Our Team

Tina Patel

Founder and CEO

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 of Education

Christine Parson brings experience as an Anthropologist, Social Worker, and seasoned Montessori Guide to her role as Director of Education.  During her 15+ years in the classroom, Ms. Christine has taught lower elementary, upper elementary, and combination classes.  She also taught adolescent Montessori classes as the lead guide, English teacher, and Humanities teacher.  She specializes in ensuring all aspects of the child’s experience is rooted in authentic Montessori pedagogy.  As Director, Ms. Christine is responsible for coordinating and facilitating Montessori curriculum across all levels.  She also facilitates Montessori training for staff and workshops for parents.  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 Internationale in 2009.  She attended AMI/NAMTA’s Orientation to Adolescent Studies in 2016 to become certified to teach Montessori for ages 12-18.  Ms. Christine started at Montessori ONE Academy as a virtual elementary teacher while living in Florida and moved to Albuquerque with her family in 2021. 

Emily Chavez

Enrollment 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

Director

Ms. Shivaani grew up as a Montessori child and returned to Albuquerque after living in Washington, D.C. for several years studying and working in the fields of Art History and International Relations of the Middle East. She started working at Montessori ONE as an administrative associate where she discovered her love of and passion for children and Montessori education. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, hiking and spending time with children. 

Maggie Spencer

Operations Coordinator

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 husband Virgil and their dogs, Pepper and Bear.

Veronica Casana

Lead Guide, Elementary

Veronica Casana is a dedicated Montessori educator with over five years of experience guiding lower elementary students on their learning journeys. With a passion for fostering independence and curiosity in her classroom, Veronica embraces the Montessori philosophy, creating a nurturing environment where children can explore, discover, and thrive. Outside of the classroom, Veronica is an avid reader and enjoys immersing herself in new stories and ideas. She also loves to explore the great outdoors, whether through off-roading adventures or peaceful camping trips with her family. As a mother of a teenager in Montessori and a lively toddler, Veronica understands the diverse needs of children at different stages of development, and she brings that insight into her teaching.

Veronica believes that education is a lifelong adventure and is committed to inspiring her students to embrace their own paths of exploration. She is excited to continue sharing her love for learning and the natural world with her students and their families.

Tereza Armenta

Spanish Coordinator

Originally from Chicago and raised in Albuquerque, Tereza has a passion for education and language. Through her time at Montessori ONE, she has grown from a Primary associate to the Guide of the Spanish program, where she inspires young minds through immersive language learning. A native Spanish speaker, Tereza loves sharing her culture skills with her students.

Outside the classroom, Tereza enjoys spending time with her three beloved dogs, exploring the outdoors, and embracing new adventures. Her commitment to fostering a love for Spanish and her engaging teaching style make her a valued member of Montessori ONE.

Eric Garretson

Nature Specialist

Mr. Eric is a farmer and landscaper who gardens with our children on our playground and at AMARAN. In addition to gardening, Mr. Eric enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, birdwatching, fly-fishing, and growing food all year round!

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 has been loving living in New Mexico and exploring all that New Mexico has to offer!

Yang Chen

Lead Guide, Primary

Ms. Yang was born and raised in China. Working with children is her life's passion; she has been teaching children 0-6 years old for six years. She has a M. Ed from Loyola University with a specialty in Montessori Studies. She also just completed her AMI primary guide training last year. She loves to spend time with her husband, an aviation mechanic and soon to be aerospace engineer, and their two daughters Eva (8 years old) and Sophia (4 years old). They love to hang out in the nature, visit libraries,  and explore parks and museums.

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. 

Gaby Dahlquist

Lead Guide, Primary

Ms. Gaby moved to Albuquerque in 2011 where she fell in love with education and childhood development. She received her Bachelor's degree in Film and Digital Media, and later fell in love with the Montessori Method after joining the Montessori One team as an associate in 2023. She has since completed her Primary AMI Certification in May of 2025. She hopes to inspire a love for learning and culture in the classroom. In her spare time she enjoys hiking with her beloved dog and husband, reading, and art. 

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.

Brenda Reyes

Lead Guide, Nido

Ms. Brenda has been working with children for over 20 years. She loves seeing when the babies reach their milestones. It makes her happy when she sees them transition to eating solids and especially enjoys when the children give her hugs.

When not at school she enjoys spending time with her husband and is a big fan of his cooking and her favorite is when he makes ribs. If she could choose any place to travel to she would pick Paris.

Tasleem Begum

Intergenerational Montessori Director

I am originally from India, where a deep respect for elders was instilled in me from a young age. Growing up, I cherished the time spent with my grandparents, especially during holidays when I took care of them with love and compassion. This upbringing fostered my strong connection to the elderly and their well-being. With 5 years of experience as a Montessori teacher and 8 years overall in early childhood education, I now serve as an Intergenerational Montessori Director. In this role, I bring together children and senior residents, fostering meaningful intergenerational connections. I am particularly passionate about developing activities that enrich the lives of senior residents, especially those with dementia, drawing from both my professional experience and cultural background. As I embark on my new journey in AMARAN senior assisted living, I am excited to continue my mission of nurturing and supporting both the elderly and younger generations, making a positive impact on their lives.