Round Rock

Born in Southern California, I didn’t move to the Austin area until I was 32 years old with my husband, Rob, and 3 month old son, John, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. We LOVE living here! Texans are remarkably friendly and go out of their way to help one another, plus all the trees (beautiful) and seasons (it’s cold in the winter…woo hoo!) are a bonus. Sunrise was born when I couldn’t find a great Montessori school for my muse, John (you can see his picture of him working on a world map after he turned three in our entryway). Rob has also been influential in the success of Sunrise as well. In addition to his emotional support and laid-back nature, he is talented at fixing things (he used to help his father and grandfather make furniture and build houses) as well as designing/programming websites (the perfect spouse for a small business owner!). Although I loved being a math teacher once upon a time, I love being a business owner even more. Providing the kind of school I would want my son to attend, would like to work as a team member, or learn as a student is an indescribable and addictive joy. My sincerest wish is that all of us here at Sunrise create exactly what you want for your child, so please let us know how we can improve your experience.

I am very excited to be a member of the Sunrise Montessori family! My whole career has been within the Early Childhood Education field. Working with children is my passion, and I believe the early years set the tone for a life full of learning. For 12 years I was a lead teacher in both Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten classrooms at Mrs. Mac’s Shining Stars in Georgetown. I gained valuable experience through a variety of roles and responsibilities, such as organizing fundraisers and sponsorship projects, opening and closing the school, and being an afternoon supervisor. With the effort to advance a future management career, I transitioned to another preschool in Cedar Park and served as their Assistant Director for almost 6 years. This path has now brought me here. I live in Liberty Hill with my husband of 15 years, Billy, and our two boys Christopher and Kevin. Our evenings and weekends are busy and filled with baseball games, homework, and family gatherings. A few of my favorite things are: Cowboys football games, any beach, and reading magazines. It is very evident that Sunrise Montessori is a school full of happy children, pleased parents, and committed team members. I am blessed to be a part of it and look forward to building a fruitful and lasting relationship with you!

Although not a native Texan, I have called Texas my home for the last 25 years. Growing up in Texas, we often returned to California, where I was born, to visit family, beat the heat and enjoy the beautiful beaches. My fiancee and I have two children and love to take them to the park and spend time with family and friends. Early in my career, I worked in child development centers caring for a wide age range of children. In 2008, I discovered Montessori and began the quest to learn more! Through the years, I have worked in Administration and both primary and pre-primary environments, along with helping parents establish Montessori elements in the home. In 2017, I completed my training at the Mid America Teacher Training Institute in Nebraska. After receiving my AMS Teaching Certificate for the Infant/Toddler certification, it has been my goal to share my passion of Montessori. The Montessori Method continues to inspire and challenge me as an Administrator, educator and parent. I look forward to offering support and guidance to the families of Sunrise!

I am originally from Southeast Texas and moved to Austin in 2009 after earning my Bachelors in Psychology from Lamar University. My first teaching experience was at a Montessori school in central Austin and I remained there for six years. During that time, I fell in love with the Montessori philosophy and earned my Montessori Certification. While working as a Primary Lead Guide, I also discovered yoga and earned my 200 hour Yoga Teaching Certificate as well as a Children’s Yoga Teaching Certificate. In 2015, I begin leading adult classes and children’s yoga programs full time around the Austin area. This is when I discovered Sunrise Montessori, when I began leading their children’s yoga program. Three years later I decided to go back into the classroom, teaching Montessori full time and officially joined the Sunrise family! Now I have transitioned into Administration and it has been such a great experience. I cannot wait to see Sunrise continue to grow! In my spare time I enjoy hiking, reading, listening to music and exploring movement modalities in yoga. I live in Round Rock with my husband Zachary and my two dogs, Cooper and Lily.

Growing up in the Austin area with a large extended family of cousins, I have always loved working with and caring for children. When I entered college, I started completing courses to one day become a kindergarten teacher. I found Sunrise Montessori as I began my sophomore year, working part time. I loved seeing the children everyday, and as I observed the magic of the Montessori Method and the connections they made, I made a connection of my own: working with this age group was exactly where I wanted to be. I switched my focus and happily started down the path as a Montessori teacher. When I was offered the Lead teaching position, I ecstatically accepted! I look forward to teaming up with you and your family as we create an academic foundation that will help your child be a confident learner in the years to come! Please reach out if you have any questions and welcome to the Cardinal’s class!

