Our Staff
Regine Ebner, M.Ed.
Director; Founder; Co-Head Teacher, Lower El
After studying art history and creative writing at Mount Holyoke College, Regine earned her Montessori certification in Michigan and a Master’s Degree in Family Counseling at the University of Arizona. She founded The Montessori Schoolhouse in 1974 and continues to direct and co-teach in Lower Elementary. She co-wrote an acclaimed play for The Invisible Theater called Minor Details and wrote an award-winning screenplay called Understanding Edison. Her wonderful daughter, Hannah, grew up in her Montessori classroom and is now the Assistant Director of the Schoolhouse. Regine’s husband, Michael, contributed much to the expansion of the school, and passed away in 2016. In addition to her family, friends, staff, and teaching, Regine loves art, poetry, science, history, and U of A basketball. Regine is a fountain of wisdom on child behavior and development, and continues to sparkle when she talks about her students after 50 years of teaching.
Hannah Manske, M.Ed.
Assistant Director, Middle School Humanities Teacher
Hannah received a degree in English Literature from Carleton College and a Masters in Montessori Education from St. Catherine University. She received her Montessori I and II Credentials from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Boulder, Colorado. She taught Montessori Upper Elementary for ten years including a few joyful years at The Montessori Schoolhouse. She grew up at the Schoolhouse with Regine and Dolores as her teachers (Regine is her mom!) and is thrilled to be able to continue growing with the Schoolhouse community. She also has a small private practice working with children, adolescents, adults, and couples doing nervous system regulation and Heart Rhythm Meditation. She is delighted to co-create The Montessori Schoolhouse Middle School program with the students and staff who are supporting this expansion. “As we observe children, we see the vitality of their spirit, the maximum effort put forth in all they do, the intuition, attention, and focus they bring to all life’s events, and the sheer joy they experience in living.” –Maria Montessori
Summer Miller
Co-Head Teacher, Primary
Summer studied Fine Art and Painting at Arizona State University, as well as K-12 Art Education at Northern Arizona University. You can find a few of her art pieces on the walls at both campuses. She received her Montessori Early Childhood Credential from the Mid-America Montessori Training Center in Omaha, Nebraska and has worked at The Montessori Schoolhouse since 2004. She started as an assistant in Lower Elementary and quickly became a head teacher at 6th Avenue. Her two sons, Logan and Aaron, attended the Schoolhouse throughout their childhoods and are now delightful, creative, and caring young adults! We love Summer for her incredible dedication, hard work, deep understanding of children, and her sunny disposition. Her favorite quote is from Eleanor Roosevelt: “No one can make you feel inferior but yourself.”
Dolores Montoya
Co-Head Teacher, Primary
Dolores Montoya has been a teacher at The Montessori Schoolhouse for thirty-two years! She grew up near Casa Grande and moved to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona where she studied Education. She found the Schoolhouse for her daughter, Rosaleah, and then completed her Primary Montessori Certification through the Southwestern Montessori Training Center in 1997. She makes beautiful and brilliant hands-on materials for the classroom, and has a crystal-clear understanding of children’s behavior and inner motivations. We love her so much and cherish her three-plus decades of service to children in our classrooms. Her favorite quote is from Benjamin Franklin: “If you tell me I will forget. If you show me I will remember. If you involve me I will understand.”
Jesse Huang
Co-Head Teacher, Primary
Jesse Lotus Huang has been engaged in Montessori education since 2005. She holds a Montessori early childhood teaching credential from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies, an infant and toddler teaching credential from the North American Montessori Center, a master's degree in early childhood services from ASU, a graduate certificate in social work from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor's degree in studio and performing arts from Beloit College. She also holds a doctorate in sacred arts and a PhD in yoga ecology, music, and arts from the Interfaith Seminary and is a certified yoga teacher with endorsements in teaching yoga to children with special needs and in the classroom setting. Jesse was born and raised in Tucson although she did not join The Montessori Schoolhouse until 2023, after living in Colorado and Michigan for a combined 18 years. She is happy her youngest son was able to attend the Montessori Schoolhouse's amazing middle school program. As both an educator and a mother, Jesse is grateful to have discovered Montessori education. Reflecting on the impact this profound approach to learning has had on her own children's lives is a constant source of inspiration in her work. She believes everyone deserves access to high quality, holistic education. When not teaching, Jesse enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, reading, making music and art, and spending time in nature. Her favorite Maria Montessori quote is: “Education is the best weapon for peace.”
Olive Sheeran
Co-Head Teacher, Lower Elementary
Olive received her Certificate in Visual Education and her BA in Fine Art from Dun Laoghaire School of Art and Design in Dublin, Ireland. She grew up in Ireland and moved to Tucson in 1992. She has a long history with The Montessori Schoolhouse starting with her internship during her Montessori training at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. She spent 2 years training with Regine and then worked in Primary at Khalsa Montessori for 18 years. She taught in the Upper Elementary at the Schoolhouse for 2 years, and has spent the last 8 years co-teaching with Regine in Lower Elementary. Her son Forrest grew up in her classroom and is now a caring, inspired High School student. Olive brings incredible artistry, humor, and intelligence to her teaching. “It is true that we cannot make a genius. We can only give to each child the chance to fulfill her potential possibilities.” –Maria Montessori
Perla Villa, MA
Head Teacher, Upper Elementary
Perla studied K-12 Music Education at the University of Texas at El Paso, and received a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Arizona. She grew up in Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas and then moved to Tucson in 2000. She has been with The Montessori Schoolhouse since 2012 and received her Montessori Upper Elementary Teaching Diploma from the North American Montessori Center. She has been teaching Elementary Music and Choir for 15 years. Her three children attended The Montessori Schoolhouse and are now compassionate, highly intelligent, and delightful Middle, High School and College students. We are so grateful that Perla brings her warmth, passion, and insight into the classroom and to her direction of the Upper Elementary Choir. “We must help the child to act for himself, will for himself, think for himself; this is the art of those who aspire to serve the spirit.” –Maria Montessori, Education for a New World
Rosemary Smith
School Administrator
Rosemary studied accounting at Pima Community College and has always worked to help businesses maintain orderly and accurate financials. She started with The Montessori Schoolhouse in October of 1999 in the office as a part-time helper to Michael, the Business Manager at the time. Quickly Rosemary took on more responsibility and is now a full-time administrator. Rosemary maintains all student files and manages all financial records for the Schoolhouse. She has lived in Tucson since 1980 and her two children received amazing educations at the Schoolhouse. Rosemary is a support to everyone in the school –parents, staff, and students—and we deeply appreciate her organizational skills, her wisdom, and her warmth. “Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” –Mother Theresa
AND We love, respect, and appreciate all of our Afterschool, Extracurricular, and Assistant staff who offer so much support to the teachers and students every week!
Thank you Kateri, Col, Nui, Jesse, Jessica, Emirse, Isa, Ellery, Luka, Lisa, Dylan, Maddie, Lucas, Alyssa, Alicia, Roxane, Sam, Ana, Jennie, Treven, Bruce, Chia Chun, Ken, Woan Ching, Raphael, and Amy!
Instructional employee resume information is available for inspection upon request. A.R.S. § 15-183(F)