I can't wait to fill my classroom with an adorable group of preschoolers and build a community with them and their families."

Marissa was born and raised in a suburb of Detroit, MI. After college, she made her way to the city of Chicago where she spent 11 years. She and her family moved to Denver in 2016. Marissa went to the University of Michigan for Undergrad (Go Blue!) and earned her Master's Degree in Elementary Education from National Louis University in Chicago. She has been in education for over fifteen years. Marissa has taught preschool through second grade students and served as an instructional coach and most recently, an Early Learning Consultant. She believes that young children learn best in a nurturing, play-based environment that is centered around the child. One of her favorite parts about teaching preschoolers is getting to experience things with them for the very first time! Marissa couldn't be more excited to embark on this new adventure as a lead teacher and to join a community of families and staff that value high quality early childhood education practices. Marissa lives in Central Park with her husband, Nate and two daughters Olivia (7) and Emory (5). They love spending time together as a family experiencing Colorado and all it has to offer! She also enjoys traveling, working out and reading.

"The student-led curriculum is what really sets Montview apart. For a child’s interests and curiosities to be the driving force of what’s done in the classroom is so impactful. The kids can tell that the teachers all truly listen and care, which really grounds their education in something strong!"

Kath grew up in Danville, Illinois, and has lived in Denver since 2011.  She has her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL.  Through an exchange program, she completed her student teaching overseas, in Cologne, Germany.

Kath believes preschool is such a magical time of a child’s life, and there is no better way to encourage learning during that time than by play and hands-on experiences. Kids are natural explorers, scientists, artists…all they need is the space and support to learn, and she wants to provide that!

Kath lives in City Park West with her husband and two kids. As a family, they love to travel, especially to visit their family living in other states and countries. She also loves to bake. Kath became part of the Montview community as a parent 3 years ago and fell in love with the school from her daughter’s first classroom visit. She knew by the end of that first year that she would eventually want to teach here!

Kath feels like Montview is such a joyful place! To her, the families are all so invested in the school, the staff are excited to be there, and the kids thrive when they’re in that encouraging and playful environment. Kath can’t help but smile every time she walks in the door.