Elementary Staff
Kindergarten – First Grade (A)
Kindergarten – First Grade (B)
Early Elementary (Grades 2-3)
Upper Elementary (Grades 4-5)
Elementary Support Staff
Jessica Hammes
I received my Montessori Primary Certification from the Montessori World Educational Institute in Cambria, California in 2004. I have my B.S. in Child Development with a minor in Psychology from California Polytechnic State University. I earned my M.S. Education from Dominican University of California along with my public K-8 teaching credential. Primavera has been my nest since 2009 and I have been in the classroom for 13 years, from toddler to adult-level education.
I am in love with the people of Primavera–the children, staff, and parents. I couldn’t imagine being in a more supportive school that cares deeply for the development and wellbeing of each person, and a community that makes it so. In my free time, I love to read, write, travel, cook and eat, be with friends and family, practice yoga, hike, and do anything outside.Top
Emily Martin
I began my work with children early on, taking several semesters of programs in high school that had me working in public school classrooms, and working in several childcare settings throughout college, such as the ACC Children’s Lab School. I received my B.A. in Education from the University of Texas at Austin in 2003. I taught in public school for two years, where I specialized in gifted and talented education and developed a passion for early literacy and reading instruction. After taking three years off to raise my daughter, I made the decision to become a Montessori Guide, and obtained my certification through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies in the winter of 2011. I am now one of the Kindergarten Guides at Primavera.
My path to becoming a Montessori Guide started first with my search to find a perfect school for my then 2.5-year-old daughter, Ayden. I researched many different schools and was intrigued by what I learned about the program at Primavera. I came to an open house and was instantly taken with everything the school had to offer, from the perfectly prepared environment with its beautiful materials, to the incredible physical space, to the amazing devotion of every staff member to the upbringing and nurturing of each child that walks through the doors. I cried—a lot—and I knew the way some people know when they’ve found the person they’ll spend the rest of their lives with, that I had found the place where I was going to raise my child. And everything that got me excited as a parent got me even more excited as an educator and I knew that I had stumbled upon my new path. My daughter and I have been here since 2008, and we have found within Primavera a home and a true sense of community.
Deborah Way-Salinas
I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world for having the opportunity to co-create this incredible elementary program at Primavera, and at the same time raise my daughter in this community’s loving arms for all of her elementary school years. Starting as a Montessori assistant to Gail Allen in 1988, I have been working in the Austin Montessori community for more than 22 years. I completed my AMS teacher training courses for 3-to-6-year-old children at Oklahoma City University, and taught for eight years at The Montessori Center. After that I worked at St. James Episcopal School as founding director and teacher. In 1998 I took the AMS teacher-training courses for 6-to-9-year-old children at the Houston Montessori Center, and taught Early Elementary at Parkside Community School for two years until I became a mother. For the next three years I created a Montessori program in my home for my daughter and her peers. In the spring of 2005, I reunited with beloved colleagues here at Primavera to teach Primary, and a year and a half later launched the Elementary program.
I studied Cultural Anthropology at the University of Texas. Some of my hobbies include hiking, biking, cooking, and listening to and making music with my daughter Eliana and my husband Danny. Every day I am inspired by the children, my colleagues, and the amazing community of parents at our school.
Jennie Glass
I cherished the time I spent in a Montessori school as a child, and I always wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. I spent many years babysitting and working with children in various settings. After graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in Journalism and a minor in French, I found a job in advertising, but I missed being around children, and the variety and excitement that they bring. I knew I wanted to work with children under age 6, but I didn’t want just day care, so I found my way back to Montessori. I received my 3-to-6-year-old certification from Houston Montessori Center in 2002, and then headed back to the mountains of Colorado. I taught as a Primary lead for three years at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado, and then as an Assistant Youth Progams Director for a year before returning to Texas. I’ve had wonderful teaching experiences here as an Elementary assistant for two years, and a Primary lead for two years.
