Karen Rodriguez is originally from Mexico City and arrived in Utah as a baby. She enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and snowboarding. In 2019, Karen took a child development class at the Granite Institution, where she earned her child development certificate. From 2022 to 2024, Karen worked as a Spanish guide at Serendipity Bilingual School, where she fell in love with the Montessori teaching method. Now at FMSL, Karen loves working with the children and enjoys being a positive impact in their learning environment. She believes in creating a fun, nurturing space that respects the individual needs of each student.
Madeleine grew up in Centerville, Utah, where her nurturing spirit and passion for helping others took root early on. Her fascination with child development has been a constant throughout her life, and she’s always sought to deepen her understanding of how children grow and learn.
Over the years, Madeleine has had the rewarding experience of caring for her nieces and nephews, an experience that has enriched her understanding of children’s unique needs. Additionally, her time as a substitute teacher in many schools throughout the Salt Lake Valley has given her the opportunity to work with children of all ages, allowing her to adapt to different learning styles and environments.
Madeleine is excited to bring her passion and experience to Foothill Montessori, where she can continue to grow in her passion for guiding children on their unique learning journeys.
In her free time, Madeleine enjoys quality time with family and friends, reading, and spending time outdoors.
Allison Morris was born and raised in Bountiful, Utah. She was introduced to the Montessori philosophy when her mother started teaching in Early Childhood when Allison was about 10 years old. Allison brings a deep passion for Early Childhood education and a strong belief in the Montessori philosophy to her classroom every day. She has intermittently participated in Montessori environments since the 1990s. With 8 years of experience working in the classroom with young children, she is dedicated to nurturing independence, curiosity, and a love of learning in each child.
She received her Early Childhood certification through the Institute of Guided Studies. She thoughtfully prepares the environment to encourage hands-on exploration, practical life skills, and peaceful social development.
In addition to her work in the classroom, Mrs. Allison enjoys camping with her family as much as possible. She loves to make many different projects, including sewing or crocheting. Last but not least, she loves to cook and bake a wide variety of things for her family.
Allison is committed to fostering a warm, respectful, and inclusive community where each child is seen, heard, and supported in their unique journey.
In the spring of 2024, Noah graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies. In the past, their experience with children has involved teaching swimming, gymnastics, and nannying. Being in a school environment has been a dream of theirs. Noah hopes to support the school and staff in any way and provide a unique learning experience. A little known fact about Noah is that their father is in the military and so got moved around the country a lot as a child.
Meg was raised in Utah County. She completed two years at Brigham Young University before joining Foothill Montessori of Salt Lake in January 2023. Meg is excited to be working on her Early Childhood Certification through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies and expects to receive her certificate in the summer of 2025.
At home, Meg enjoys spending her time with her husband and their young daughter. When she finds the time, she loves to create by illustrating or carving custom linocut prints.
Karey Smith was born in Lehi and is the oldest of five girls. She was an “Army Brat” and traveled all over until her family settled in New Jersey. She lived in England for a while and then returned to the U.S. to complete her Montessori Infant and Toddler training in Princeton, New Jersey. She then moved to Utah for her Early Childhood Education Montessori training. She has been working in Montessori since the age of 16! She loves to read, listen to music, watch movies, cross-stitch, and spend time with her family. Little known fact about Karey: her sisters are all named with K’s: Krissy, Krisha, Kendra, and Kimberly. Her mom’s name is Karen. Her dad’s name: Bob!! She has been a certified Montessori Guide in Early Childhood for over 27 years and has been at Foothill Montessori since 1997.
Ms. Kendalyn was born and raised in Utah, surrounded by the Montessori philosophy from an early age. Having grown up with this unique approach to education, she developed a deep appreciation for its emphasis on independence, curiosity, and hands-on learning. The Montessori method has always inspired her and continues to shape her educational journey and approach in the classroom. Currently, she is interning and working towards receiving her Montessori credentials through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies (CGMS), further deepening her expertise and commitment to the Montessori way.
Cinthya Barajas was born in Baja, Mexico. She worked as an ESL teacher at a private school for 6 years, in which she taught students from 1st through 6th grade. While teaching, she attended the University of Baja, where she obtained her degree for teaching English in elementary schools. She moved to Salt Lake City in February 2001 and continued her education at Salt Lake Community College for an introduction to Utah schools. She joined the FMSL staff in 2007 and received her Early Childhood Montessori credential through the North American Montessori Center (NAMC). She really enjoys being part of children’s educational development, which is extremely rewarding. She truly believes that learning should be fun and a memorable experience, and therefore activities, songs, and manipulative materials should be used to reinforce and develop the children’s learning capabilities. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the movies, plays, music, and spending time with great friends.
