Mission

Journey School is an authentic Montessori experience in which exploration and discovery; critical thinking; respect and responsibility to oneself, to others and to the Earth prepares our students for a life-long educational journey.  Our students experience both the prepared classroom and the natural outdoor environment, which allows them to fulfill their unique and adaptable roles as responsible and engaged citizens in the world.

Overview

Journey School offers a challenging and dynamic curriculum based on the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori which encourages cooperative learning as well as independent study.  In addition to the classroom curriculum, Journey School offers extensive time outdoors experimenting, exploring and examining the world in which we live. Our outdoor component is heavily influenced by the writings of Richard Louv and the Wilderness Awareness School. The arts are delicately woven into both the classroom studies and the outdoor exploration, creating an integrated whole.

Staff

lady with long wavy hair and hoodie smiling

 Beth Clayton – Head of School and Elementary Guide

Through years of leadership, observation and study in the US and abroad, Beth firmly believes that an authentic Montessori environment in a natural setting allows children to construct themselves through meaningful work choices and thoughtful challenges. Having a background in Suzuki violin and the fine arts, Beth aims to bring music, movement, art and adventure to all subject areas.  After 10 years leading Journey Montessori School and over 20 years in the classroom, Beth continues to be inspired by the children and enjoy our amazing Journey community!

Beth began her Montessori journey in 1994 working with internationally respected Montessori authority and author, Paula Polk Lillard.  With Paula Lillard’s support and the guidance of Margaret Elizabeth Stephenson who was trained by Maria Montessori herself (!), Beth designed and implemented the Middle School Adolescent Program for Forest Bluff School, a program that continues today.

Beth graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with a B.S. in Biology and holds a Masters of Education from Loyola University Maryland with an emphasis in Montessori and Experiential Learning. She has an AMI Assistance to Infancy certification (ages 0-3), AMI Elementary Montessori certification (ages 6-12) as well as the AMI Montessori Orientation to Adolescent Studies (ages 12-18). Beth completed the Wilderness Awareness Art of Mentoring Course in Washington and is recognized as a Master Trainer for Early Childhood through the University of New Mexico.

Beth enjoys backpacking with her husband and two boys, reading, singing, and playing the violin.

Giovanni Wolfram – Middle School Guide

Giovanni is from New York and grew up bouncing between there and Italy. He was inspired to follow a career in education because of the enormous impact his own teachers had on his intellectual and personal journey. He is committed to guiding students towards a discovery of their true selves through academics, arts, and the outdoors. Giovanni has previously worked as an educator in Ohio, in the South Bronx, in Brooklyn, and in Florence, Italy. He is a graduate of Kenyon College with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Italian. Giovanni is a voracious reader, a creative writer, a long-distance runner, and a proud cat dad!
 
Giovanni is excited to work towards AMI certification this year and provide a stable, productive environment for the middle schoolers at Journey Montessori School, inside the classroom and out in the wild!

Hope Lang  – Middle School Guide

Hope was introduced to Montessori when she became an assistant to the primary at Journey Montessori in 2018. As assistant she had the opportunity to observe, first-hand, the incredible process that is the
Montessori Method and its marriage to the outdoors at Journey. Hope is working toward completion of the AMI Adolescent Diploma (ages 12-18).

Hope earned two degrees from St. John’s College; the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and the Master of Arts in Eastern Classics. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, Hope spent a year as an Americorps
Service Member working on issues of social and environmental justice in the state of New Mexico. In that year, she had the opportunity to work with youth on food-systems education. After graduating with her master’s degree, Hope taught at the high school level in subjects of Social Sciences, Language Arts, and Mathematics. Hope loves the pace and dynamic nature of working with adolescents!

Hope is a mother and a lifelong student.

 Hannah Pardee – Elementary Guide

Hannah is a graduate of Colorado College, where she received a BA in Anthropology. During her senior year at CC, she enjoyed working at a daycare. This experience led her to realize that she would like to continue working with children, particularly in Montessori schools. Hannah is also passionate about environmental justice, and she enjoys the outdoors, dance, and fiber arts.

Hannah is excited to work on her AMI Montessori training this year and move into a leadership role in the classroom.

 

Anastasia Malouf – Primary Guide

A fresh and enthused graduate, Anastasia earned her AMI Montessori 3-6 Diploma in May of 2024 from the Montessori Institute of North Texas with 127 hours of Practice Teaching and 90 hours of observation. She received her Bachelor’s in Religious Studies with a minor in History from the University of Oklahoma in 2017. She has a plethora of experience in various fields including non-profit, the arts, climate activism, service, and care industry. Her curiosity and passion for Montessori, child development, and ecology led her to Journey. She believes that Journey offers children a unique opportunity to construct themselves in a safe and challenging environment-both inside and outside the classroom. “There’s something magical about our kinship to nature.”

Anastasia is excited to be part of the Journey community. She enjoys playing guitar, knitting, plant-identification, hiking, and volunteering in her free time.

Tej Gaytan Legorreta – Spanish Language Teacher, Aftercare

Tej received her Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) Mexico City in 1981. She received her AMI Primary Guide certification from the Centro de Estudios de Educacion Montessori, A. C. in Mexico City in 1994. She has also completed training and certification in Reiki, Hatha Yoga and Kundalini Yoga.

Her first experience working with Montessori education was at the Post Oak Montessori School in Bellaire, TX, supporting different classrooms from 0 to 12-year-old children. This work inspired her to obtain her AMI certification. Tej has over 16 years experience working in Montessori schools including six as a lead primary bilingual guide. She began with Journey as a Spanish guide in the elementary classroom.

“My son attended Post Oak Montessori from 1 1/2 years old until he was 12. That is how I started working assisting the classrooms and teaching Spanish, my son loved it and I did too. It was a priority to have him experience joy while learning, and be an adventure.”

Bob Jacobs – AMGA Certified Outdoor Guide