Keely Wirries

head of school

Erin Cherry

assistant director

Erin is serving as an administrator for her fifth year, after two years of teaching primary students at DMS. A graduate of UCLA, she taught elementary-aged art programs throughout California for five years, worked in costuming for film and television, and founded + ran a successful graphic design business where she learned all things administration. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, oil painting, and renovating her mountain home with her husband, two dogs, and four cats.

Abbie Foley

Program Director

Abbie brings a history of over eight years at DMS working in Elementary classrooms to her role of Program Director. She has her Montessori Teaching Certification from the North American Montessori Center as well as certificates in Understanding Interventions and Therapies in a Montessori setting from MMPI, and the Science of Reading from AMS. She is excited to be expanding her work at DMS to all classrooms where she will be supporting and promoting the Montessori methodology implementation, facilitating professional development, and supporting families and students with accommodation plans. 

DeAnn Meadows

Los pollitos Classroom lead

DeAnn has her Early Childhood Development Certificate and Associates in Arts of Early Childhood Education, as well as her Infant/Toddler Certification through NAMC. She has worked in the Early Childhood Development field for over twelve years, and is currently in her tenth year at DMS. She is native to New Mexico and resides outside Santa Fe with her husband and their son.

Rhonda Lozoya

Los pollitos Classroom Facilitator

Rhonda has always enjoyed being around children. In addition to babysitting, she has worked with children in different capacities since she was a teenager. She resides in Santa Fe with her husband and two children. She enjoys cooking with her family and reading in her spare time, and will start at SFCC this Fall semester to receive her NM Early Childhood Education certificate. She is excited to start at Desert Montessori School and work with the toddlers and their families!

Holly wilson

Roadrunner Classroom Lead

Molly Jenkins

Roadrunner Classroom Facilitator

Mariana Mendoza

aspen classroom Co-Teacher

bio coming soon!

Ellen Gore

pinon classroom Lead

Ellen has decades of experience in Montessori education. After earning a BA in political science and initially planning to study law, a part-time job in an after-school program revealed her true passion: supporting children’s growth and learning. She discovered the Montessori method in 1996 and immediately enrolled in training, launching a lifelong career.
She holds AMI diplomas at both the Primary and Elementary levels, along with additional
training in structured literacy, executive function, and positive discipline. Ellen is dedicated to supporting a wide range of learners. Raised in Arizona, she has lived in New Mexico for over 20 years, including the last decade in Santa Fe. Outside the classroom, she enjoys hiking, biking, and exploring nature with her partner and their dog. Her daughter, a Montessori graduate, is now in college—an experience that continues to inspire Ellen’s commitment to Montessori education. She’s excited to be part of the DMS community.

Aria Chiodo

pinon classroom facilitator

Aria has worked with young children since high school in Taos, her first job being at the Taos Ski Valley day care in 2000. Since then, she has worked in various childcare settings, including a day care facility during college and as a personal nanny and tutor for families in New York City. She has a BA in Cinema Studies and an MFA in Writing, and has also taught Writing/English on the college level. This is her second year at DMS and she is excited to continue working in the Piñons classroom with returning and new students. 

Judith Mace

Lower Elementary Classroom Lead

Judith brings 30 years of classroom experience as a lead teacher in
public, private, international, Waldorf, and Montessori Education. She
received a Master’s in Education from the University of Tulsa with
emphasis in teaching foreign languages and holds an AMI Montessori
Certification from the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies. She
studied abroad in Cuernavaca, Mexico; Malaga, Spain, and taught ESL in
Venezuela. Judith has a passion for nature, travel, and enjoys forest
walks.

christine boston

Lower Elementary Classroom facilitator

Christine has worked in education in many capacities for over 12 years, starting as an Environmental Educator and Forester in the Peace Corps. Christine has primarily worked in a Waldorf Educational setting as a Gardening Teacher, Preschool and Kindergarten Teacher and as a Substitute Teacher working in Music, Language, Science and Math. Christine enjoys all the wonderful outdoor activities that New Mexico has to offer. In the wintertime she works as a ski instructor at Ski Santa Fe and enjoys a good cup of tea while knitting, sewing and doll making.

Mark McGregor

Upper Elementary Classroom Lead

bio coming soon!

Daniel Lockley

Music teacher

Zaba Angel

librarian, Aftercare teacher & Floater

Zaba has worked at a variety of school settings including public school, Montessori, and preschool. He has also tutored in music, gardening & chess.   Zaba is originally from Montana and has been in Santa Fe off and on for 25 years.  He has a BA in Music Performance and has also studied photography, art, carpentry, natural building, farming, bicycle maintenance, yoga, meditation, massage & doula work.  He enjoys being outdoors, films, cats & learning.  Zaba is currently enrolled at SFCC taking Spanish, swimming & early childhood education classes. 

Deana Moss

Spanish teacher

Deana is a recent graduate from St. John’s College with a B.A. in Liberal Arts. She grew up bilingual, speaking both Spanish and English at home. Being bilingual, she recognized the importance of being able to communicate with others, and the importance of Spanish being taught in schools. This realization led her to pursue teaching Spanish. In her free time, Deana enjoys reading, playing soccer, and baking.