Martha Teien

Martha is the Director of Mountain Montessori.  She has a BS in Biology and a 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.  She is a member of the International Montessori Council and has attended the Montessori Leadership Institute with Tim Seldin. 

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. 

Jill Chalfant

Jill is the Co-Director of Mountain Montessori.  She has a BA in Criminology and Sociology from the University of Colorado, Boulder.  Jill joined Mountain Montessori in November of 2004.  She finished her Directorship for the Colorado Department of Human Resources in December of 2005.

Jill moved to the Vail Valley in December of 1999 and followed her lifetime dream of living in this amazing place!  Upon her arrival to the Vail Valley she was a ski instructor in the winters, a fly fishing guide in the summers, and a substitute teacher in the off seasons.  Jill was coerced into a permanent Kindergarten teaching position at Vail Mountain School in 2003.  In 2004 she joined forces with Mountain Montessori to start our amazing program. 

Jill maintains her connection with the ski world as she continues her work on Vail Mountain as the program coordinator for the Vail Development Team.  Her summers are spent at Mountain Montessori directing the summer camp.  She continues to enjoy fishing, softball, and being outside in her free time.