My son, my joy, came into my life in September 2009, and after taking some time off, I am so excited and grateful to be joining Primavera as a K-1 guide! I feel as if the universe has always been leading me to this place, and I am ready to finally plant the seed of my authentic self here and watch it grow and bloom! As a mother now, I am also so grateful and excited that my son gets to experience such a wonderful community and education all the way through high school!
I am eager to learn more from the incredible staff here; to be a part of the awesome growth of the school and its community; and to share my passions, which include peace education, caring for the Earth, cultural studies & geography, writing, and art. Professionally, I am also driven by current research on brain development, the effects of media on children, sensory integration, and learning differences between boys and girls. My goal is to create a classroom environment that provides a balance between social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and cognitive growth for the children—an environment where each child is respected for their individuality.
Virginia Luff
I began working as an assistant in a Montessori preschool, just out of college with a B.A. in Anthropology, in 2000. I fell in love with the environment, the philosophy, and the children, and knew that I had found my calling. The following year I began Oklahoma City University’s AMS Montessori training program for Lower Elementary, then completed a Masters of Education. In 2002, I began working at a public Montessori school in Oregon, started a new classroom, and remained there for 6 years. Because of my husband’s job, we relocated to Texas. I worked at other schools, and then discovered Primavera.
In 2010, I began working at Primavera, and I am ecstatic to have found my teaching home. The sense of community is amazing, and I relish the mutual respect between parents, teachers, and the administration. Each of my co-workers inspires me to continue to learn, to think creatively, and to live a healthy lifestyle. When not working, I spend much of my time playing music with friends and various bands, reading, cooking, hiking, biking, practicing yoga, and sharing fantastic conversation and garden-grown food with my husband, Zach.
Rendi Nutt
I have been teaching at Primavera since 2007. My first two years, I was a Primary assistant, and the last two years I have been a Guide in the Early Elementary classroom. Before teaching at Primavera, I studied Cultural Anthropology and Peace Studies at the University of North Texas. My focus was on Tibetan refugees living in India, and I was fortunate enough to spend a summer in the Himalayas studying the ways they obtain their culture through education, language, and religion. Before moving to Austin I taught high school for a year in the Marshall Islands. Most recently, I obtained my Early Elementary AMS certification from the Houston Montessori Center. I love to dance, perform, travel, and soak up all of my sweet baby’s smells, sounds, and love.
In my first two years at Primavera, I learned more about the philosophy of Montessori. I was inspired by the unique and compassionate way the guides at Primavera care for all of the precious children. The importance Primavera places on a child’s emotional and social development coupled with a strong academic focus resonated with me, and I decided to go deeper in my personal education of the Montessori method. Throughout my experience at Primavera, I have grown as a person. My relationships with my partner, family, friends, and co-workers have strengthened. The teachers, children, and parents in this community amaze me daily. I look forward to my family growing with this incredible community.
Christi Wilson
This is my second year at Primavera. My family and I moved here from northwest Arkansas, where I taught Upper Elementary at a Montessori school in Bentonville. I have 2 children in the Elementary program at Primavera: Ivy, who is 9, and Gage, who is 11. My husband Greg teaches 8th grade science at Trinity Episcopal School. I graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.A. in English. I obtained my Primary Montessori training through the Maria Montessori Training Center, an American Montessori Society (AMS) affiliate; and my Elementary training through the Houston Montessori Center (also AMS). I have experience teaching high school English and American History, Montessori middle school, and all levels of Montessori elementary. I love to travel, and spent several years in my 20s traveling around the USA. I lived in France for a year, and I am also a certified yoga teacher. I like to camp, hike, read, go on bike rides, and play Bananagrams.
I am so happy to have landed at Primavera! I came to Primavera through friends: my husband taught years ago with Deborah Way-Salinas and Gail Allen at The Montessori Center, and we have kept in touch through the years. I love the commitment to peace education and beautiful communication, and I feel totally supported here. I am happy to teach at a school that honors the earth and the child. The respect and love that radiate through the Primavera campuses are truly beautiful.
