Our Staff:
Administrative Team
Emily Farley
Founding Director
Emily Farley graduated from Regis University in 2006 with a degree in Elementary Education. She received her Primary Montessori training from The Montessori Institute of North Texas (Association Montessori Internationale) in 2010, and taught in Denver Public Schools for six years as a lead primary guide.
Emily received her Assistants to Infancy training through The Montessori Institute (Association Montessori Internationale) in 2014, and opened Highlands Montessori that fall. She completed her M.Ed. in Montessori Education through Loyola University in 2015.
Emily was born and raised in Colorado. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and snowboarding in the Colorado outdoors. She also enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and her cat, Dotty.
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Natalie Anderson
Founding Director
Before opening Highlands Montessori in 2014, Natalie Anderson was a lead Montessori primary guide in Denver Public Schools for 5 years. She received her Primary Montessori training from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in 2009, and completed her Assistants to Infancy (0-3) training through the Montessori Institute (Association Montessori Internationale) in 2014.
Natalie graduated from Regis University with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Criminology, and also holds a M.Ed. in Montessori education through Loyola University.
Natalie spends most of her free time with her husband and two children. She enjoys sewing, hiking, spending time with friends and family.
Nido Staff
Ingrid Mendez
Nido Lead Guide
Ingrid Mendez was born in Texas but lived most of her young life in a small town in Mexico called Nuevo Casas Grandes. She moved to Colorado at the age of nine. Prior to joining Highlands Montessori in 2019, Ingrid worked as a teacher assistant in both traditional and Montessori schools. She loves working with children and considers it one of the most greatest experiences of her life. Ingrid completed her Assistants to Infancy training at The Montessori Institute of Denver (AMI) in 2022.
Ingrid loves music, painting, educational videos and spending time with her family. Montessori has been one of the greatest influences in Ingrid's life. Working with children has allowed her to learn patience, empathy, and the desire to find a better way. She is happy to share it with all the wonderful people around her.
Kylie Russell
Nido Assistant
Kylie grew up in Illinois and moved to Colorado in 2018. She has always had a passion for working with children through volunteering and now teaching. Kylie has been a part of Highlands Montessori since 2020 and is enjoying her current role as an assistant in the Nido classroom.
In her free time, Kylie enjoys taking her dog for walks, baking and hanging out with friends.
Toddler/Primary Community Staff
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Catherine Wadley
Toddler Community Lead Guide
Catherine moved to Colorado from Texas to complete her degree in criminology. Post-graduation she developed a love for the classroom after taking an assistant position at Highlands in 2017. She completed her Assistants to Infancy (0-3) training with The Montessori Institute of Denver in 2020. Prior to working at the school, Catherine gained experience working with children as a nanny and tutor for many years.
In her free time, Catherine enjoys camping, hiking, cooking, watching horror movies, and drawing. She is a proud mother of two twin boys who also attend Highlands.
Damani Mariney
Toddler Community Assistant
Kate McAleer
Toddler Community Lead Guide
Kate McAleer was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Annapolis, MD before moving to Colorado in 2013. She is. "Montessori child," having gone to an AMI Montessori school from Nido through Upper Elementary. Kate obstained her BS in Biology and a BA in Psychology from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC. She completed her Assistants to Infancy training at The Montessori Institute of Denver in 2022 and is certified in Montessori Sports (AMI).
Kate, her husband TJ, her daughter Paige, and their 2 big dogs live in Arvada, CO where they spend a lot of time hiking, running, practicing yoga and spending time with family and friends. In her free time, Kate also enjoys coaching girls lacrosse and teaching yoga.
Leonela Barrios
Primary Lead Guide
Leonela is from California and came to Colorado in 2004. She has worked as a Montessori assistant for many years before joining Highlands Montessori in 2017. Leonela completed her Primary training at The Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in 2023. She is fully bilingual and enjoys teaching the children new words in Spanish.
In her free time, Leonela enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves traveling, family vacations, and all things Disney!
Chantel Merriex
Primary Community Assistant
Chantel was born and raised in Colorado. She has a Bachelor's of Arts in Entrepreneurship. Chantel loves children in general and has created a safe space for the kids in her neighborhood, where she has babysat some of the children for 11 years.
In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with kids in the neighborhood, family, and friends as well as shopping and relaxing!
Audriana Lucero
Float/ Aftercare Assistant
Bio coming soon.
Dalilah Guerra
Primary Community Guide
Bio coming soon.
Lexie Cabral
Aftercare Assistant
Lexie was born and raised in Denver, Colorado where she pursued her education at the Community College of Denver for a double major in Psychology and American Sign Language. During the day, she works for two counseling centers in Downtown Denver. In the afternoon she is the aftercare coordinator where she loves taking care of and interacting with the students while creating a safe and kind environment for all.
During her free time she loves to travel and explore new places with her partner, as well as experiencing new art, music, and different cultures. She also loves spending time with her family and friends, and cuddling her sweet bulldog, Watson!
Aliyah Vigil
Aftercare Assistant
Bio coming soon.