Emily Steele ~ Head of School

Bachelor of Arts 2011

Emily grew up outside of Denver, CO and moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2007 to study education at the University of Portland. Between the rain, the food and the proximity to the ocean, she knew she was here to stay. After receiving her degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Emily worked in preschools and elementary schools for 11 years, including working as an assistant guide at Montessori Children's House in Portland. 

She is very excited to combine her skills of early childhood development with her love of gardening and the outdoors. She believes in reaching and teaching the whole child and that Montessori is the perfect environment for that.

Her husband, Charles is an alumni of SunGarden and their son, Enzo is in the Garden Room. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family, keeping up with her own garden, going to the beach, reading and watching baseball.

Theresa Starreveld ~ Office Manager

Theresa has spent her career supporting children, families, educators, and school communities. Theresa attended Waldorf schools from kindergarten through high school, where she developed a deep appreciation for education, creativity, and community. She later returned to education as a mixed-age preschool and kindergarten teacher and elementary handwork teacher, experiences that fostered her deep appreciation for child development and child-centered learning.

For the past several years, Theresa has worked as an administrator in nonprofit early childhood education, combining her passion for education with strengths in organizational leadership, systems development, and community building. She is committed to creating inclusive, affirming environments where children, families, and educators feel a strong sense of belonging and support. Theresa values collaborative leadership and believes meaningful change happens through strong relationships, shared purpose, and a commitment to community.

Theresa lives in Milwaukie with her husband and two children. In her free time, she enjoys listening to audiobooks, cooking, baking, sewing, knitting, beading, and exploring a variety of culinary, fiber, and applied arts. She also enjoys studying herbal medicine and is continually inspired by the connections between plants, wellness, and the natural world.

Nicole Pelletier ~ Rose Room Lead & Early Care Lead

Bachelor of Science 2006

Nicole grew up watching birds, insects, and catching lizards in the meadows & forests surrounding a small town in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California. She moved to San Diego to be with family and go to college. There, she fell in love with the natural health industry, biochemistry, and her husband. After the birth of their first child, Nicole was nostalgic for the seasons, trees, and community of Northern California. So they moved to Portland fifteen years ago to raise their family in the Pacific Northwest.

Nicole started working in STEM & science education, wanting a career that allowed her more time with her young children during the fleeting and magical years of infancy & toddlerhood. When she started looking for preschool options for her eldest, she found Montessori. It was everything she had intuitively found with nurturing children wrapped in a scientific structure, environment, and methodology that was truly designed to respect & serve the child’s innate abilities. Montessori education has been a part of her family ever since.

Nicole has been a parent of children through Toddler, Children’s House, and Elementary programs at local Montessori schools and served as a Guide/Assistant Guide in Infant and Toddler classrooms at two different Montessori schools. One of her favorite things about working with children is watching their eyes light up when they have succeeded at something they were working hard on or when they observe something unexpected and magical in the world that delights them.

Some of Nicole’s favorite things outside of the classroom are watching the moon rise, playing barefoot with her family, backpacking, reading fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books, cooking & enjoying delicious food, and taking road trips - exploring and experiencing new places in this beautiful world with her family and friends.

Makea Buchanan ~ Rose Room Assistant

Makea spent her childhood in various places including Utah, Maine, and Portland, Oregon. She was raised to be a curious student of life and nature and developed a very early love for critters, plants, and the great outdoors. As the oldest of five siblings, she has cared for young children for the majority of her life, which has included teaching piano lessons to families in her community, providing after school care in nearby schools, and most recently teaching English during an 18-month mission trip to Santa Catarina, Brazil! In Brazil, she was blessed with a wealth of culture, learning, and love for the people there. Upon her return to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, she decided to move to beautiful Oregon. It was here that she rediscovered SunGarden, the place where her mother had studied as a child, and is excited to join the team!

Makea believes that each child has an incredible potential for learning and growth that, with the right guidance, can be reached in beautiful and surprising ways. She loves the Montessori method for its focus on curiosity and independence and is a firm advocate for always keeping a student's mindset in the classroom of life. 

In her free time, Makea can be found singing, playing the guitar or piano, teasing her siblings, dancing, exploring everywhere she goes, and enjoying good food, good books, and good people.

Elizabeth Woods ~ Garden Room Guide

AMI Primary Diploma 2025

My name is Elizabeth and I am excited to be the Garden Room Guide. A bit about me, I am originally from Chicago and relocated to Wisconsin when I was entering kindergarten. Shortly after moving, my grandparents purchased a farm nearby and raised cattle and horses. This influenced my love of animals and the natural world.

Summers spent with my other grandparents were equally exciting and full of energy. In the bustling city we frequented the Museum of Science and Industry , Art Institute of Chicago , and attended many sporting events. As an adult, I enjoy art (dancing, photography, and music) swimming, hunting for unique antiques, sewing and DIY projects.