Ashley Bird
My name is Ashley Bird, but after years of participating in athletics, I prefer to be called Bird. I grew up in Ada, Oklahoma, where I attended The Children’s House Montessori through Kindergarten. I was honored during my Montessori elementary certification program this summer in Boulder, CO, to be taught by my former Montessori Guide, Betsy. In that moment I knew I was exactly where I should be. I received my formal education at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, where I majored in Kinesiology and minored in Biology and Psychology. After graduation as I began to pursue my degree in physical and occupational therapy, something didn’t feel quite right. I followed my parents’ advice and entered the “working field.” I immediately found myself attracted to teaching people of all ages, no matter what the subject. However, it was when I started working with children that I felt I had found my path.
I moved to Austin, Texas, in search of a school that took into account the education of the whole child, including social, emotional, physical, and spiritual development. After one day on the Primavera Campus, I knew I had found such a place. I was amazed by the independence, eagerness to learn, and high communication and conflict resolution skills of the Primavera student. I was in awe of the teachers and their strong desire to help the child live to his/her fullest potential by teaching from a place of integrity and love. Primavera is a community of peace, and I am honored to work side-by-side with the amazing members of this community. This year I will be teaching in the Upper Elementary classroom with the fabulous Christi Wilson.
During my free time, I love riding my fixed-gear, doing ceramics and yoga, rockin’ out, and questioning and observing the world around us.
Lucille Berrones
I’ve been ebbing and flowing through Montessori communities for 20 years, receiving guidance from Gail Allen (then Director of The Montessori Center, and now Primavera’s lead consultant and mentor). She taught guides how to lead from the heart, mind, and spirit. I was also honored to have worked with Primavera’s founding Guides while at The Montessori Center: Jennifer Phillips (Primary II) and Deborah Way-Salinas (Early Elementary), who remain my mentors as they were 20 years ago. My work history also includes providing guidance and support to underrepresented students in the sciences at UT Austin. I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from UT Austin, and pursued additional courses post graduation in Botany, Spanish (I have fluency in informal conversation), Ecology, and Native Plant Landscaping.
I’ve been working at Primavera for 6 years: two years as a substitute, three as a Guide in the Young Children’s Community, and currently as Elementary Support Staff. I came into Primavera as a parent. Luna began at 2 years old, and now is 8. Her presence inspired me to return to such meaningful, fulfilling work. Although there are many things I love about working with children, the top ones are all the nuts, bolts, and everything in between that it takes to build community. I am touched daily by the unfolding of each child, and I’m honored to become a part of each child’s life. And to build relationships with so many fabulous parents too!
Jake Pankratz
Hey all! My name is Jacob Pankratz, but I prefer to be called Jake. I discovered my passion for working with children at a young age as I participated in “big buddy” type mentoring programs. Throughout high school, I took courses which had me working in local elementary classrooms. Fascinated by human behavior, I went on to Texas State University and earned a degree in Psychology with a minor in Family and Child Development, logging many hours at the Child Development Center.
Shortly after graduation, I began training children and training myself at the Austin Martial Arts Academy, where Sensei Doug Diamond and Sensei Jonathan Hewitt introduced me “Life Ki-do.” Their unique curriculum and approach to teaching “martial arts and life education,” and the way the students were responding, was like nothing I had ever experienced in my 10 year martial arts training in my youth. Shortly after my journey at the dojo began, I was connected to Primavera. My first introduction to the school intrigued and engaged every element of myself. It was instantly clear that Primavera is celebrating the mind, body, and spirit of the child. The values at both establishments parallel each other and won my heart. I moved to Austin a week later.
I cherish each moment I spend at Primavera and as a physical educator, Creativity Club guide, and specials assistant, I enjoy having the unique opportunity to provide a variety of ways to allow the children to explore, move, learn, and grow. I will continue encouraging expression of the self, while increasing social/emotional intelligence, and finding one’s inner-strength. I am deeply honored to be part of such a supportive and loving community. I look forward to the continuous growth in relationships and experiences with these incredible children, parents, and staff.
In my free time, I enjoy drumming, wakeboarding, martial arts training, skateboarding, sand volleyball, traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with my family; friends; my girlfriend, Sarah; and our dog, Jack.
