Mountain Montessori Staff

Martha Teien, Executive Director, Montessori Lead Teacher WEST Room

Martha is the Founding and Executive Director of Mountain Montessori.  She has a BS in Biology and an Early Childhood Directorship from the State of Colorado.  Her Montessori training was completed through Montessori Educational Programs International (www.mepiforum.org) in 1995 for the 3-6 year old level, also referred to as Primary education.  Martha's internship was a full year at Vail Valley Montessori School in Minturn, Colorado.  Most recently Martha obtained her Masters of Education in Montessori at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN.  She has been nominated for the Board of Directors for MEPI.

Martha is a member of the International Montessori Council, Montessori Educational Programs International and the American Montessori Society (AMS).  Martha has attended the Montessori Leadership Institute with Tim Seldin and the 2009 AMS National Conference in New Orleans and the 2011 AMS National Conference in Chicago.  In February 2011 Martha was a presenter at the Hands for Peace MEPI conference on Pawley's Island. 

Prior to coming to Mountain Montessori in 2004 as a founding teacher, Martha helped co-found Montessori Childrens 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, volley ball games and telemark competitions.  Martha also loves to run, hike, and read.    

Nikki Petrovski, Montessori Assistant, WEST Room

Nikki was introduced to Montessori as a parent in our school in 2005 with the oldest of her three children.  She was invested in the education of her children and began a journey of understanding the Montessori Method.  In December of 2010 she joined our staff as a Montessori assistant. 

Nikki has a BA in Business and is presently taking courses to gain her Early Childhood Directorship from the State of Colorado.  Nikki has three children that have benefited from their academic start at Mountain Montessori.  She enjoys spending time with her family, skiing and running! 

DeAnn Matheny, Montessori Lead, EAST Room

DeAnn was introduced to the Montessori Method by a parent of a Montessori child. She became interested and has pursued it since 2008. In 2009 DeAnn received her American Montessori Primary Teaching Certification from Montana Montessori Teacher Education Institute.  DeAnn has a B.F.A in Fine Arts and an M.F.A. in Fine Arts. In July of 2011 she joined our staff, relocating from Oklahoma where she taught Montessori at the Primary level for over two years. She enjoys spending time with her family, painting and hiking!

 Allison Decent, Montessori Assistant, EAST Room

 
Allie began her journey as a Montessori assistant in August 2011.  She has a BA in English and is certified as an Early Childhood Lead.  She has worked with children for the past 9 years during summer breaks from college and after her graduation in 2007.  When she moved to Colorado she taught skiing for Vail Resorts.  Allie is currently taking classes in pursuit of her Directorship from the State of Colorado.