Toddler
Hawthorn Guide - Sophie Nguon (she/her) was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She has been a part of Three Tree Montessori School since July of 2007. Sophie began as a toddler assistant and chose to take the Assistant to Infancy training in Portland, Oregon in 2014. In 2015, Sophie became the lead guide in the Hawthorn Toddler Classroom. Sophie loves the practice of Montessori and its philosophy supporting the whole child. Her favorite part about Three Tree is the welcoming community and caring staff. Outside of school Sophie enjoys being outdoors, reading, cooking, exploring new places and new foods, and loves spending time with family and friends.
Hawthorn Assistant - Sherri Siler (she/her) has been with Three Tree Montessori School since 2005. "They are literally my second family!" She was born and raised in Washington and has never left except for an occasional vacation here and there. She has three children. A 20 year old son who works at the family business, Siler's Concrete Cutting, and 8-year old fraternal twins who attend TTMS in the Bigleaf Maple classroom, completing their last year in lowerr elementary. She loves spending time with family during her free time and watching her children play sports!
Hawthorn Assistant - Jordyn Leifi
Dogwood Guide - Gabby Almanza (she/her) joined TTMS in 2007 and has 19 years of experience working with children. She has two children at Three Tree, Jesse and Jalen. Her mom, Imelda, and sister, Claudia, both work at TTMS. In her time here, she has attended the 2013 Montessori Congress and taken her A to I Toddler Assistant training in Washington D.C. Gabby enjoys gardening and cooking spends her time exploring the PNW and is involved in many of her children’s sports. Gabby fell in love with Three Tree her first day observing; the feeling of community as you walk in the door, having a place where children could have the freedom to be children and learn at the same time, where a natural way of learning came from the child and was guided by the adults. It felt like home away from home.
Dogwood Assistant - Mary Barajas (she/her) has several years of experience working with young children. She has worked as a private tutor on and off, and from 2012 to 2015, she tutored exclusively while living abroad. From 2017 to 2019, she worked as a teacher in a daycare center, alternating between the toddler and preschool rooms. In late 2019, Mary joined Three Tree, floating around the building as support staff before joining the Dogwood Toddler classroom. Mary has two daughters. When at home, they enjoy sharing their hobbies together. They often fill their weekends with art, movies, music, games, and trips to local parks and beaches.
Dogwood Assistant - Adriannah Ployer
Primary
Red Cedar Guide - Lyrik Lopez (she/her) has been working for the school since 2018 and has loved becoming apart of the Three Tree community ever since. In her free time she enjoys cooking, baking and getting to explore the Pacific Northwest.
Red Cedar Assistant - Claudia Almanza (she/her) has been working at TTMS since 2006! She started working as a toddler PM substitute after school. After graduating high school she joined our community full time, as a toddler assistant for 3 years. She has many years of experience in both primary and toddler environments. Claudia has 2 sons Jonathan (10) Jacob (6). During her time off she loves to read books and being outdoors.
Red Cedar Support Staff - Lisa Johnson (she/her) joined Three Tree Montessori in 2007. Since being employed at Three Tree she has had the pleasure of working in all environments. Lisa holds an Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education from Lake Washington Community College and has worked in the early childhood education industry since 1977. Lisa enjoys watching the children's progression in learning at all different levels, all age groups and at their own pace.
Sitka Spruce Guide - Ryan Cowdry (they/them) has a passion for creating an inclusive classroom environment with a joyful atmosphere, and loves to educate adults in the power of Montessori. Ryan has worked in education since receiving their degree in History and Teacher Preparation from Yale University in 2009. Finding Montessori was a happy accident for them, and has been a life-changing experience. They received their Masters of Education from the Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola, and have worked at Three Tree since 2014. At home, Ryan loves cooking, sewing, playing board games, and practicing yoga.
Sitka Spruce Assistant - Segenet Bahta (she/her) joined TTMS in 2023. Before joining TTMS, Segenet was a stay at home mom to three boys. She is excited to work with children as this is a field she is passionate about. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and cooking.
Madrona Guide - Morgan Walker (she/her) grew up a Montessori child in Michigan. She received an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and Masters in Reading Education before taking her Montessori training in Minnesota. She is in her fourteenth year of working at Three Tree. Her two children are currently in high school and middle school. Morgan, her husband, and two children try to spend as much time outside as possible in their spare time.
Madrona Assistant - Vianey Barr-Gomez (she/her)
Douglas Fir Guide - Victoria Armstrong (she/her) joined Three Tree Montessori in 2012, establishing Western Hemlock, before departing on maternity leave in June 2015. Victoria became a school parent in 2018 when her oldest daughter started Primary. In 2019, Victoria returned to school as Douglas Fir’s guide, and her youngest daughter entered the Toddler community. Victoria loves coming to school with her now Elementary and Primary children every morning. Victoria loves the vibrant community at Three Tree Montessori, especially the relationships which develop across the age levels from Toddler through Upper Elementary. In her spare time, Victoria volunteers as a King County Master Gardener.
Douglas Fir Assistant - Saros Ho (she/her) has been with Three Tree Montessori School since June of 2007. She has four children and enjoys spending time with her family and friends as they mean the world to her. In her spare time, Saros loves to build things or upcycle old furniture
Western Hemlock Guide - Meagan Johnson (she/her) graduated from Montessori Northwest in Portland, OR with her Primary Guide certification in 2015. During her studies, she was thrilled to be placed at Three Tree for her observation and practice teaching hours. Meagan has now been part of the Three Tree community since 2017 and is excited for her fourth year as a Primary Guide. Meagan’s two sons, Erik (7) and Soren (4), also attend TTMS in the lower elementary and primary environments. When she’s not working, Meagan enjoys taking in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with family hikes and adventures with her sons and husband.
