Hi. I’m Emily.
Emily Collins is the Head of School and Eastside Lead Guide at Montessori in the Pines. She has enjoyed teaching and leading children from a very young age. After receiving a Bachelor’s in Art Education, from the University of Georgia, Emily taught Art in a rural, public elementary school, before relocating to Oregon in 2014.
Upon her arrival, Emily fell in love with the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and with the Montessori pedagogy. She received her AMI diploma from Montessori Northwest, in Portland, as well as her Masters’ of Montessori Education from Loyola University, in Baltimore, MD. Over the last decade, she has taught in a variety of Montessori settings before fulfilling her dreams of opening a school of her own.
Miss Emily’s favorite things about teaching Montessori are helping children to become independent learners and guiding children to be peaceful leaders in their communities. She has designed a program that gives children the skills to solve conflicts peacefully, care for themselves and their environment, and become responsive global citizens.
Miss Emily likes to stay busy. In the past year, she completed her Montessori certification for Infants and Toddlers, bought and renovated her first home, opened a second MITP campus, and enrolled in Business Education courses. She also loves to hike, craft, read, explore, and sing. Miss Emily lives with her husband Kyle and their bunny, Gordy.
And, this is Allison.
Allison is the Administrative Director at Montessori in the Pines. Since she was a young girl, Allison has always admired, cared for and nurtured children (especially infants)! She grew up in Southern Maine, very close to the beach, and loved the snowy winters. She attended The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, where she earned a BFA from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts.
After college, Allison moved to the West Coast and began working at a Montessori charter elementary school. This experience changed her life. She explained that children are our future and in our wonderful Montessori classrooms, we help to guide the child to reach their greatest potentials. Allison has been working in Montessori schools since 2010. She received her Association Montessori International (AMI) diploma at Montessori Northwest in Portland, Oregon. During her time working at Montessori schools in the Portland metro, Allison has held a variety of different positions, including assistant teacher, lead teacher, administrator and director. She also started her own creative side business called Baby Burrows.
When Allison is not working in schools or caring for families in their homes, she is consulting for friends who are entering parenthood, organizing others’ homes, and most importantly, being the mother of two wonderful young children. She enjoys camping with her family and friends, snowboarding, spending time with family, traveling, and exploring the natural landscapes of the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
And my name is Trista.
Meet Trista our Outdoor Programs Assistant Director and Co-Lead at Eastside! She is a passionate nature enthusiast dedicated to fostering young minds.
Whether tending to plants, exploring Central Oregon with her daughters or sharing car rides with the families adventurous feline companion, her vibrant spirit shines.
Nestled in an uber tiny house on an 80-acre hobby farm near Tumalo, Trista thrives among the many animals and endless creative projects. Currently mentoring two girls in the COPY program, she guides them weekly, drawing from her extensive background in childcare and volunteering opportunities including roles as a para-educator, au-pair, and a decade-plus dedication to the Big Brother Big Sister organization.
As a Montessori mom herself, Trista values Montessori’s approach to social-emotional education. With a background in landscaping and experience on the farm, Trista is eager to nurture preschoolers through nature-based learning, leveraging her insights as a late-diagnosed ADHD adult and mother.
Under Trista's guidance, your child will flourish, embracing their individuality, all while connecting with the world around them.
I am Jenna or Miss JenJen in the class!
Jenna Wazny (“JenJen”) is the new Co-Lead Guide at Eastside! Her Montessori journey began as a child in Denver, Colorado, where she attended a Montessori school through third grade. That early experience sparked a lifelong love of learning and respect for the Montessori method. From her first babysitting jobs to years of nannying, Jenna’s passion for working with children has been a constant thread through her life.
After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Speech Communication, Jenna studied abroad with Semester at Sea. It was a transformative experience during which she circumnavigated the globe, inspiring her to teach English in Thailand for two years. This was the start of an adventurous global path that has taken her to 40 countries across six continents. When she returned to the U.S. from Thailand, Jenna spent several years in Vail, Colorado, embracing the ski-bum lifestyle while also working in children’s theatre, combining her love of performance with her joy in teaching. She then moved to Portland, Oregon, to pursue her Montessori credentials, earning her AMI Primary diploma from Montessori Northwest and her Master’s in Education from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland. Since then, Jenna has led classrooms in Bend for nearly a decade, guiding children with warmth, humor, and a deep commitment to peace education. She is also a 500-hour certified yoga teacher, bringing mindfulness and balance into her teaching and life.
Jenna loves Montessori for its ability to follow each child’s unique path, nurture independence, and foster global citizenship. She believes in the power of education to create a more peaceful world. Specifically one filled with love, joy, respect, and cultural understanding. In addition to her teaching role, Jenna owns Room to Bloom, a mindful organizing business that creates Montessori-inspired children’s spaces and brings decluttering, calm, and beauty into homes. Outside the classroom, you’ll often find her traveling, enjoying live music, reading by the water, or spending time with friends and family.
