About

Claudia is a dedicated Montessori teacher whose journey into Montessori education began during her college years in California. While pursuing studies in child education and psychology, she started assisting at a certified AMI Montessori school. This hands-on experience ignited her passion for the Montessori method, with its child-centered approach and emphasis on independence, curiosity, and respect for individual learning styles.

Inspired by the transformative impact she witnessed in children, Claudia pursued her formal AMI 3-6 Primary Level Montessori training at the Montessori Institute of San Diego back in 2016. Claudia began her career as a Lead Guide in California in 2017 before relocating to Reno in 2019 where she worked at High Desert Montessori for 5 years prior to joining the Desert Peach Montessori Community.

Claudia has since become an advocate for fostering environments where children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The need for children to be offered an enriched outdoor environment has always been a priority for her which makes Desert Peach Montessori an ideal and complete Montessori Environment for young children. Claudia has background in Psychology and Early Childhood Development which enriches her ability to understand and support the developmental needs of her students, making her a compassionate and insightful educator. Claudia is committed to nurturing each child’s unique potential and instilling a lifelong love for learning.

Tamra's began her educational experience attending Montessori school, which set a foundation for her life-long love of learning.  Growing up in the blackland prarie of rural north Texas created a drive to advocate for natural playspaces and open learning opportunities for all students, leading her back to her Montessori roots.  After getting her BA from Austin College in Psychology, fond memories of her first experiences led her to become a teaching assistant in the Texas hill country.  While there, she became a certified children's yoga teacher and led daily yoga sessions with the elementary students.

Being present as an adult in a Montessori community made her feel at peace.  This inspired her to spread her wings and fly far away from home to Reno, NV, to take a job at a newly formed Montessori charter school in Reno, NV.   While there, she attended the Montessori Insitute of St. Louis, MO to get her AMI Montessori Primary certification for ages 3-6 years.  After that she got her MA in Teaching from Loyola University, MD.  

For 10 years Tamra honed her early childhood education skills as a Montessori primary guide.  A natural leader, Tamra joined the Educational Leadership Doctoral program at UNR.  While there she received the Dolan Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership.  After the birth of her first son, she decided not to continue the doctoral program, but did receive certification to become a school administrator.  Shortly after, she become the vice principal of a large public charter Montessori school.  

For four years she learned a lot, and become passionate about providing Montessori education to underserved populations.  Tamra learned about Wildflower Schools and made a goal to open her own Wildflower School in Reno.  A few years later, Desert Peach Montessori opened it's doors, and fulfilled Tamra's vision for a small, teacher-led school where children can connect with nature and find inner peace.