Our Team

Tina Patel

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Tina is the Founder and CEO of the award-winning Montessori ONE Academy, Albuquerque’s premiere Montessori academy offering infant care, preschool, and elementary programs. Prior to opening Montessori ONE Academy in November of 2007, Ms. Tina co-founded and directed two Albuquerque Charter high schools dedicated to serving at-risk youth. Her experience in developing innovative curriculum and writing programs that encourage students to take ownership of their education was a natural fit for Montessori pedagogy that empowers child independence, responsibility, and inspired learning.

Ms. Tina and Montessori ONE Academy are the recipients of a number awards and recognition including a 2017 Diverse Business Leader Honoree, 2017 Woman of Vision, 2017 Best Preschool, 2018 Best Preschool, 2017-2019 Top Private Schools List, 2017 – 2019 Top Private Companies List Honoree, 2019 Reader’s Choice Award, and more.

Christine Parson

Director

Christine Parson brings experience as an Anthropologist, Social Worker, and seasoned Montessori Guide to her role as Education Coordinator. During her eleven years as a Guide, Ms. Christine taught lower elementary, upper elementary, and combination classes. She specializes in English, the Humanities, and ensuring all aspects of the child's experience is rooted in authentic Montessori pedagogy-- even when that experience has to be virtual. As Education Coordinator, Ms. Christine is responsible for coordinating, assisting, and facilitating all aspects of the development and implementation of curricula and associated educational initiatives. Ms. Christine is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a BA in Anthropology. Inspired by the Montessori education her three sons received, she attended the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota and received her elementary certification from Association Montessori International in 2009 and attended AMI/NAMTA’s Orientation to Adolescent Studies.

Andrea Mitchell

Enrollment and Communications Coordinator

Andrea Mitchell is a graduate of the University of New Mexico with a BA in Psychology. Before joining the Montessori ONE team, Andrea worked in the corporate offices of Gap Inc. for almost two decades where she held various roles including a trainer, technical writer, accountant, project manager, and merchandiser (to name a few). After working in New York City, Andrea returned to New Mexico and is excited to start a new chapter in the education field. 

Emily Chavez

Operations Coordinator

A native of Albuquerque, Ms. Emily attend Albuquerque Academy before graduating from the University of New Mexico with Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Art Studio. She began her teaching career as an assistant in a Montessori school where she had an opportunity teach at the toddler, primary, and elementary levels and lead the Summer art program. Ms. Emily joined the Montessori ONE Academy teaching staff after completing her AMI Primary training in Portland, Oregon.  Ms. Emily continues to indulge her love of the arts through drawing and painting.

Shivaani Gardner

Operations Coordinator

Ms. Shivaani recently graduated from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. where she majored in Art History and International Relations of the Middle East. Shivaani grew up a Montessori child in Albuquerque and is thrilled to be back! She enjoys baking, reading, hiking and working with children. 

Maggie Yazzie

Front Desk Administrator

Ms. Maggie is a graduate from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT with a Bachelors in Community Health and Native American Studies. Before working for Montessori ONE Academy, Maggie worked for The Ohio State University – Wexner Medical Center as a research coordinator in the HRS department. She recently moved to Albuquerque to be closer to family and enjoys the Sandia Mountains in the evening, the Balloon Fiesta, and all things heat. She also enjoys spending time with her fiancé Virgil and their puppy, Pepper.

Anne Watkins

Lead Guide, Upper Elementary

Ms. Anne is originally from Germany where she earned a degree in sociology, psychology, and economics. Upon moving to the United States in 2007, she developed an interest in the field of education and earned her Master of Education degree with a specialization in English as a second language from the University of North Carolina. Ms. Anne has been working as a Montessori Lead Guide since 2013. She holds a lower elementary teaching certificate from the American Montessori Society and an upper elementary teaching certificate from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. She is also an experienced language instructor, after-school tutor, and children's yoga instructor. 

Gale Martinez

STEM Coordinator

Ms. Gale has degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and University of California, Berkeley. She worked at Lockheed Missile and Space Company in California and Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque.  When her son was of preschool age, she became interested in the Montessori Method and changed career trajectory to complete a Montessori Early Childhood Education program. Ms. Gale has worked at Montessori ONE Academy for the last 7½ years and started as a teaching assistant in a Primary Preschool classroom.  When the elementary program opened, she was an assistant for the first two years before spearheading the elementary science lab.  Ms. Gale prepares science experiments, STEM projects, and Practical Life activities to supplement the Montessori curriculum.  In the Practical Life area, she teaches hand sewing, machine sewing, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, and weaving.  She has a son who is a Physical Therapist in Washington state and a daughter in the EMT program at CNM.  She enjoys hiking with her husband and dog, working out at the gym, sewing, and arts and crafts. 

Veronica Berano

Lead Guide, Lower Elementary

Ms. Veronica is a proud graduate from the University of Florida. Her passion for Montessori was ignited after she enrolled her son in the primary classroom. She holds a Montessori Elementary 1 certification from the American Montessori Society. The last 3 years she was a lower elementary lead guide at a Summit Questa Montessori school and, most recently, a lead guide at Guidepost Montessori school for the past two years. She is looking forward to joining our community and connecting with our families. During her free time, Ms. Veronica enjoys reading, the outdoors, off roading and spending time with her son.

Gabriella Barrett

Spanish Guide - Primary & Elementary

Ms. Gabriella was born in Baja California, Mexico and is the proud mother of two amazing young adults. She loves working with children and has studied child development in primary and elementary aged children. She brings over ten years of experience as a teacher of preschool and elementary children and more than five years of experience teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). If Ms. Gabriella could instill one quality in each child she teaches it would be the love of learning a new language.

