Ms. Aguirre found a love for the Montessori philosophy when her siblings began attending and her mother began working as a Spanish teacher at MVA.  She then decided to pursue a career in Montessori education and to become Montessori elementary certified.  She has been playing the violin for over 10 years and is excited to share her musical talents and knowledge with the MVA community.  

Mrs. Aguirre was born and raised in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. She has been teaching for more than fifteen years and is certified in Montessori Early Childhood. She has been married for 19 years and has three children. She loves to work with children and treats them as her own.  She has a passion for teaching and loves to teach in the Montessori method. She is bilingual, speaking Spanish and English fluently.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and broadening her musical talents.

Mrs. Browning grew up in a very small town in southeast Ohio.  She attended the University of Rio Grande and graduated with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education.  Mrs. Browning has a Montessori Elementary I-II credential. She has taught grades 2-8 including special education for 17 years.  Mrs. Browning has two amazing children.  Her daughter, Jhediah, is 24 years old and lives in Ohio.  Her son, Trae, is 23 and moved to Las Vegas last fall.  She has lived in Las Vegas since 2013 and looks forward to many more years here.  Her hobbies include reading, listening to music, and camping.

Mrs. Dalia Franco was born and raised in Guatemala, where she earned her degree in Early Childhood Education in 2018 and began working as a teacher at a private school.  It was during this time that she began to explore and deepen her interest in the Montessori lifestyle. In December 2022, she moved to Las Vegas, the hometown of her husband, continuing to educate children, including learners with exceptionalities.  Over the years working with students, she has had the opportunity to connect and create her own community with many wonderful families in a city that was entirely new to her. And although she enjoys her life in Las Vegas, a piece of her heart will always be in Guatemala with her parents, brother and her dog, Fanny. Mrs. Franco is excited to be part of the MVA community and contribute her cultural background, experience, and dedication to an environment that nurtures curiosity, responsibility, and a lifelong love of learning.

Mrs. Fabiola Garcia has over 15 years experience working in Elementary education.  She was drawn to working with children in order to be an engaged parent in her own children's education.  The Montessori philosophy of building self-motivation, respect and responsibility aligns with her views as a parent and educator.  Mrs. Garcia's greatest pride is her beautiful family and she enjoys traveling and camping with them in her free time. 

Ms. Knutsen is a certified Montessori Primary, Lower and Upper Elementary teacher. She also is a certified Montessori Middle School and High School teacher. She holds a BA in Secondary Education and she is currently working on her Master of Education program with an emphasis in Montessori Education. She teaches American Sign Language as an additional language in our Upper Elementary program and continues to work on developing curriculum for the upper level classes. She also enjoys working as a teacher trainer for Montessori Training of Southern Nevada. She enjoys volunteering in her church and throughout the community. She has served on mission trips to Australia, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, and Macau. She recently become a licensed foster parent in Clark County. 

Mrs. Kristina Martin has an Associates Degree in General Studies and is a Montessori trained Elementary assistant teacher.  Prior to joining us at Montessori Visions Academy she worked in charter schools as an Elementary assistant teacher and in the Special Education department.    She also has experience as a Preschool teacher and working with young children.  Mrs. Martin enjoys spending time with her husband and children, planning trips, and playing with her two dogs, Sampson and Archer.  Her favorite hobby is bowling and as a teen she won State Championships.  It is still one of her favorite activities to do and her children enjoy bowling with her as well.  

Mrs. Merino started teaching Early Music Stimulation classes in 2001 in Mexico City at the Artene Institute, Sala Chopin, Music and Arts and Montessori Schools among others. She has a background in Child Psychology and Music Pedagogy and has taught other educators from all of Latin America at the Latin American Forum of Music Education (FLADEM).  In the US, after becoming a mom to two amazing kids, she has worked in Early Intervention and ABA therapies, applying musical therapies and also taught a workshop to other ABA therapists and Child Development Resources in CA.  Currently, she is collaborating with Child Abuse Prevention in California and Nevada.  Her and her husband have created KIMET (Karen Iniciación Musical Estimulación Temprana) teaching once again, babies and parents, continuing her passion for kids, music and education.  Mrs. Merino is excited to be teaching in a Montessori Spanish immersion classroom!

Ms. Roes is both an educator and a 'creative inspirer'!  From a very young age she loved helping children learn and grow. What drew her to teaching is her love of taking care of her younger siblings and teaching them. It all started when she helped teach her younger brother and sister to read. Since then she has gone on to study Elementary education, discovered Montessori and become a certified Montessori Primary teacher. In any spare time Ms. Roes has, she likes to sing, read books watch old and new movies, eat breakfast food for any meal anytime, visit museums or places she's never been and go on hikes. 

Maryann Russell is a dedicated educator with over 10 years of experience in Montessori education. She began her journey in 2015 and quickly discovered a deep passion for the Montessori philosophy, which has shaped both her professional path and personal growth.

Ms. Russell continued on this path by completing her Masters Degree in Montessori Education, further deepening her commitment to understanding child development and supporting each learner as a whole. She is a trained Montessori teacher for several levels:  Infant/Toddler,  Early Childhood, Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary, as well as an educator for teachers pursuing Montessori certification.  Her goal is to continue evolving as an educator and to serve children across developmental planes with intention and purpose.

Ms. Russell is known for her warm, nurturing presence, hands-on approach, and strong belief in the child’s natural desire to learn. She believes that Montessori is not just an educational method—it’s a way of life—and she feels honored to guide children and families through these formative years with respect, joy, and curiosity.

Mr. Wells was born and raised in Virginia where he started working with children in 2002 as a soccer coach and instructor. Upon obtaining a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology from Shenandoah University, he began working in self-contained special needs classrooms. His interest in Montessori was sparked when he first became a parent, and he is passionate about learning about and sharing the Montesori method. He recently returned to the soccer field as a volunteer coach for his older son’s neighborhood team, and along with his wife and two sons, enjoys trying out different restaurants around Las Vegas, visiting the beaches of LA, and traveling to new places.