Kassandra was raised and born in Salt Lake City, Utah. She joined Garfield School campus staff in 2019 and worked in the Infant/Toddler program before joining the Early Childhood team at Elizabeth Academy. She has over six years of experience as a Teacher, Assistant Teacher and Paraprofessional in childcare and school setting. She is excited to be a part of a Montessori school! It’s always been a passion of her to guide and educate children through early childhood as they are in a developing phase in life of learning new things everyday!

I’m Gillian! I was born and raised along the Wasatch Front, and have called Salt Lake City home for the past eight years. My journey into the world of intuitive and empowered childcare began shortly after high school when I had the opportunity to volunteer at an orphanage in Romania. I spent 5 months in Europe, and it was there that I was first introduced to the Montessori method, Italy of all places. It sparked a deep-seated passion for this unique approach to education. Since that pivotal experience, I have immersed myself in the Montessori community, working in various private education settings within the Salt Lake City area. My career has also extended to roles as a household manager and private nanny for several local families, further enriching my understanding and practice of child-centered care and maintaining a safe environment. I have a heart full of playfulness, endless curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to finding joy in life, and I feel that embodies the spirit of Montessori education. My approach to teaching is a perfect alignment with the nature of work in a childcare setting, where the focus is on nurturing each child’s individual strengths and fostering a lifelong love of learning. Outside of educating, I love to be outside hiking, camping, traveling, and exploring. I am so thankful to be here at Elizabeth Academy!

Miriam has a Bachelor’s degree in Family Studies from Brigham Young University Idaho with an emphasis in family life education. She has 3 years of experience working with children at several schools, two of which were Montessori influenced. Miriam has also worked with children as a nanny and as a family specialist. She has developed a love and appreciation for the Montessori philosophy and is grateful to be working with children in an environment that seeks to nurture children in a holistic manner.

In her free time Miriam enjoys spending time with family and friends, going on outdoor adventures, attending performances, and finding new ways to grow and develop as a person. 

 Katie Hut holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Utah State University, with a focus on supporting students with significant needs. She brings experience from both high school and postsecondary settings, and is passionate about fostering communication, creativity, and confidence in her students. Her teaching draws from her interests in classical literature, American Sign Language, writing, and the arts, creating a rich and inclusive learning environment for adult learners.

Christina was born and raised in Salt Lake City. She brings four years of experience working with children – as a volunteer helping students learn to read and write and as an After School group leader. She enjoys her role in Early Childhood Education, and is excited to be a part of a Montessori program. She loves building relationships with her students.

During her free time she enjoys dancing, reading, and watching movies. She also loves to travel with her boyfriend to new places.

Alyssa Lund has been actively involved with Montessori in one way or another since 2012. Whether teaching in a formal school setting or establishing a home classroom environment, Alyssa is devoted to creating a welcoming space to encourage children as they learn and grow. She received her infant-toddler Montessori certification through the Institute for Guided Studies in 2014 and continues to educate herself so that she might better serve the children around her.

In her spare time, Alyssa loves reading, dancing, spending time with her family, and contemplating how to knit non-Euclidean geometry.

Olga Malloy is an innovative educator and child development specialist with a diverse background spanning physics, Waldorf education, and curative approaches to learning. Her career has been shaped by a deep-seated passion for understanding how children learn, particularly those with special needs.

After obtaining a Master of Science in Physics in Ukraine in 1992, Olga began her professional journey in academia, teaching undergraduate courses and conducting research at Tel-Aviv University. However, her innate calling to work with young children led her to pursue Waldorf Teacher Training at Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento, CA, marking a significant shift in her career path.

Olga’s educational journey began conventionally, but her keen observations and commitment to her students’ well-being led her to question traditional methods. She noticed a pattern: despite the application of seemingly holistic approaches, some children consistently struggled, falling behind academically, displaying restless behavior, and appearing profoundly unhappy. Determined to make a difference, Olga made it her mission to reach these children who were not responding to conventional educational techniques.

This commitment drove Olga to expand her knowledge and explore alternative educational philosophies. She immersed herself in the works of influential thinkers such as Rudolf Steiner, Moshe Feldenkrais, Nikolai Bernstein, Lev Vygotsky, and Gordon Neufeld. Through years of study and practical application, Olga developed a unique capacity to uncover the underlying causes of learning and behavioral difficulties.

Olga’s diverse experience includes leading Early Childhood classrooms, elementary and middle school classrooms, teaching music in elementary school grades, and overseeing summer camps and aftercare programs. Her work with children requiring specialized support deepened her interest in Curative Education, which she found to be a transformative approach in the field of education.

Driven by a deep sense of purpose, in 2019, Olga founded the Little School in Fryeburg, a non-profit initiative in Maine dedicated to providing a holistic and individualized education for children. For three years, she nurtured a one-room schoolhouse classroom for students from kindergarten to eighth grade, fostering an environment that celebrates the unique abilities of each child.

Olga’s work extends beyond direct interaction with children. She is passionate about empowering parents and equipping them with the knowledge and skills to support their children’s learning journey at home. Her workshops and educational programs offer transformative experiences for both children and parents, fostering a collaborative approach to education.

Gabby is currently working on a Special Education degree through Salt Lake Community College. She has five years of experience working with children and three years in customer service. She also speaks intermediate Spanish.

In her free time she enjoys spending time in the mountains and climbing with her husband.

Jeanne d’Arc Mukarugomwa was born in Africa – Rwanda. She is married and has a kid! She is a mathematical scientist and she enjoys sharing knowledge! Jeanne is always willing to learn something new; she does spend her free time with the family!