Sachin Devaraja

Lead Guide, Primary

Mr. Sachin came to Montessori ONE Academy from Bangalore, India where he earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Bangalore University and his Montessori Diploma from the Indian Montessori Centre. Mr. Sachin brings an enthusiasm for education and a sincere desire to nurture the young minds in his classroom. By utilizing a variety of strategies, his goal is not just to educate his students, but to develop confidence, foster socialization, celebrate diversity, and increase engagement. Mr. Sachin enjoys film, music, reading, and trivia.

Pam Ketner

Lead Guide, Primary

After 25 years of teaching traditional preschool, Ms. Pam moved to Albuquerque where she discovered Montessori ONE Academy and the Montessori Method. Ms. Pam is a graduate of the Montessori ONE Teacher Training Institute in partnership with the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies where she recieved her Primary Preschool AMI-certification in 2019. Ms. Pam is a passionate advocate for the Montessori Method and considers it an honor and pleasure to support each child's unique development. Ms. Pam enjoys spending time with her son, a graduate student at the University of New Mexico.   

Jovanna Andrade

Lead Guide, Primary

Ms. Jovanna was born in Mexico and moved to New Mexico in 2004.  Her love for children and Montessori pedagogy led her to embark on a Montessori diploma in 2019 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ms. Jovanna always had a desire to work with children and be a positive influence in their lives. If she could instill one quality in each child she teaches it would be perseverance. She would like them to know that they can do anything they want all they need to do is pursue it.

Saima Haroon

Lead Guide, Primary

Ms. Saima, originally from Pakistan, joined Montessori ONE in March 2022 as a Primary Guide. The passion of working in early years motivated Ms.Saima to get her AMI certification after achieving the degree of B.Ed. She has 17 years of teaching experience in the preschool and lower elementary levels at both Montessori and traditional schools. Ms. Saima is blessed with two children and is a dedicated mother for their upbringing and studies for future outcomes.

Bhairavi Saturdekar

Lead Guide, Primary

Ms. Bhairavi moved to Albuquerque from Mumbai, India where she earned an MBA in Human Resources Management. She also has a Masters in Organizational Development and Training from The University of Denver. After having her son in 2017, she became interested in the Montessori philosophy and received her AMI primary diploma in 2021. Ms. Bhairavi wants to be able to support children and make them independent in their early years of development by making learning fun and enjoyable. She is also a certified kids yoga instructor and in her free time she loves spending time with family and friends and enjoys art, music, hiking, photography, and spending time in nature. 

Sharda Behera

Lead Guide, Primary

Ms. Sharda is from Hyderabad, India and has over 6 years of experience as a Montessori lead guide for Primary students ages 3-6. She has a Masters in Computer Applications and loves fabric painting, embroidery, and playing chess. 

Jeanne Trujillo

Lead Guide, Toddler

Ms. Jeanne’s extensive 17-year childcare experience ranges from working with infants through preschool. Ms. Jeanne joined Montessori ONE Academy in 2014 as an Assistant where she developed a love and passion for the toddler age group. After graduating from the Montessori Institute in Denver, Colorado with her AMI diploma in Assistant to Infancy Studies in 2018, Ms. Jeanne became a Lead Guide in the Preschool’s Toddler program. Ms. Jeanne has a son and when she is not in the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family and shopping.

Gayle Byers

Lead Guide, Toddler

Ms. Gayle has over 20 years of experience working with children, including owning and operating a childcare business for 10 years. She is currently pursuing a degree in Child Development Multicultural Education and is excited to be a part of the Montessori ONE team. Her passion is working with children because she loves how they explore and learn new things every day. She loves spending time with family, crocheting, and playing with her grandchildren.

Belinda Garcia

Lead Guide, Toddler

Ms. Belinda was introduced to the Montessori Method when she was looking for a school for her own children. She was so impressed with the impact it made on her children that she began her Montessori training in Infant and Toddler. Ms. Belinda has been working with young children for over 20 years and has found it extremely rewarding to observe children work and explore their environment.

Debbie Alarcon

Lead Guide, Nido

Ms. Debbie has over 15 years of experience working with infants and finds it very calming. She especially loves watching them learn and grow as well as reach important milestones. When not in the classroom, Ms. Debbie enjoys cooking and going hiking and swimming with her 11-year-old son.

Jeffrey Friedman

Intergenerational Montessori Director

Jeffrey Friedman was born and raised in Port Washington, New York. Upon earning a BA English at Binghamton University with a de facto degree in student programming, he joined The Agency Group, Ltd. as an Agent’s Assistant booking talent in venues across the country. While honing an eye for detail in contracts, managing band logistics, and cultivating relationships within the music business was exciting, a yearning for more heart-centered work beckoned. After 18 months of international travel, a firm 2002 landing in Honolulu, Hawaii was where Jeffrey began what has become a two-decades career in Montessori. 

Jeffrey began on Oahu for several years as an intern during Primary Training (3-6 year olds) that evolved into a Guide’s Assistant. Followed by a second Primary Training in Portland, Oregon that fed a Lead Guide position at Montessori School of Maui (MOMI) where he launched and steered a new Primary environment for five years and added new programs to the larger school organization. He returned to the Portland training center for a short-lived position in community development because an international stint opened in La Barra, Uruguay exploring the trifecta of three pedagogies: traditional Uruguayan curriculum, International Baccalaureate, and Montessori. While living abroad on the path of an expat was interesting, when MOMI telephoned asking if he would return to Maui and spiral up into the Adolescent Program, Jeffrey said yes, which led to nine wonderful years of working with 12-15 year old students filled with collective fun, challenge, and growth. 

Jeffrey’s interests and hobbies include meditation and yoga, swimming, and hiking and he is excited to explore New Mexico.