Meet the Staff

Office Administrator

Josie was born and raised in Brazil. She is a certified Business Administrative from Senac Santo Andre Community College in Brazil with a background in Accounting and Human Resources. Josie is passionate about kids’ education, especially Montessori, and had her own childcare facility in Brazil. Josie moved to the United States in 2012 and in August 2018 she relocated from Mississippi to Utah with her two teenage boys, Felipe and Davi. At home, is only Josie, Davi, and Blue their rag-doll cat! Josie loves small towns, the smell of rain, hiking, dancing, Crossfit, reading, traveling, everything about space organization, socializing with friends, and spending quality time with her two sons. She is currently taking financial classes at the Trading Academy in Sandy, Utah.

josie@littleminers.org

Music Teacher
Toddler, Early Childhood & Lower Elementary

Camille was born and raised in Utah. A wife and a mother of five beautiful children. She graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Throughout her adult life, Camille has worked as an educator.
For 14 years, Camille owned, taught, and operated her own preschool. She has taught 1st-6th graders in both private and public school settings. Camille taught early childhood music using the Kindermusik and Musikgarten curriculum out of her studio for six years.
Currently, she is a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist and the founder of Leap Learning Literacy, performing reading therapy online with children, ages kindergarten through high school. She also works with elementary-age kids online struggling with math.
Camille taught music, art, and reading enrichment at Little Miners Montessori for three years (2017-2020), and is excited to return because of her passion for music, teaching, children, and LMM!  We welcome Camille back to LMM, and her magic with music!

Art Teacher
Early Childhood & Lower Elementary

Simone was born and raised in rainy Washington State. She grew up learning in a Montessori environment as a young child. As an adult, her passion for creativity and art lead her to study classical sculpture in Italy for two years earning an Art Education Certificate. Simone looks forward to sharing her love of the arts with all the kids this year. In her free time Simone likes to hike, read, sail, and create art.

artandmusic@littleminers.org

Spanish Teacher
Toddler, Early Childhood, & Lower Elementary

Keiko Ito (Miss K) was born and raised in Japan, matriculated through international schools. Miss K grew up bilingual (English, Japanese, and Spanish came while in middle school). Her favorite countries right now are South Africa and Italy. She has lived in America for 34 years and Miss K. has dedicated four decades to teaching Spanish, Japanese, and English as a second language. She has a BA in Comparative Culture / Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. She believes foreign language acquisition is the first step in a child’s global journey. “Learning a foreign language widens horizons and will eventually encourage a curious mind to find similarities amongst differences in world cultures.”  Miss K. is passionate about guiding the young generations in creating a better world for themselves!  She is the mother of two bilingual adult children.
Miss K has lived in Park City since 2000. Her last stint was at PS-8th private school in Park City as a Spanish teacher. Miss K also loves yoga and has been practicing it for twenty years. She loves gardening and hiking the trails in Park City. Traveling is another one of her passions. Miss K. has traveled around the world exploring new cultures and often accompanies her students overseas.

AMS Certified for Toddler Education
AMS Certified for Lower Elementary Education
Lead Teacher in Aspen Toddler Classroom

Leti grew up in Asuncion, Paraguay, the heart of South America! She graduated from Universidad Americana with a BA degree in Business Administration. Leti has been in the Montessori world since 2012. She holds an AMS teaching credential in both the Lower Elementary and Infant/Toddler level from Westminster College. She loves the outdoors, traveling, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. She lives in Park City, UT with her husband, daughter Sophie, and son Kaleb.

aspenclassroom@littleminers.org

Toddler Assistant Teacher Certification
Assistant Teacher in Aspen Toddler Classroom

Xiomara (See-o-mar-a) is one of LMM’s new additions to the 2022/23 Team! She was born in Michoacán, Mexico and moved to Summit County when she was just five years old. Miss Xiomara began working with young children when she was only fourteen and has been working with this age group ever since!  As an assistant teacher in the Aspen classroom, Xiomara is excited to learn more about the Montessori philosophy.  She is currently completing the Toddler Montessori Teacher Assistant Certification program through Montessori Teachers College. During her days off, Xiomara enjoys spending time with her friends and family.  She also loves cooking, painting, photography, and skateboarding with her brothers!