My professional Montessori background began eight years ago in Minneapolis, MN. In the Twin Cities, I worked as an Assistant in both public and private Montessori programs, serving infants through adolescence. I moved to Portland in 2022 and have been serving in early childhood programs as an Assistant at both Childpeace and Alder Montessori. Through this journey, I have found a passion for ABAR (anti-bias, anti-racist) education in tandem with Montessori principles. Every child, regardless of background deserves an educational environment that values and respects their culture, identity, and family values.

I have just completed my AMI (Association of Montessori Internationale) Primary Guide training this summer and am so excited to share my knowledge and love of Montessori work with this community.

Grace Sayre ~ Sun Room Guide

AAOT Degree 2005, AMI Primary Diploma 2020

Grace grew up in the Pacific Northwest and spent her childhood outdoors. She has enjoyed working as a nanny, teacher, and child educator for more than 15 years. “There is so much wisdom and deep joy in the heart of the child and I am continuously inspired by them.” As a Primary trained Montessori teacher, a mother, and a gardener, Grace is excited to bring all of these parts of herself together as she works with children in the classroom. Grace is deeply invested in bringing knowledge of food systems, reciprocity and social justice into her work in Montessori.

When Grace is not enjoying her time with the children at SunGarden, she is spending time with her two children, LumiBear and Aruna. She enjoys creating through music, dance, camping, hiking, reading and tending to the garden.

Grace is excited for the opportunities and growth that the classroom offers. She spending her days practicing gratitude toward the Earth and helping children find a deeper connection to the land around them, the cycles of nature and the food that they eat.

Christine Maltez, Substitute Specialist

Bachelor of Arts 2016, AMI Primary Diploma 2022

Christine is originally from Sacramento, California and visited Portland in the Fall of 2017 where she fell in love with the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. In 2019, she and her husband were ready for new adventures, so they packed their car and their cat and moved to Portland where they have been living happily ever since.

Christine had plans to become an elementary teacher, but life took her on a different path, and she started teaching young children in 2017 in a Reggio inspired play-based school. Being a lover of the fiber arts, children's books, and art, she created an open-ended curriculum for children to explore different art processes and introduced them to many different children's books through a monthly author studies unit. It was during this time that she discovered the Montessori method through an ECE college course, but it was not until 2020 when she worked in a small in-home Montessori school that she fell in love with the Montessori pedagogy. She then completed her AMI 3-6 Primary training through Montessori Northwest in Portland in 2022. During her free time, Christine enjoys knitting, sewing, reading, being outdoors, and spending time with her two children. She is excited to be a part of the SunGarden team and to bring her passion of Montessori education to the community.

Kathleen Rush, Substitute Specialist

Bachelor of Arts 2005

Kathleen grew up in a small Swiss/Mennonite community in Northeast Ohio, where walks in the woods with her grandparents sparked her lifelong love of nature and creativity. She earned her B.A. in Business and Marketing from Ashland University.

Life took a joyful turn when she met native Oregonian, Ryan; after falling in love, she moved to Portland in 2005. For the next decade, she worked in Providence’s regional business office, where the mission of compassion and service resonated deeply with her faith and values. Continuing, she discovered how meaningful nonprofit work felt to her, especially when it involved supporting children.

Her Montessori journey began when her sons attended a Montessori preschool in SE Portland. She loved watching them progress from practical‑life work like pouring to confidently tracing continent maps. After her daughter was born, she became a full‑time stay‑at‑home mother, pouring her energy into creating a warm, creative home filled with library trips, art projects, baking, and nurturing her children’s curiosities—from flying squirrels to volcanoes to fennec foxes.

Now living in Canby with her husband, their three children, and a spirited mini labradoodle named Winnie, Kathleen enjoys hiking, volunteering as a Reading Mentor, visiting art museums, all things Jane Austen, cozy baking, and making quilled and iris‑folded cards. She is delighted to join the SunGarden Montessori community.

Miranda Mandadi Laxman, Substitute Specialist

Bachelor of Science, 2025

Miranda has always enjoyed working with children and began helping care for younger children from an early age. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, she developed a deep appreciation for the region’s natural beauty and the many outdoor activities it offers.

While completing her Bachelor’s of Science, with additional coursework in Child Development, Miranda worked as a Montessori Substitute Teacher and Assistant and quickly developed a passion for Montessori education. She was inspired by the ways practical life activities foster a sense of community, care for the environment, and independence while helping children develop confidence and meaningful life skills.

Miranda brings a thoughtful, data-informed approach to her work with children. She values careful observation, documentation, and collaboration with families to better understand each child’s needs. When challenges arise, she is committed to partnering with families and colleagues to develop individualized strategies that support every child’s growth, confidence, and success.

In her free time, Miranda enjoys kayaking, swimming, and river/creek walking. She also loves spending time with her two dogs, who especially enjoy visits to Sellwood Riverfront Park.