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Teresa Lewis

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Elementary Staff, Staff Bios, Support Staff.

Teresa Lewis spent her formative years in Bingham Farms, Michigan, but has called Utah “home” for 40 years. Her Montessori journey began over 30 years ago when her oldest child became a student at their local Montessori school. So impressed with the Montessori model of education: the education of the whole child and the inclusion and honoring of children, no matter their background, that she began the work of becoming a Montessori teacher herself. She has done certification course work from Montessori World Education Institute, Institute for Guided Studies, North American Montessori Center, and has taught at 3 other Montessori schools in the Salt Lake valley. A Montessori education has been a way of life for her own children, and now her grandchildren. She is a passionate advocate for children’s rights and believes that working with children is a sacred honor. She is thrilled to be a part of the Foothill Montessori team and looks forward to helping make a real difference in the lives of our students.

In her spare time, she is a mixed-media artist, a nature lover and explorer, and loves to spend whatever time she can with her children and grandchildren.

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.

Ruth Jennings

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

Maria Reynosa

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

Carson Woodard

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

Carson Woodard has nurtured young minds at Montessori Community School since 2018. His dedication to his craft deepened in November 2023 when he earned his Upper Elementary credentials from the International Montessori Council.

Beyond the classroom, Carson’s passion for language takes center stage. When not inspiring young minds as a Montessori guide, he explores his love for writing and poetry. And to balance his intellectual pursuits, Carson enjoys spending quality time with his partner, her two kids, and their dog, Anubis. He is an adventurous person, often found snowboarding, backpacking, climbing, running, or simply soaking up the beauty of the outdoors.