aspenclassroom@littleminers.org

Infant Toddler Montessori Assistant Certification
Lead-Teacher in Birch Toddler Classroom

Alejandra was born and raised in Mexico City. She moved to Park City in 2009.  She has been working in childcare for the past fifteen years. Alex began working at LMM in 2014, as an infant caregiver for the employee staff children.  In 2020, Alex began working as a Teacher Assistant in the Aspen Toddler classroom. In 2022, she became the lead teacher of the Birch Toddler classroom.  Alex loves the Park City community! She loves music, dance and watching movies. Alex has two daughters of her own, Alexa and Angie.

birchclassroom@littleminers.org

Teacher Training/Montessori Toddler Certification
Infant Toddler Montessori Assistant Certification
Assistant-Teacher in Birch Classroom

Kate grew up in the Finger Lakes region of New York. She went to Plattsburgh State University in upstate New York where she studied Hospitality.  Kate and her husband moved to Park City in 2012 where she has worked at the Montage Deer Valley and Stein Eriksen Resorts. In April 2022 Kate welcomed her second child, Molly to the world! She decided to change careers and focus on her family. Kate is a certified Sommelier and has a certificate in Master Gardening. She is currently completing a Montessori Toddler Certification Credential in Salt Lake City through the Rings of Knowledge program. When she is not at school, she enjoys studying wine, golfing, and fishing.  Kate and her husband Ryan live in Midway with their two daughters, Jane & Molly.

birchclassroom@littleminers.org

AMS Certified for Early Childhood Education
Lead-Teacher Poplar Classroom

Karen grew up in Salt Lake City and graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Business Management. She has spent 20 years training, teaching, and counseling adults. She finds teaching at Little Miners much more rewarding and loves spending her days with the children. Her hobbies include spending time with her family – especially her two darling grandsons, taking care of her pets, gardening, and knitting.

Poplarclassroom@littleminers.org

Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Certification 
Assistant-Teacher Poplar Classroom

Miss Sydney was born in Springfield, Missouri and moved to Utah in the summer of 2021.  Sydney is the youngest of five children and is a proud auntie to six nieces and nephews!

She joined the Little Miners team of teachers as a maternity substitute in the Poplar classroom during the spring of 2022, where she developed a passion for teaching, and the Montessori Method.  Sydney loves working as an assistant teacher and is currently working on completing the Early Childhood Montessori Teacher Assistant Certification program through Montessori Teachers College.  In her spare time, she loves reading, art, going out with friends, and exploring the great outdoors!

poplarclassroom@littleminers.org

AMS Certified for Early Childhood Education
Lead-Teacher Willow Classroom

Emily spent most of her childhood in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and developed a deep passion for the outdoors. This passion led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science at Plymouth State University.  In 2018, while working as an assistant in a Montessori toddler classroom, she found her devotion to the Montessori philosophy. Emily attended the Northeast Montessori Institute Early Childhood program the summer of 2021, and graduated May 2022 with an Early Childhood Montessori credential. Emily enjoys hiking, kayaking, biking, traveling, reading, and looking forward to skiing, “The Greatest Snow on Earth!”

willowclassroom@littleminers.org

Early Childhood Education
Assistant Teacher Willow Classroom

Alec was born in Salt Lake City but spent most of his childhood and teenage years in Southern Arizona. Growing up in the Sonoran Desert, he developed a love for Earth science that led him to pursue a degree in geology which he completed in 2016 from Northern Arizona University. Following his work experience as a climate scientist for a few years, Alec moved to India to study Yoga and Indian Classical Music. In 2022 Alec began working as a substitute teacher at a Montessori school in SLC, where he discovered the genius of the Montessori method.
Alec, his wife, and his son live in Salt Lake City. Together they love being in nature, practicing yoga, and playing music.

