Our Team

The Bluebonnet Montessori Team of Teachers and Parents is a close knit community committed to provide the most exceptional Montessori Journey for all of the Bluebonnet Children. 

A woman with short dark hair and earrings, sitting outdoors on a colorful butterfly-shaped chair, forming a heart shape with her hands, surrounded by purple flowers in a garden with a wooden house and trees in the background.

Meet the Team

  • Founder, Director and Primary Lead Teacher

    I was born and raised in Bulgaria, in the heart of the Balkan Mountains. As a child I loved playing math mind games, painting, drawing, sculpting, dancing, but most of all I loved going up in the mountains and visiting the ancient Roman archaeological site every weekend in sunshine, rain or snow. I started studying English at the age of 9 and dreamed of going to London and speaking my truth about life in Hide Park. I graduated from the Technical University of Gabrovo with a Master’s degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

    In 1991, I met my future husband George while he was teaching Business Law and Ethics through the Chambers of Commerce in Eastern Europe. We traveled extensively through Europe, being exposed to a variety of cultures, languages, and experiences, but soon made the decision to go to Texas and live close to George's family. I jumped into this international move with faith, guided by my husband's favorite advice: "Trust yourself! You can do anything!" The same advice I often find myself giving to the children at Bluebonnet today.

    I discovered the Montessori philosophy in the winter of 1996 when we were searching for a pre-school for our children – our son David was three years old, and our daughter Rachael was one at the time. As my studies were in the field of math and science, I absolutely fell in love with the Montessori math materials – I was in math heaven! I could not keep my eyes and hands off the tactile and colorful materials. I knew immediately my son and daughter were going to love the Montessori environment, where kids were moving about happily and freely, discovering new ideas and acquiring new skills through their own experiences.

    I was inspired by the freedom of the Montessori environment and wanted to give my own children this type of learning experience, something that was not available to me as a child growing up in a communist society. I immersed myself in learning about the Montessori philosophy and later became a certified Montessori Educator. The best years in my life have been the years of guiding children to trust themselves and discover their full potential for greatness ever since 1997!

    Growing up in Bulgaria, where education was the symbol of enlightenment in a society far more restricted, I learned from a very young age the power of dreams. I used to dream about one world where people of all colors and of all ages would live together in harmony, unity and peace. Little did I know then that my dream as a child would take root right here, in the heart of Texas, and blossom into what is today Bluebonnet Montessori. Bluebonnet was created and built with lots of love and care. Our vision was to create a nature sanctuary for the children, where seeds of knowledge would be sown, but also seeds of love would be nurtured: love of nature, love of trees, love of flowers, love of all forms of life, and love of humanity. In the spring of 2000, my husband George and I spent many days crawling under the trees in thick forest of Live Oaks and Cedar trees with a tape measure and a notepad trying to find the perfect spot for the round buildings so that no Live Oaks will be cut down. My husband and I poured our hearts and minds into designing the school and built it with our own hands. We invested everything we had in this dream. It was a true family adventure and my father, Nikolay, designed and built the child size custom furniture, while our young children at the time, David and Rachael, nailed boards on the building's framing and the roof, moved many rocks from the foundation site to create the gardens and planted the first bluebonnet flowers in the spring of 2001. It was a labor of pure love for the greater benefit of all children.

    The sparks of joy I see in the Bluebonnet children's eyes, their joy of discovery, fulfilled curiosity and love of learning that take place in this children's sanctuary, created with such care and love remind me every day that dreams do come true!

    I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my time in this life on Earth. I am so grateful for the amazing children, parents and teachers who helped me create and nurture our Bluebonnet community and look forward to welcoming many more children in our " Bluebonnet Montessori Children's Home" where they will feel at home while away from home in the years to come.

A young woman with long brown hair and blue eyes smiling outdoors in a sunlit, green garden or park.


  • Assistant Director and Primary Lead Teacher

    I was born and raised in a Montessori home and enjoyed helping my family design and build Bluebonnet Montessori School of Lakeway. My first school experience was in a Montessori classroom at the age of two, and I spent every summer growing up working at Bluebonnet's summer art camps as an intern. I received my Montessori diploma in early childhood development from the North American Montessori Center in 2014 and have been enjoying being a teacher ever since! I cherish the irreplaceable connections to each and every one of the beautiful children and their parents. Teaching is something that brings me so much joy and I can't imagine myself doing anything else! Maria Montessori's philosophy is one of peace, nurturing, culture, and building self-confidence in learning through fun, carefully crafted and engaging materials. Although I am a teacher, I find that the children also teach me so much every day.

    In 2015 I created a Montessori based yoga program that I teach as an after-school activity in the afternoon. The program helps the child develop real life skills in mindfulness, meditation, and body awareness. The children enjoy learning new yoga poses and following different guided meditations each week!

    Being a native Austinite, I love the outdoors, hiking, kayaking, spending time with my dogs and cats, dancing, painting, scuba diving and travelling to new places around the world. Bluebonnet has always been a second home to me, and I am so very grateful to be able to teach and work alongside so many wonderful teachers, and children!

Woman sitting on a bench in a purple flower field, smiling and wearing a white dress with pink patterns.

  • Primary Lead Teacher

    I was born and raised in India. I did the major part of my education back home and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Avadh College. I got married to my wonderful husband in 1999 and came to USA. I have two college age daughters. My elder daughter is pursuing degree in Computer Science at Texas State University and the younger one is working on a Government degree and has aspiration to study Law after that. I am a family-oriented person and I love kids and enjoy spending time with my family. We moved to Austin in June 2012 when my husband decided to pursue a job opportunity with AMD.