Originally from Laredo, TX and have lived in Austin for the past fourteen years. I always knew that I wanted to work with children but was unsure in what capacity. While studying at Texas State, I began volunteering at the San Marcos Housing Authority’s Kids Against Drugs (KAD) Program. It was then that I realized that becoming a teacher was something I HAD TO do! After graduating from Texas State, I began working at a charter school in Austin. I learned so much about myself while working as an assistant teacher there. I learned that I could help children learn and succeed by setting high expectations for them. I learned that I am patient and creative. I learned that although I am a very quiet and reserved person, I could be fun and silly when around children. I learned that they bring out the very best in me. I began working at Sunrise in July of 2008 and received my Montessori teacher certification the following year. I absolutely love the warm and friendly environment here at Sunrise. I worked at Sunrise for eight years and loved every minute of it! In June of 2016 I decided to pursue other interests and began working as a Pre-Literacy teacher for a non-profit organization, which provides housing and education for low income families. While working there, I learned about the Pre-K curriculum currently being used at AISD and helped implement it into the Pre-Lit Program. Although my time as a Pre-Literacy teacher was incredibly rewarding and fulfilling, returning to Sunrise was always on the back of my mind. I am beyond excited to be back and to have the opportunity make a difference in the lives of the children at Sunrise.

I have worked with children over the past 15 years as a nanny to many families and also in Montessori child care centers. Since observing the difference of how much more children learn in a Montessori school, I continued to learn as much about the Montessori Education as I could and worked towards becoming a Montessori Lead. I also earned an associate's degree in General Studies and a certification in ASL at Northern Virginia Community College. I love learning and instilling that desire in my students. In my free time, I enjoy painting, learning about native creatures and watching my three children grow. My husband and I are originally from Barbados but love living and working here in the Austin area. I feel blessed to be at Sunrise Montessori and hope I can help inspire your child to be all they are capable of becoming.

I was born in Charlottesville, VA, and moved to Texas while still a young child. I happily grew up here in Central Texas and attended Pflugerville High School. I moved to Louisiana in 1994, where I attended Southeastern Louisiana University and majored in Sociology. After living for a while in both Pennsylvania and Virginia, I returned to Texas in 2005 to be closer to my parents. I was joined by my husband Casey, who is an English teacher here in Round Rock. In my time away from teaching, I enjoy hiking, reading (I am bookworm!), movies, travel, and getting exercise with our two dogs Django and Moby (a black lab and a pit bull mix). I have been working with young children professionally since 1993. I was introduced to the Montessori Method in early 1994, when I accepted a position as an Assistant Teacher at a private Montessori program in Baton Rouge. I received a wealth of training and knowledge during my years at Our Children’s House, as well as a life mission. In addition to Montessori schools, I have taught in other types of early childhood settings such as a NAEYC-accredited child development center and several Head Start programs. I came to Sunrise Montessori in May of 2007, and it is a genuine pleasure to work with caring and professional educators every day. The core of Montessori philosophy for me is the respect it shows for children and the amazing efforts they make during development. Montessori asks, “What kind of adult do you want your child to be?” and then shows us a path toward that vision. I have worked with all ages of young children, from infants to 6-year-olds. I have held multiple positions in the early childhood field: lead teacher, assistant teacher, and, here at Sunrise, assistant director. I returned to the classroom as a lead teacher in September of 2010 and could not be more pleased to have done so. I also act as a trainer and coach for other Sunrise teachers. I hold Montessori teaching certificates for both Early Childhood (NAMC) and Infant-Toddler (AMS) levels. I have continued to study the Montessori Method independently over the years since my first assistant position, delving into Dr. Montessori’s own writings as well as those of experienced Montessori educators/ researchers. I also regularly attend Montessori conferences, Early Childhood workshops, and stay informed of current education research. I am a member of the American Montessori Society. I strongly recommend AMS ( https:// amshq.org ) as a resource for Montessori parents as well as teachers. I chose to go back into the classroom because my heart is most happy when I am working directly with the children, observing and guiding as each child creates the person, he or she will become. It is my goal to help your family have a wonderful experience here at Sunrise! I look forward to getting to know you and your child.

