an Independent Montessori School on the North Coast
Where children from TK to eighth grade experience a transformative education in a prepared environment tailored to individual student needs while being part of a cohesive and nurturing community grounded in Montessori principles such as environmental stewardship, humanitarianism, global citizenship, and peace education.
our staff
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Chloe Reed
Director & Upper Elementary
Chloe has been an active part of the North Coast community since 2007 and Director of MdMCS since 2017. Her love of teaching and collaborative classrooms began more than 25 years ago with her teacher credentialing program at the University of Vermont. At UVM, Chloe was trained in curriculum development and assessment-based instruction which allows her to design academic programs rooted in student interests and needs rather than rely on packaged curriculum. After several years as a classroom teacher, Chloe attended Literacy Collaborative Coordinator training at Lesley University in order to become a literacy teacher trainer and coach for her district. Chloe worked in classrooms from grades kindergarten to eighth, implemented the district’s staff development program, and acted as a bridge between administration, faculty, teachers, and parents. She completed graduate coursework in Organizational Leadership at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. Chloe is a trained Montessori Model United Nations leader and took her first group of delegates to the New York conference in 2018. Chloe has participated in the Whole School Leadership Institute school administrator course specifically for heads of Montessori schools and completed the Pathways to Proficient Reading for Secondary Learners through the AIM Institute for Learning Research. Chloe held the role of Montessori parent, FMDM Board member, and Director of Montessori del Mar Learning Center before transitioning to be Director of Montessori del Mar Community School. For several years, Chloe also teaches humanities in the Upper Elementary. Chloe’s son, Griffin, attended Montessori schools since pre-school and is a student at Bentley Upper School in Lafayette, CA.
Contact: chloedirector@montessoridelmar.org
Special Focuses: Program Development, School Operations, Parent Communication, Montessori Model UN, Reading & Writing Workshop
Zoe Lord
Primary
Zoe has been supporting students on the Mendocino coast since 2011. She has had previous experience teaching in both Kindergarten and First Grade classrooms. After having her son in late 2020, she took a hiatus from teaching to support her family. In 2023 she started working at MdMCS offering literacy support. It was there that she cultivated a deeper knowledge base in building foundational literacy skills and the Montessori paradigm. Now that she is stepping into the primary teacher position she is very excited to be working with young learners in a classroom setting again. She deeply appreciates that the Montessori paradigm not only emphasizes academic growth with carefully scaffolded materials, but that it places equal value on a range of skills crucial for a child’s development, including practical life skills and social-emotional growth.
Contact:zoeprimary@montessoridelmar.org
Special Focuses: Early literacy intervention, balanced literacy, structured literacy
Chaia Leventhal
Lower Elementary
Chaia grew up in Albion, attended Mendocino High School and graduated with a Bachelors in Education from University of California at Davis. She then completed a Masters degree in Applied Linguistics. Chaia has been working with young children for almost a decade and recently has been teaching at the Mendocino K8. Chaia brings a proactive, self-disciplined and collaborative nature to her new role. Chaia is enrolled in Montessori teacher training and has already been in our classrooms to observe and begun looking at Montessori teacher resources. We are so excited to bring Chaia into our learning community!
Contact: chaialowerel@montessoridelmar.org
Special Focuses:
Holly Sinclair
Upper Elementary Math & PE
Holly knew she wanted to work with children early on in her college career. She received her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a minor in Education before going on to get her Masters in Education and Single Subject teaching Credential in Mathematics, all at UC Santa Cruz. She taught mathematics at a public school in Scotts Valley, CA and loved working with children, but she wanted to work more collaboratively with the students and connect with them on an individual basis. While pursing her professional career in teaching she also was very passionate about all things athletic with a focus on soccer. After playing college soccer she went on to coach Fort Bragg High School girls soccer and now the Mendocino High School girls team as well as the co-ed Middle School team. She feels that by working at the Montessori school she is able to work with students both academically and athletically in a way that feels more authentic to who she is and how she wants to inspire the youth. She is excited to integrate, learn, and grow from the Montessori program. Holly welcomed her first child, Claire in September 2022.
Contact: Holly@montessoridelmar.org
Special Focuses: Math, fitness, athletics, health
Kara de Vries
Classroom Assistant
Kara joined the Montessori Del Mar teaching community in 2023 and is entering her fourth season here as a classroom assistant. Her love of children goes back as long as she can remember and education has been a common thread throughout her work experiences. As an undergraduate at UC Davis, she began exploring environmental education and place-based learning. After working as a substitute teacher, Kara completed a Multiple Subject Teacher Credential Program with a supplemental in art education from the Bilingual Multicultural Education Department at Sacramento State. She continued her work in alternative classroom capacities including a farm-to-table Head Start program and Waldorf after-school program. She is a self taught artist and naturalist and completed a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Credential training in 2019. Kara enjoys combining place-based and experiential learning with mindfulness. Her growing knowledge of Montessori principles add greater depth to her understanding of the educational process. Kara currently works in both the Primary and Lower Elementary classrooms.
