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Author: Alejandro Malespin

Brooklyn Roush

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Staff Bios, Toddler Staff.

Brooklyn was born and raised in Utah. She is a Montessori enthusiast who believes that the best classrooms are the ones where curiosity rules, peace thrives, and concentration is protected. After graduating from a Montessori-inspired charter high school, Brooklyn developed a deep appreciation for Montessori from a family member and fell in love with the method. In 2021, she dove headfirst into a training course with the Center for Guided Montessori Studies (CGMS) and is currently completing her certification to be a Montessori Infant and Toddler Guide, ready to help the littlest learners become big thinkers. When Brooklyn isn’t in the classroom, she’s likely reading a book, enjoying a lake day, winning at Mario Kart, or spending time with family and friends. Brooklyn is always looking to expand her knowledge and go on adventures — both in life and in learning.

Bonnie Bracken

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Elementary Staff, Staff Bios.

Bonnie Bracken is a lifelong resident of Salt Lake City, Utah. With over three decades of experience in the Montessori community, she began her journey as an Extended Day guide while pursuing her university degree. This early exposure ignited her passion for children and the Montessori Method. Bonnie has taught in both Early Childhood and Upper Elementary classrooms, but she finds the Lower Elementary age group particularly rewarding.

Through her dedication to Montessori education, Bonnie has completed coursework at the Montessori World Education Institute, the Utah Montessori Teachers Education Program, and most recently, the Institute for Montessori Innovation at Westminster College. In addition to her classroom teaching role, she has also served as a teacher intern grader and tester.

When she’s not immersed in the world of Montessori, Bonnie enjoys indulging in movie nights (for the popcorn), exploring the Oregon coast, spending quality time with family, and embarking on fishing and camping adventures with her husband, Jason, and their beloved dog, Archer.

Alejandro Malespin

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Staff Bios, Support Staff.

Alejandro is originally from Rye, New York, and spent most of his childhood there. After graduating from Rye High School, he attended Colby College in 2016, where he majored in Spanish and minored in Computer Science. In his junior year at Colby, Alejandro showed off his passion for interactive art by leading the development of a digital art exhibit that was displayed to the public on campus. After graduating from Colby in 2021, he followed his family to Utah, where they grew a love for the mountains and the outdoors. Alejandro’s interests include snowboarding, cooking, animation, and video game development. He joined Foothill Montessori of Salt Lake in the summer of 2022 and is excited to work in such a welcoming environment with an amazing team of people. A little known fact about Alejandro is that his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all share the same first name.

Wynde Klauer

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Staff Bios, Support Staff.

Wynde brings a wealth of experience and training to our community. She has a Masters in Education and a Reading Endorsement from Westminster College. She spent 8 years working in an early childhood Montessori classroom and 24 years teaching 1st grade for the SLC school district. Most recently, since her retirement, she has been a much sought after substitute at FMSL.

Wynde will focus on working with lower elementary students through December 2022. She will collaborate closely with the elementary teachers to provide supplemental reading instruction to students in their classrooms that would benefit from this targeted practice. In January 2023, she will turn her attention to 3rd years in the early childhood program.

Wynde’s own words, “I am excited to help students gain more skills, confidence, and pleasure with their own reading experience.”

Tori Snarr

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Specialty Staff, Staff Bios.

Originally from Phoenix, AZ, Tori has always believed in the transformative power of art. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Art History in 2016, she was drawn to the non-profit arts sector. She worked as a program coordinator for an organization that provides free arts programs to youth who have experienced trauma. This experience inspired her to pursue an educator certification in K-12 Arts Education. She gained experience as an art teacher in a public K-8 elementary school prior to relocating to Salt Lake City in 2022 and joining the FMSL faculty.

Tori is passionate about creating an art studio where students have the creative agency to discover and express their own ideas. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of choice in the art studio, working alongside young artists as they develop a learner-directed curriculum that centers their authentic interests. Outside of teaching, she loves creating with clay, traveling, cooking (and eating!), reading, being in nature, and spending time with her partner and their dog.

Tori Gebler-Calamity

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Staff Bios, Toddler Staff.

Tori grew up in Cedar City, Utah, and has been working with children of all ages for the past eight years in many ways of teaching and caring for children. Tori wanted to learn more and help children develop in their growth through Montessori and started working at the school in 2022. Tori is now very happy working with toddlers. When Tori is not working, she loves spending time with her husband doing various activities such as cooking, exploring the outdoors, shopping, and traveling to visit family.

Ruth Jennings

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Admin Staff, Staff Bios.

A native of the UK, Ruth has a degree in French and German from Oxford University, England. After graduating, she moved to Louisiana, where her two young sons attended the Montessori School for Shreveport. She joined their staff as a part-time French teacher and became interested in teaching at the Elementary level. She obtained her Montessori Elementary I Teaching Credential from the North Carolina Center for Montessori Teacher Education (AMS) in 1997 while living in Germantown, Tennessee. She has since worked at Montessori schools in Tennessee, New Jersey, and North Carolina. She joined FMSL in 2013 as a Lower Elementary Teacher. In summer 2023, she completed the first level of “Take Flight,” a dyslexia training offered by the Shelton School in Dallas, Texas. She gets immense satisfaction from watching children develop their skills and love of learning over the three-year cycle. In her free time, Ruth enjoys writing, calligraphy, yoga, playing the piano, reading, and traveling.

Ruby Chouldjian

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Early Childhood Staff, Staff Bios.

Ruby has enjoyed following the Montessori philosophy as a certified Montessori Guide in Early Childhood for over 27 years. She has been with MCS/Foothill Montessori of Salt Lake since 2000. Ruby obtained her Montessori certifications through the Montessori World Education Institute (MWEI) and Montessori Educational Foundation (MEF) with Utah Montessori Teachers Education Program (UMTEP). She has additional Early Childhood certifications through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies (CGMS). Ruby captures moments of student joy, wonder, and exploration of the Montessori works through her use of photography in the classroom. Parents enjoy seeing what their children are learning and are able to see the Montessori environment through her lens. Ruby has lived in many countries throughout her life and fostered a love and appreciation for different cultures and languages from an early age. Ruby enjoys reading and spending time with her husband, two sons, daughter-in-law, and three beautiful grandchildren.

Maria Reynosa

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Specialty Staff, Staff Bios.

Maria was born and raised in San Salvador, El Salvador. She and her husband moved to Utah in 2001. They have three children. Maria has spent many years working with young children. Maria has taught Spanish at McKee Language School but currently tutors children from preschool to elementary school ages in Spanish privately. Maria has a bachelor’s degree in Preschool Education and a degree in Communications and Journalism. Maria’s favorite hobbies are reading, music, watching movies, and traveling.

Madison Christensen

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Staff Bios, Toddler Staff.

Ms. Madison is a returning assistant Guide in the hummingbirds class, she started at MCS/FMSL in the summer of 2022. She has a twin brother and an older sister. She has worked with children for about 3 years. In her free time she loves to spend time with her partner and family, going on hikes ,watching movies, and spending time at home.