Elise was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has always had a passion for her creative expression through dance, art, music, and writing. Elise has a vast array of interests because she enjoys learning new skills often! She has a 9 year old son named Elliot who is her little partner in crime through their outdoor adventures together. Elise comes to Montessori in a support teaching role, and is very excited to grow with the community.
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 MCS.
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.”
Maria was born and raised in San Salvador, El Salvador. She and her husband moved to Utah in 2001. They have three beautiful children, Valeria, Jose, and Gabriel. 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, watching movies, and traveling. She has been falling in love with her city’s historic heritage. She has already started on her bucket list of places to visit: UNESCO Heritage World Cities in Mexico such as Guanajuato, Guadalajara, etc.
Donda Hartsfield was born in Amarillo where she grew up learning to love the high plains of Texas. She studied the arts at USU and practiced massage therapy for 6 years. When Donda’s son started going to the Montessori Community School when he was three and a half, she was immediately taken with the Montessori method and over time decided to go through the Utah Montessori Teacher Education Program (UMTEP) to get her certification in Early Childhood Montessori method. Donda started out teaching yoga and creative movement in Montessori. In 2005, Donda began teaching at the Montessori Community School as she also started the Great Outdoors Expedition program for elementary. In 2009, Donda initiated the Outdoor Classroom for Early Childhood where she delights in seeing children thriving in their natural environment. Donda has completed both the Project Wild as well as the Project Learning Tree courses for teachers, which continue to inspire her natural studies. One of Donda’s favorite things is eating yummy food while she dances to music that she loves. Little known fact: Donda starred in Neil Simon’s comedy play Star Spangled Girl in her early twenties.