Monarch Team
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. These leaders allow a high level of achievement for both teachers and students. They foster education, child development, research, health and safety, quality assurance, emergency planning, and Montessori curriculum to provide students with an home-like, nurturing quality educational environment. In addition to Administrative Leadership, the school supports staff members representing each level to create teacher leadership teams.
“The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say ‘The children are now working as if I did not exist.’” ~ Maria Montessori
Administration
Laura has worked in education for nearly two decades. In addition to teaching in Colorado, Texas and Mexico, she also has spent time directing programs at the district, city and state level supporting learner-centered approaches to learning through strong support of teachers and school leaders. Laura has been active in organizations that focus on learner-centered educational alternatives and education reform, and she is constantly learning about a variety of educational models around the world. This work led to her love for the Montessori method, and ultimately to her current work at Monarch. Laura is bilingual, with a Masters degree in Bilingual and Multicultural Education, and she loves being part of a diverse, globally-aware Montessori school that offers children a peaceful community and freedom in learning. Laura is also the proud parent of a long-time Monarch student.
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.
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.
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.
Connecting to the land, where our food comes from and education were rooted within Jessie by his Mediterranean grandparents. Both served as educators in a mountainous, rural village where they taught in the only school and grew produce to share with neighbors. For his family, sharing food was a way to truly give and create community connections. Jessie studied biology, food systems, and nutrition as a result of this connection. He concluded his education with a thesis-based master’s in nutrition and food sciences. While studying at the university he worked for the early childhood obesity prevention research lab while also teaching anatomy and physiology to fund his education. After graduating, Jessie taught at various middle schools working with inner-city communities.
Jessie resonates with Montessori principles and views them as the golden standards in helping students thrive. In his free time he loves mountain biking and exploring nature.
Jessie resonates with Montessori principles and views them as the golden standards in helping students thrive. In his free time he loves mountain biking and exploring nature.
Melanie Stewart-Lopes is a founding member of Monarch when they opened their doors in April of 2010. She rejoins Monarch in 2019, after some time working in the corporate world and doing consulting work with marketing and recruitment for multiple charter schools and businesses. As a young student who struggled with traditional education, she is a strong advocate of Montessori and believes that education is not a one size fits all as we are all unique learners. Melanie began working in education in 2001 with Cherry Creek Schools as a para and then becoming a teacher, teaching many grade levels prior to joining Monarch. Melanie holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in graphic design with a background in design, marketing, logistics, space planning, facilities management, events and recruitment. Melanie has a passion for gardening and building things so developing the Outdoor Learning and Urban Garden Spaces was one of her favorite projects at Monarch.
Mea has grown up around childcare her whole life, her mother was a teacher and later a director. Mea joined the Monarch team in April 2013. She loves that Montessori philosophy recognizes that children are not made to stay in the same mold. The Montessori environment builds confidence, even in the infant program. And, it is something that is easy to teach in the home! Mea’s hobbies include travel, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends. Her favorite vacation spot is Ireland…so far.
Veronica joined the Monarch Montessori family in December 2019. Her professional background is in office administration. A proud Texan, she moved to Aurora in 1996. Veronica is bilingual in Spanish and English and worked as a bilingual translator for almost a decade. She is a proud mother of four handsome boys and a beautiful granddaughter. She loves working around children, and has been very blessed working with the First Steps and Elementary families at Monarch. The staff and all the teachers are a great team to be part of!
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.
Teresa joined Monarch in 2021 after working in another private school and homeschooling her own children for five years. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She is pursuing a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation now. Teresa grew up in Chicago. She is a voracious reader and hobby baker and loves spending quality time with her family, hiking, and camping.
Marlene has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is a registered nurse with 35 years of experience in Pediatric Nursing; eighteen years at Children’s Hospital in Denver in the Pediatric Intensive Care Units and sixteen of the years in school nursing. She is one of the founders of Child Care Health Consultants of Colorado. Marlene loves having the opportunity to serve all children and believes all children deserve a voice.
All of Monarch’s Lead “Guide” teachers have a degree in education or related field and an additional two years of Montessori Teacher training and certification. Montessori teacher training and certification ensures that each teacher is prepared with the latest child developmental research, childhood safety and wellness, childhood learning techniques, classroom design preparation for dynamic learning, communication and leadership skills, and academic Montessori curriculum that prepares students to excel in education and in life.
Infants (Nido)
Toddlers
First Steps – Children’s House
Kindergarten – Children’s House
Lower Elementary
Upper Elementary
Specials & Support