willowclassroom@littleminers.org

www.allwavesandforever.com

AMS Certified for Early Childhood Education
Lead-Teacher Maple Classroom

Alicia grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.  Alicia first learned about Montessori while working as an au pair in Italy.  She was fascinated by the philosophy and found working with children to be engaging and rewarding.  In August of 2018, Alicia moved to Salt Lake City where she decided to pursue a teaching career.  In the summer of 2021, Alicia attended the Northeast Montessori Institute and graduated earning an Early Childhood Montessori credential. In her free time, Alicia enjoys spending time with her husband Sean, traveling, cooking, yoga, and hiking.

mapleclassroom@littleminers.org

Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Certification 
Assistant-Teacher Maple Classroom

Mirabelle grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico and spent much of her time in Southern Colorado horseback riding and venturing through the outdoors!  Mirabelle began working with children after high school as a volleyball coach. During the pandemic, Mirabelle became a substitute teacher, and eventually realized she had a passion for teaching young children. Mirabelle worked in Special Education, while at the same time assisting in History and English classes, both subjects she is passionate about it. She moved to Utah in 2021 to pursue a life in the mountains and positively impact the community of Park City. Mirabelle is currently completing the Early Childhood Montessori Teacher Assistant Certification Program through Montessori Teachers College and working as an assistant teacher in the Maple classroom. In her free time, Mirabelle loves to write, hike, take photos, and travel.

mapleclassroom@littleminers.org

AMS Certified for Lower Elementary &  Early Childhood Education
Lower Elementary Education
Lead-Teacher Redwood Classroom

Hillary grew up in Salt Lake City and attended the University of Utah, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.  She completed her Montessori training in the San Francisco Bay Area and has been teaching Early Childhood Montessori Education since 2000.  Hillary ran the LMM Art Program for 3 years before attending the Montessori Institute at Westminster College, where she graduated with her lower elementary certificate in 2018.  She and her husband Anthony have 2 sons, Kelston and Parker.

Redwoodclassroom@littleminers.org

Lower Elementary Assistant Teacher Certification
Co-Teacher Redwood Classroom

Raechell is the mother of six children (all homeschooled and introduced to the Montessori theory) and mhamo (grandmother) to six grandchildren. She has worked under Registered Dietitians in the MORH rehabilitation center. Following her interest in Food Science, she came to Park City to learn how to make Utah’s famous soft cheese at Park City Creamery. Raechell graduated from BYU-Pathway WorldWide. She is also working towards a BYU-I Professional Studies degree, and is continuing her education as a Food Scientist.  Raechell enjoys hiking, studying, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

redwoodclassroom@littleminers.org

Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Certification 
Assistant-Teacher Redwood Classroom

Melissa is from Brgy, San Joaquin Palo, Leyte, Philippines. Melissa completed a Bachelor of Science in Commerce with a major in Business Management. Her dream to come to the United States led her to a position in Park City at Little Miners as a sponsored J1Visa employee.

Melissa believes and recognizes that knowledge is power. She feels happy for her experiences teaching college, and senior high school students but is happier for the opportunity to work, learn, and teach within the Montessori  program. The cute conversations of children always makes Melissa’s heart bright, and she feels blessed to be around them as an educator and mentor.  She has the inner ability to put the mind of the child at ease.  Melissa and her husband Alex have two wonderful children, Faith & Winston.  Melissa enjoys teaching, spending time with her family & friends, and loves nature!

Toddler & Early Childhood
Substitute Teacher

Alexa has been dancing since the age of 7. She has studied many styles of dance including Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Ballroom. She is a competitive dancer and is planning on continuing her dance career into her college life. She has recently been offered many scholarships and acceptances into the dance programs of various universities. One of her biggest accomplishments is being accepted into the Joffrey Ballet School Summer Intensives to continue her summer training. Throughout her competitive season, she has received multiple 1st place, overall, and judge’s choice awards for her dancing. Alexa received a Superior Award for her contemporary choreography with the Utah State Dance Festival in 2022. At this state festival, she was also named Park City High School’s Outstanding Dancer. Alexa graduated from Park City High School in June of 2022. She has been part of the LMM family for nine years. Her mother, Alejandra has been working at Little Miners since 2014, and currently teaches in the Toddler Birch Classroom.

https://ashippy14.wixsite.com/lmmdancecamp