Western Hemlock Support Staff - Susie Simone (she/her) started at Three Tree Montessori School in 2008. She has worked at every level within the school over the years. Prior to joining TTMS, Susie was a nanny and worked for the Federal Way School District in nutrition services. Susie has two daughters and two granddaughters that she enjoys spending time with. Susie enjoys going for long walks, cooking, and spending time with the people she cares about.
Lower Elementary
Bigleaf Maple Guide/Montessori Coach - Lynda Harrington (she/her) joined TTMS in 2001 after falling in love with the principles of Montessori philosophy. With a BA in English and AMI Montessori diploma, she has experience as a lower elementary teacher, upper elementary, and with a one-room schoolhouse style ages 6-12 room. Lynda took a brief sabbatical in 2019 to work at Marin Montessori but realized that because of the grit and determination that is emblematic of the TTMS community, Burien was where she really wanted to be. She will be leading the Bigleaf Maple classroom community and providing coaching to adults, working towards the very highest quality Montessori for everyone. For fun, Lynda enjoys cooking, gardening, going for walks, mastering corny jokes (aka Dad Jokes), and playing the guitar.
Bigleaf Maple Assistant - Isaias Gomez (he/him) was born and raised in Seattle. While Isaias began his Montessori experience here at TTMS, he has prior experience working with children as a gymnastics coach. He graduated from University of Washington with a bachelors in Psychology. He is currently attending elementary training at Montessori Center of Minnesota. In his free time, he enjoys going on hikes and visiting all of the farmer's markets. His favorite morning beverage is iced coffee.
Upper Elementary
Alder Guide - Paige Garmendia (she/her) joined Three Tree in the Fall of 2022. She is enjoying being back in the beautiful Pacific Northwest after working at a Montessori charter school in Oakland, CA. She has worked with children from ages 6 months old up to 15 years old, and is Montessori trained for ages 6-15. In her free time, Paige enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons, gardening, cooking, crocheting, and spending time with my family. She and husband recently got married and have a mini zoo of pets at home (4 dogs and a cat)!
Alder Assistant - Meaghan Biggs (she/her) joined TTMS in 2011 and has over 15 years of experience working with children. Meaghan graduated from Highline College in 2015 Associates Degree in early education. She is currently pursuing an AMI Elementary Diploma. In her free time, she enjoys exploring Washington through hiking and camping.
Support Staff
Support Staff Lead - Imelda Almanza (she/her) has been an Assistant at Three Tree Montessori School (TTMS) since 2006. She has worked with each level over the years and has taught Spanish. Currently, Imelda is the Assistant in the Pacific Yew Upper Elementary class. Imelda has two daughters that work at TTMS, Claudia and Gabriela. She also has four grandchildren that attend school here. Imelda loves working at TTMS and considers it her home.
Support Staff - Maddie Brown (they/them) is currently pursuing a Montessori Assistant Certificate and will continue their education studying Child Development and Mental Health. They come to TTMS with experience as a Primary Classroom Assistant, a nanny, and a caregiver. Their daughter, Ivy, attends Three Tree Montessori in the primary program. In their free time, Maddie loves crafting, painting, and spending time with their daughter who continues to amaze them every day!
Support Staff - Abbie Chacon (she/her) is excited to join the Three Tree family this year. She graduated from Western Washington University in 2019 with a degree in Media and Cultural studies. She has always enjoyed working with kids and served as a nanny for several different families over the last 7 years. In her spare time, Abbie enjoys journaling, cooking, and exploring nature with her dog, Pepperoni.
Support Staff - Ava Cook (she/her) joined TTMS part-time in 2021. From age 2 through 6th grade, she attended a Montessori school in St. Louis. She currently attends Highline College where she is studying visual communications. Her career goal is to be a children's book illustrator and pediatric EKG technician. In her free time, she enjoys traditional and digital drawing.
Support Staff - Apollo Guerrero (he/him)
Support Staff - Lucia Hernandez (she/her)
Support Staff - Yaritza Hernandez (she/her)
Support Staff - Mai Jeng (she/her)
Education Support Staff - Jen Latini (she/her) received her BA in history from the University of Colorado in Boulder. After moving to Seattle with her husband, Ryan, in 2012 she completed a K-8 teaching certificate program through Western Washington University. She taught sixth grade and first grade in the Highline School District. Her daughter, Cora, is a primary student and her daughter, Robin, is part of the toddler community at Three Tree Montessori. Jen likes carrying plant, bird, and mushroom identification guides for added entertainment on toddler paced hikes in the Pacific Northwest.
Support Staff - Farhia Sharif (she/her)
Support Staff - Selma Sijamic (she/her)
Substitute Support Staff - Mary Margaret Moore (she/her) is the school gardener and a support substitute at TTMS. She grew up in the high-desert of New Mexico, and moved far away to upstate New York where she got her BA in Art History & Visual Culture from Cornell University and played Division I Volleyball. After college she moved to Paris, France and became a dancer and physical actor. In 2009, Mary Margaret moved to Seattle, and she is now a mom, a partner, a Feldenkrais Method practitioner, and committed member of the Three Tree Montessori community. Natural and crafted ecosystems are a new passion for Mary Margaret. Dancing, playing, and supporting the flourishing of humans and plants are her favorite hobbies.