Contact: kara@montessoridelmar.org
LaViva Dakers
Science Specialist Upper Elementray & Lower Elementary Teacher Mentor
As an educator and parent, LaViva has developed and pursued her life-long passion for student-based education over the past two decades. She has worked with children K through 12 in traditional programs, as well as in alternative, independent study, and blended programs. Laviva has done immersive training in Montessori education through AMI (American Montessori Internationale) and NAMC (North American Montessori Center). She earned an American Montessori Society certification in the Science of Reading in 2024. Her greatest goal in teaching is to support, guide and joyfully challenge children to excel in their education, of which the end purpose is the full development and expression of their individual selves and as world citizens. This year, LaViva moves to a mentor teacher role supporting Chaia in her first year at MdMCS and offering science workshops to the Upper Elementary.
Contact: Laviva@montessoridelmar.org
Special Focuses: Social-emotional learning, whole child development, inquiry based learning and team-building.
Robin Bott
Art & After-School
Robin comes from a family of artists and her creativity has been fostered by her
parents since she was a child. Following this path, she has taught children and
adults in several schools and art institutions. Robin has over 20 years of experience in teaching art and is an imaginative and versatile artist that works in many mediums. She finds that working with and exploring different mediums provides endless creative avenues for self-expression. Her works are frequently noted for their whimsical style and her inspiration often comes from dreams. Robin’s love for teaching and passion for art go hand-in hand. Knowing the importance of self-expression, Robin
provides supportive guidance to each student she works with, so that they may
develop creatively in their own unique way. Robin recently moved from Southern California to the Coast of Mendocino with her family. Raising a family in Mendocino and teaching Art at a Montessori school in Mendocino had always been a dream of hers as she holds a very special place in her heart for the Montessori philosophy. Robin attended Montessori schools as a child from preschool through elementary school. Some of her most fond and memorable experiences were those of her childhood Montessori years. Robin is thrilled to be a part of MDMCS and looks forward to another creative and innovative school year.
Contact: robinbottdesign@gmail.com
Susana Jung
Business Administrator
Susana is an original founder of Montessori del Mar Learning Center and the President of Friends of Montessori del Mar, the precursor to MdMCS. Susana has been instrumental in guiding the vision and financial health of successful Montessori programs for over 10 years. Susana has a wealth of administrative experience from her time as Board President and as Manager of Patient Registration at Mendocino Coast Hospital. Both of her daughters graduated from Montessori elementary and middle school programs.
Contact: businessadmin@montessoridelmar.org
Kristi Lentz-Taylor
Independent Study & Literacy Support
Virtual Program
Kristi joined our staff in 2020 and came with a wealth of experience supporting homeschool families and providing one-on-one virtual instruction to children of all ages. Kristi is a credentialed teacher; she holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in education and literacy. Like Chloe, Kristi is trained in the workshop model of literacy instruction. Kristi also is a fluent Spanish speaker and has taught Spanish in school and private settings for many years. Kristi works with MdMCS students virtually.
Contact: kristi.lentz@gmail.com
Veronica Hamilton
Chef & Nutrition Educator
Veronica Hamilton is a passionate culinary professional and dedicated educator with deep roots in Mendocino County. Growing up in Willits, she cherished her early memories of cooking alongside her parents, which sparked a lifelong love for nutritious, flavorful, and sustainable food. Throughout her career, Veronica has specialized in vegetarian and vegan cuisine, combining her culinary expertise with a commitment to health and environmental stewardship. She worked at The Ravens Restaurant at The Stanford Inn—an acclaimed vegan eco-resort—and Fog Eater Cafe. Veronica graduated from the Living Light Culinary Institute in Fort Bragg in 2018 and is certified as a Food Safety Manager by the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals. She has been the nutrition program coordinator, chef and after-school culinary teacher at MdMCS for several years. Veronica believes in the transformative power of food to educate, promote well-being, and foster community. Her goal is to ignite curiosity and confidence in young chefs, encouraging them to explore nutritious cooking and sustainable practices. When she’s not in the kitchen, Veronica enjoys sharing her culinary passion with her community and believes that “Cooking is chemistry, art, intuition, and love.” She looks forward to continuing her journey of inspiring the next generation of mindful eaters and chefs
Contact: veronicahamilton1976@gmail.com