My name is Leticia Sanchez. I am a mother of three amazing children Stacy 24, Liliana 13 and Alejandro 10. My husband and I spend all of our free time running the kids around to all their spots. ( Soccer, Baseball, Basketball and Volleyball) As a family we enjoy going to the movies and just spending time together. I have worked in the early childhood field for over 20 years. I have worked with ages 6 weeks to 3 years as well as in administration. I find that the 6 weeks to 12 months is my favorite age. Watching the babies develop from sleep all-day to walking and exploring is an amazing thing. Seeing their personalities develop is also a joy of mine. I am excited to be here at Sunrise Montessori and to learn more about Montessori philosophy. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of caring and loving your child.

Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have several amazing Teachers who inspired me so greatly that I realized early on that I was meant to teach. As I grew older, I found that my passion lies with the early stages of childhood. For this reason, I majored in Child Development and Early Childhood Education in Los Angeles, CA. While studying, I worked and had internships in multiple settings, with different curriculums and philosophies. I found my passion to be a mixture of several philosophies including Reggio, Waldorf and Montessori. After moving to Texas in 2016, I searched for a preschool that reflected my same passion for children, and although it took longer than I had hoped for, I am happy to say I have truly found it in Sunrise! I have been working in the classroom for more than 10 years and there is nowhere else I would rather have my own two children than with this loving and intentional group of Teachers and team.

My name Raejean Tarrant and I was born and raised here in Central Texas. My husband and I have two amazing children, Brooklyn (13) and Braydan(16). We moved to Hutto about 15 years ago and completely fell in love with the small town feel. You will find us spending time with our family and watching all of our kids sporting events, currently football, cheerleading, and pole vaulting. I have worked in the early childhood education field for over 15 years now, with experience in all age groups from 6 months to 5 years old. With that being said, my heart always goes back to the babies. When starting my career at Sunrise Montessori as a part-time floater in 2017, I wasn't very familiar with the Montessori philosophy. As I was able to work and spend time in each classroom I observed how the Montessori philosophy and curriculum come together and it's amazing! I was so impressed with how calm and independent the children were in each class. I have learned so much from ALL the Teachers here at Sunrise, and honored to continue the educational legacy as the Lead Owlets Teacher. I can't wait to watch your child grow and explore this year! Thank you for trusting me to nurture and love your child. I am always happy to answer any questions that arise, and looking forward to a great year together!

Originally from El Paso, Texas, I moved to Austin in 2010 and this is where I met my husband in my sophomore year of high school. I have two lovely children, Adrian and Aleida. When my youngest sister was born I immediately knew that caring for children was what I was meant to do. I started out as a floater when this location opened and it wasn’t long until Ms. Lara requested me as her Assistant in the Hummingbird class. That’s when I learned so much about the Montessori Method and fell in love with it! Watching the children try their newly learned skills and gain independence is truly amazing. As a mother, I got the pleasure of witnessing how much my daughter has learned in such little time while being here at Sunrise. When given the opportunity to become a Lead Teacher in the Hummingbirds classroom I delightfully accepted this opportunity. My goal is to care for and help your child thrive and be successful on their learning journey. Let me know if you ever have any questions. Welcome to the Hummingbird class!

Born and raised here in Texas, I would often come and visit family in the Austin area and decided later in life to make it my home. The best part about living in Round Rock (according to my son) is being so close to Round Rock Donuts! Having a ten year old boy means that I am often watching sports, superhero movies, YouTube and hearing non-stop about all of the fun new video games. Aside from basketball games and trips to the movies, I am in the process of earning my degree in Psychology. I’ve been working in Montessori now for 10 years and I absolutely love it! It is amazing to see what a child is capable of doing when given the opportunity to do so. The excitement and pride in their faces when they finish a challenging lesson is always such a wonderful sight to see. Along with the wonderful Montessori Method, the children are what make me happy to come to work. There is nothing like walking into a classroom full of loving children to tell you good morning! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child’s growth here at Sunrise!

