Keely Wirries

head of school

Erin Cherry

facilitating administrator

Erin is serving as an administrator for her fourth 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 seven years at DMS working in Elementary classrooms to her new 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 ten years. 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 Facilitator

daniela merediz

aspen classroom Lead

Daniela has over 8 years of experience working in Early Childhood Education and Care supporting physical, emotional, and intellectual development for children of various cultural backgrounds and academic capabilities. Daniela has her Early Childhood Development Certificate and an Associates in Arts in Teacher Education. In her free time, Daniela enjoys cooking, hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Jackson Mauzé

aspen classroom Facilitator

Jackson has worked in education, social work, and youth sports for seven years. He served as an education volunteer in Alaska with AmeriCorps and in the Dominican Republic with the Peace Corps. Back with us after graduating from SJC in May, his guiding passion is to encourage creative and exploratory expression in young people by providing them equitable and enriching structure. Jackson graduated from Davidson College with a BA in Anthropology in 2016 and completed his MA at St. John’s in 2024.

augusta durham

pinon classroom lead

Augusta has a BA in Gender Studies from the University of Texas & a Master’s in Montessori Education from Loyola University. She has worked in Montessori schools since 2015, and has her Certification from the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies. Augusta is passionate about working alongside children to create a community that supports every child’s needs.

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. 

Renee Kaup

pinon classroom afternoon teacher / Aftercare Teacher

Renee has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing and a Minor in Mathematics from the University of Utah. She has tutored math and taught painting and drawing to children and adults throughout the years. She is completing her Elementary Teaching License with a Visual Arts Endorsement at Santa Fe Community College. Renee enjoys spending time in nature, riding bicycles, hanging out at coffee shops and creating art.

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.

Lucy Keehn

Upper Elementary Classroom Lead

Lucy has 5 years of experience working in education and has a Masters of Elementary Education from Prescott College. Since graduating with a B.A. in Geology, Lucy has worked both as an educator and as a scientist. In her spare time, she enjoys rock climbing, gardening and pottery.

Daniel Lockley

Music teacher

Zaba Angel

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.