Welcome, Janna!
Janna joins the MITP team with a passion for health and well-being for each child who is nurtured in a whole-child approach to learning here at Montessori in the Pines. She has practiced in her years of work with preschoolers after studies in cultural anthropology, weaved with early childhood trainings.
In her sixteen (plus) years of working with preschoolers, she has assisted in a Lifeways certified school, owned and operated The Hollow in Bend (a farm preschool), worked as a CedarSong certified Forest Kinder Teacher, and was one of the founding teachers of an outdoor childcare program, Roots Exploration School.
She also had the privilege of teaching English via garden, art, and forest adventures at a Montessori elementary school in Mexico. Janna has piloted a homeschool farm project called ReGenAr8, in small rural farmlands surrounding Salem, Oregon.
When Janna is not in the classroom or garden with children, you can find her hiking/walking her dog; Pippin, dancing to West Coast Swing or Contact Improvisation. Plus she enjoys writing poetry, dreaming up ways to bring regenerative garden/forest experiences to multiply health, well-being, and permanent culture food sources with merriment!!
Meet, Hannah!
Hannah Gainey is our newest Assistant at Eastside. She earned my degree in Pre-Nursing from Central Oregon Community College before shifting focus to early childhood education and the Montessori philosophy.
Before joining our team, Hannah spent four years as a manager at a trampoline park, where she discovered passion for working with children and creating safe, engaging spaces for them to grow and have fun. She has lived in Bend, Oregon since 2006 and values the strong sense of community and connection to nature that the area offers.
Hannah is known for her calm energy, patience, and sense of humor, which help create a classroom environment where children feel respected, supported, and inspired to explore. Outside of work, she enjoys skiing, painting, gardening, exploring rivers and waterfalls, and spending time with her cat. She is excited to continue learning and growing within the Montessori community while building meaningful connections with both children and families.
Oh, and of course, Rylin.
Rylin is the Lead Guide at the Downtown campus of Montessori in the Pines. She is a certified AMI Lead Guide for 3-6 year old’s. She graduated from Montessori Northwest, in the Summer of 2025 and is now pursuing her Master’s in Montessori Education! Rylin is excited to apply her growing knowledge in the classroom every day, while being excited to learn and grow alongside the children.
Originally from outside Denver, Colorado, Rylin’s love for the outdoors and curiosity about the world have been lifelong. She earned a Bachelor’s in Sustainable Foods and Bioenergy Systems from Montana State University and began her career as a farm and nutrition educator in elementary schools. Through this work, she discovered her passion for connecting children with the world around them.
Rylin later led nature-based education programs in Hawaii and Vermont before relocating to Bend in 2023, where she joined Montessori in the Pines. A 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher, Rylin also enjoys leading yoga classes, encouraging children to explore movement and body regulation.
Rylin’s favorite part of Montessori is respecting each child’s unique developmental timeline and fostering a love of learning, critical thinking, and responsibility. Outside the classroom, she stays active by trail running, skiing, and getting out on the water with her partner, Cameron!
Hi, I’m Gillian!
Meet Gillian, an assistant at the Downtown Classroom. She was born and raised in Bend, Oregon, alongside her three sisters, with whom she shares a very close bond. Growing up on a farm deeply shaped the person she is today. She lives in Bend, with her sweet and energetic two-year-old daughter.
Weekends are often filled with quality family time, whether it’s making wildflower bouquets with her sister or baking sourdough bread with her mom. She has a deep connection to nature and enjoys camping, caring for animals, growing her own food, and spending time near bodies of water. Constantly seeking personal growth and new adventures, she finds joy in creating meaningful memories with her daughter, embarking on extended rafting trips, and continuing to grow in her professional journey.
She is currently certified through the North American Montessori Center and is on the path to pursuing her certification through the Association Montessori International, an endeavor she is truly excited to pursue. With ten years of experience working with children, she considers this work her true passion.
Every moment of her career has been fulfilling, and she couldn’t imagine dedicating her energy to anything else. She firmly believes that the Montessori profession is as enriching for the educators as it is for the children, and she finds immense joy in viewing the world through their eyes. Her enthusiasm and passion for the Montessori philosophy are unwavering. She looks forward to watching children flourish in this environment, gaining both independence and confidence.
She is incredibly grateful to be part of the Montessori in the Pines community and eagerly anticipates getting to know the families and supporting each child’s unique journey.
Michelle joins Downtown!
Michelle Sprott is an assistant in the Downtown Classroom. She was born in Indiana and has lived throughout the United States. She and her family moved from Phoenix to Bend three and a half years ago. She and her husband have two adult children and a lovable, chubby cat named Rocky.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, backpacking, traveling, reading, knitting, and catching up with friends over coffee. These experiences not only refresh her but also inspire her to bring a sense of adventure and curiosity into the classroom.
