About Us

Faculty and Staff

A central part of our approach to education is the hiring of experienced Montessori guides and strong role models.
Our faculty and staff are committed to extensive ongoing academic training and professional development.

Our Team

List of 50 items.

  • Lisl Friday (She/Her)

    Founder & Head of School
    Lisl@AthenaMontessoriAcademy.com
    Bio
  • Mandy Waid (She/Her)

    School & Education Director
    Mandy@AthenaMontessoriAcademy.com
    Bio
  • Kimberly Love (She/Her)

    Primary Program Lead & Montessori Mentor
    Kimberly@AthenaMontessoriAcademy.com
    Bio
  • Joy Jacobson (She/Her)

    Admissions Director & Registrar
    Admissions@AthenaMontessoriAcademy.com
    Bio
  • Peyton Dame (She/Her)

    Bio
  • Rocio Lopez-Cortez (She/Her)

    Staff Support Manager & Trainer
    Rocio@AthenaMontessoriAcademy.com
    Bio
  • Jessica Albiter-Espinoza (She/Her)

    Bio
  • Shaun Karlan (He/Him)

    Facilities Manager
    Bio
  • Janey Lake (She/Her)

    Garden Fairy
    Bio
  • Morgan Hendricks (She/Her)

    Movers & Shakers Lead Guide
    Bio
  • Lily Siepert (She/Her)

    Movers & Shakers Assistant Guide
    Bio
  • Mily Mandujano (She/Her)

    Movers & Shakers Assistant Guide
    Bio
  • Zachary Newman (He/Him)

    Tots 1 Lead Guide
    Bio
  • Claudia (Cici) Estefania Baca Pinedo (She/Her)

    Tots 1 Assistant Guide
    Bio
  • Sahvannah Shavers Vazquez (She/Her)

    Tots 1 Assistant Guide
    Bio
  • Lina Ruiz (She/Her)

    Tots 2 Lead Guide
    Bio
  • Tatiana Nam (She/Her)

    Tots 2 Assistant Guide
    Bio
  • Ana Webster (She/Her)

    Tots 2 Support & ASP Guide
    Bio
  • Alicia Ramirez (She/Her)

    Tots 3 Lead Guide
    Bio
  • Denisse Alvarado (She/Her)

    Tots 3 Assistant Guide
    Bio
  • Olivia Llamas (She/Her)

    Tots 3 Support & ASP Guide
    Bio
  • Meghna Gopal (She/Her)

    Tots 4 Lead Guide
    Bio
  • Elizabeth (Eli) Ponce (She/Her)

    Tots 4 Assistant Guide
    Bio
  • Brittany Castro (She/Her)

    Tots 4 Support & ASP Guide
    Bio
  • Tess Karlan (She/Her)

    Primary 1 Lead Guide
    Bio
  • Becca Himes (She/Her)

    Primary 1 Assistant Guide
    Bio
  • Jocelyn Jaimes-Marquez (She/Her)

    Primary 1 Assistant Guide
    Bio
  • Liam Cahill (He/Him)

    Primary 1 Support & ASP Guide
    Bio
  • Lisa Miele (She/Her)

    Primary 2 Lead Guide
    Bio
  • Lynda McGovern (She/Her)

    Primary 2 Assistant Guide
    Bio
  • Cesca Longoni (She/Her)

    Primary 2 Assistant Guide
    Bio
  • Sam Hernandez (He/Him)

    Primary 2 Support & ASP Guide
    Bio
  • Drew Fischels (He/Him)

    Primary 3 Lead Guide
    Bio
  • Tiffany Herrera (She/Her)

    Primary 3 Interim Lead Guide
    Bio
  • Asma Fazal (She/Her)

    Primary 3 Assistant Guide
    Bio
  • Sydney Frideley (They/Them)

    Primary 3 Support & ASP Guide
    Bio
  • Jennifer Bourgeois (She/Her)

    Primary 4 Co-Lead Guide
    Bio
  • Alex Kinkade (She/Her)

    Primary 4 Co-Lead Guide
    Bio
  • Jazmin Castro (She/Her)

    Primary 4 Assistant Guide & EAP Guide
    Bio
  • John Woodworth (He/Him)

    Primary 4 Support & ASP Guide
    Bio
  • Ryann Flanagan (She/Her)

    Primary 5 Lead Guide
    Bio
  • Benjamin Gikow (He/Him)

    Primary 5 Assistant Guide
    Bio
  • Alexis Duran (She/Her)

    Primary 5 Assistant Guide
    Bio
  • Kimby Ramsey (She/Her)

    Primary 5 Support & ASP Guide
    Bio
  • Candice Barrera (She/Her)

    Floater
    Bio
  • Lorena Aldape (She/Her)

    Floater
    Bio
  • Jayda Sanchez (She/Her)

    Floater
    Bio
  • Karina Leon (She/Her)

    Floater
  • Joie (He/Him)

    Junior Assistant
    Bio
  • Matteo (He/Him)

    Junior Assistant
    Bio

Athena Montessori Academy

“I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my son’s education. The loving guides at Athena taught him so much more than reading and writing– he’s learned how to take care of himself and those around him while navigating the social community of his classroom. I feel these life skills will serve him well as he graduates and enters first grade in the fall!”
- Rebecca O’Hara (Child now attending Eanes Elementary)