My name is Betsy and I have over 15 years of experience working with children. The youngest child I've worked with was 2 months while the oldest was 14 years old. I have an Associate of Arts Degree in Education and plan on finishing my Bachelor's degree in the future. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter. We love going to the park, fishing and camping. I joined the Sunrise Montessori team in 2018 and have had a great experience ever since. My little one is currently in primary and seeing her grow and learn at Sunrise is such a joy. I enjoyed working in the primary and pre-primary classrooms but fell in love with the 0-12 months age group while co-leading with Ms. Leti. Being trained and mentored by such a knowledgeable and experienced lead has equipped me above and beyond the necessary skills to take on a lead role at Sunrise. I am excited to open the Doves classroom as a lead and look forward to meeting your little one and helping them reach their milestones!

I was born in Marshall, TX, but grew up in Austin TX. My family and I moved around quite a lot but we finally decided to settle down in Austin TX. I attended Chaparral Star Academy and graduated at Georgetown High School. I did two years of internships in high school where I would work with children ages varying from 6 months up to 5th grade. I found my passion for working with children. When my older sister told me about Sunrise, I immediately called for an interview. I started off as a floater, and was able to observe how each age group worked in a Montessori environment. I enjoyed seeing how independent each child was and how eager they were to learn new skills. When I stepped into the bambini room, I instantly fell in love. I was able to see how quickly they hit new milestones, from taking their first steps to saying their first words. As an assistant in the Owlets classroom I got the chance to work with two amazing leads, and got more in tune with Montessori. I was even able to bring the Montessori philosophy into my own personal life, working on being more humble and patient. Now I'm ecstatic to say, I'm the new lead teacher for the Starlings classroom. I look forward to being a part or your child’s growth and seeing them thrive! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, and welcome to our classroom!

I was born and raised in the east bay area of California. I moved to Round Rock, Texas just over two years ago to pursue a better life for my two children. I have a daughter who is 9 years old and a son who is almost 5 years old! I have worked in the childcare field since 2008. I have a variety of experience from working in children’s ministry at a church, a crisis nursery, after school programs, to preschools. I have studied Early Child Development in college and obtained an associates teaching certificate. My goal is to continue my education to finish the last few classes that I need to get my degree. I knew I had a true passion for child development when my daughter was born. I was fascinated by how quickly children develop and how much they learn in their first few years of life. I have been with Sunrise Montessori since October and have loved my time here thus far! Welcome to the Robins classroom and please let me know if I can ever answer any questions or make your family more comfortable!

I come from a big family and a small town in Texas. I am married with a beautiful baby girl and have the best bonus daughter! I moved to the Austin area in 2008 and really fell in love with the area. (I also met my husband here!) Originally being from north Texas, I am a die-hard Texas Ranger and Dallas Cowboys fan, (even if my classroom is the Eagles ) I definitely bleed Blue & Silver! I’ve been in the Montessori world for over 8 years now and I absolutely love it! I think my favorite part is watching them cross the finish line and seeing how much they’ve grown. Watching them grow into happy and independent children makes my heart burst with joy! I have been with Sunrise for over 5 years and have worn many hats, assistant teacher, lead teacher, and admin. I’m excited to be coming back to my roots and teaching in the classroom. I want to leave you with 2 of my favorite quotes from Dr. Maria Montessori.. “The greatest gift we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” and “The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim him for preparing him for school, but for life.” Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child’s journey here at Sunrise!

In 2006 I earned my Montessori Certificate and have over 23 years of experience in Early Childhood. I fell in love with the Montessori method when I had my son and chose to have him attend a Montessori school. He was a special needs child and watching him thrive and be allowed to learn at his own pace, in such a beautiful environment, is what drove me to become a certified Montessori Teacher. My goal is to foster the joy of learning in young children and to guide them on their journey of independence. I enjoy spending time beading and making jewelry as well as walking my dogs Soju and RooRoo. My favorite place to be is at the beach listening to the waves crash. I also love learning about different cultures and hope to share that love with your child! I am so happy to be the Lead Teacher in the Sparrows classroom and I look forward to being a part of your child’s journey of discovery!