Her passion for working with children began at a young age, through babysitting, tutoring, and organizing activities for the younger children in her neighborhood. During her senior year of high school, she taught German to third-grade students and immediately fell in love with teaching.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Indiana University, along with early childhood and kindergarten endorsements and a minor in child psychology. Over the past 30 years, she has worked in a variety of roles with children, including classroom teacher (preschool through third grade), educational tutor, coach, mentor, and nanny. While much of her career has been in traditional classroom settings, she was introduced to Montessori education three years ago upon moving to Bend. She quickly embraced the Montessori approach, drawn to its focus on hands-on learning, independence, and student-led exploration.
In addition to her teaching experience, she spent 10 years as director and coach of a large preschool gymnastics program in Southern California. This role allowed her to combine her background as a classroom teacher and former gymnast to create developmentally appropriate, educational gymnastics lesson plans.
She is committed to fostering supportive, engaging, and developmentally appropriate environments that nurture each child’s unique potential. She is excited to bring her experience and passion for early childhood education to the Montessori in the Pines family and looks forward to meeting all the families and supporting each child’s growth and learning.
Holly joins the team!
Holly is now a sub for both classrooms! She studied Sustainability and Permaculture at San Diego State University before moving to Bend-in the middle of COVID. Lover of all things earth-inspired and community centric, Holly hopes to pass on her respect of nature and each other to the next generation.
Caring for children for years now, Holly has honed her skills of patience and presence, encouraging mutual respect amongst all young folks and adults alike. Her Montessori journey began as a substitute teacher and now she is an assistant at the Eastside classroom! She continues to learn and grow in our magical classrooms.
She loves painting, music, being outside with her dog, and pushing herself out of her comfort zone. This may look like trying new sports, making new friends, and experimenting with new ways of life!
Dance, Occupational Therapy and Speech
Plus, here is Shannon, our dance instructor!
Miss Shannon grew up in Northern California, and has been dancing for over 35 years! She was inspired by music videos on MTV in the 80’s and loved emulating moves from Janet Jackson to Paula Abdul and more! Shannon didn’t receive formal training until Highschool, where she was on the Cheer, Drill and the Dance Teams. Her older brother Brian, soon discovered Hip-hop and introduced his younger sister to a class and the rest is History!
After receiving her BA in Psychology at Cal State University of Long Beach, Shannon worked for an AIDS intervention organization for a year, while still dancing on the side. Her love and passion for dance soon became her livelihood, after booking a dance agent in Los Angeles. Some of her credentials include: House of Blues, Nike, Memoirs of a Geisha and The Ellen Show. She has toured with Asian singers and has taught internationally as well. After dancing professionally for a few years in Southern California, Shannon became a dance instructor in Santa Barbara California and currently teaches all across Central Oregon, sharing her love of dance with all of her students!
Meet, Heather Tweedie, our Occupational Therapist.
Heather Tweedie is a pediatric occupational therapist and owner of Pediatric Village Home Care. She has been an occupational therapist for 22 years. Pediatric Village Home Care is a small family centered company, focusing on quality of care. We support families of infants through preschool years, providing in home, daycare, and preschool visits. Our services focus on early identification, therapeutic support and postpartum care. Pediatric Village offers a preschool program in Central Oregon. We partner with Montessori in the Pines to offer free developmental screens, with parent consent, for all the children. If the screen identifies an area that needs support, we can provide a formal assessment and work with your child at school. We take most insurances. Pediatric Village offers a toddler/preschool sensorimotor group that focuses on the facilitation of sensory processing and motor skills vital for growth, development, attention, and learning. Pediatric Village is excited to offer support in your community. 90% of brain development happens by age 5, why wait? Get the support your child needs when it matters most! www.pediatricvillage.com info@pediatricvillage.com 541-904-1066
Emily Johnson joins us as our Speech Therapist!
Emily Johnson, M.S., CCC-SLP is a board certified speech language pathologist (speech therapist) and owner of Juniper Therapies. She received her masters degree in communication disorders from Arizona State University and has worked in private practice and public schools for 10 years.
She specializes in diagnostics, speech sound disorders, language disorders, social language skills, Autism, genetic syndromes, stuttering, and early intervention. She values neurodivergent affirmative care and loves parent coaching. She is passionate about multidisciplinary service models and loves collaborating with other practitioners and preschools to provide the best possible care. She is particularly drawn to growing a practice that connects the best providers with families so our whole community can thrive together.
Emily grew up in Denver, Colorado and currently lives in Bend with her husband and 2 young children. When she’s not working, you can find her gardening, singing, playing a variety of string instruments, baking, painting, or hiking.
Visit the Juniper Therapies website speech therapy inquiries outside of school and for caregiver resources: www.JuniperTherapies.com