    I stayed home with my girls, enjoying and cherishing their early years of life, until the younger one started Pre–K at Park Point Montessori in Houston. At that point, I applied for and was hired at my daughter’s school. I continued working for Park Point Montessori for the next five years. Some of the key activities we taught children were Math, Language, Sensorial activities, Culture, and my favorite, Practical Life. Practical Life activities help children cater to their day to day needs. Children become more independent and learn to take care of their basic needs. Working at Park Point Montessori with children gave me a world of experiences.

    I completed my Montessori Certification from NAMC in 2011. I am honored to be teaching at Bluebonnet Montessori since 2012 - it is an excellent place to work. It is an honor and an amazing experience working with the kids and the co-teachers. The school has a rich culture and students get to participate in music, art, and learn languages such as Spanish and Mandarin. I am extremely delighted to be working here! At Bluebonnet, we establish strong self-esteem for the students and encourage independence for life.

    Bluebonnet Montessori supports each of its student friends as an individual, nurtures them academically, and helps them master the fundamental skills of learning. Bluebonnet encourages all its community members to reconnect with the environment and nature around them. Each day my goal is to do something constructive and end the day with a big smile. In the process of teaching, I learn a lot of valuable lessons from my little friends. They are so adorable, and I thoroughly enjoy being around them!

A woman outdoors holding a camera, with snow-capped mountains and evergreen trees in the background.

  • Primary Lead Teacher

    I was born in Serbia, where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in English and Literature. My
    passion for storytelling and visual arts led me to further my studies in the United Kingdom,
    where I obtained a Master’s degree in Film and Television Studies from the University of
    Bristol. As a cinephile, I have always loved movies, especially art house films, and
    appreciate the power of film as a form of expression and cultural insight.


    After completing my studies, my love for travel and discovering different cultures took me to
    China, where I spent seven years teaching children in international schools. This was an
    incredibly enriching experience, allowing me to immerse myself in a new culture while
    growing as an educator.


    Beyond my love for education and the arts, I am also deeply passionate about sports,
    particularly fencing. I trained in fencing for 14 years and competed at a professional level, an
    experience that instilled in me discipline, perseverance, and a love for movement—values I
    bring into my teaching as well.


    In 2022, I received my American Montessori Society (AMS) certification for the Primary
    level lead teacher, further deepening my commitment to child-centered, hands-on learning.
    Two years ago, my husband and I moved to Austin, and I have since enjoyed working in
    Montessori environments, where I continue to nurture a love of learning in young minds. I
    believe in fostering independence, curiosity, and creativity in children, and I am passionate
    about creating a supportive and inspiring environment where they can thrive.


    I am excited to be a part of the Bluebonnet Montessori Community and look forward
    to contributing to its mission of child-centered education.

    Thank you so much, Mom

  • Elementary Lead Teacher

    I love to travel, and I consider myself a citizen of the world. I am British, was born in Brazil to a Swiss mother and an English father. I’ve also lived in Argentina, South Africa and Greece.

    I moved to Los Angeles in 2002 to study journalism at the University of Southern California. After graduation, I worked as a crime reporter for the Desert Dispatch in Barstow, California. Barstow is a desert town halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Close to Barstow is the town of Hinkley made famous by the movie ‘Erin Brockovich’ with Julia Roberts about a town whose water supply was poisoned by PG&E. I saw firsthand the impact of the poisoning the town’s water supply with chromium six had on the people there. A tragedy that could have been prevented by simply putting a liner in the ground to prevent chromium 6 leaking into the water supply. 

    I made a life-changing decision in 2010 when I decided that instead of writing about the world’s problems I would educate the solution - children, the future world leaders. I left my life as a reporter and became a Montessori Teacher. I made this change in my career because I discovered the philosophy of Maria Montessori: ‘Peace through education.’ The peaceful way to a better world, I believe, is the right kind of education for children because as Maria Montessori said ‘The child is the father of the man.’ I wanted to be able to teach children to become kind and moral adults.

    I am an AMI trained Montessori primary guide and NAMC trained Montessori Elementary Guide with fourteen years of experience teaching. During my AMI course, I came to Austin for several weeks to train at a Montessori school. I loved Austin so much I moved here in 2011 after receiving my diploma.

    As a teacher, I have been able to combine my love of teaching children and writing. I’ve written a children’s book called ‘ Mr. Marstachio’ loosely based on a true story of a cat who visited a Montessori classroom on a cold and rainy day. I have an 11-year-old son who will also be joining Bluebonnet Montessori. I am a passionate educator who loves to instill the love of learning in children. My specialty is teaching children to read and love math.I am thrilled to be part of the Bluebonnet Montessori Community!

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a blue patterned top, sitting on a colorful butterfly-themed chair in a garden with purple flowers. There are trees and a wooden house in the background.


  • Art Teacher

    I was born and raised in Houston, but have called Austin home for over 30 years. I discovered Bluebonnet Montessori in 2004 when looking for a preschool for my oldest son. When he sat on the steps and refused to leave at the end of the tour, I knew we had found a second home. My husband and I have two sons and they attended Bluebonnet. During that time, I enjoyed the positions of office manager and substitute teacher. The boys eventually graduated, but I stayed and additionally assisted with art classes and summer art camps. Aside from time away for pregnancies and the pandemic, I've treasured working at Bluebonnet for over 20 years.

    Being a part of Bluebonnet Montessori has brought much joy to my life. In addition to receiving tons of satisfaction with contributing to the day to day flow of the school, Ms. Silvia and all of the teachers here have become close friends of mine. Bluebonnet is a second home to me in that I’ve watched both of my sons flourish as they grew through the Montessori program. As young men now, they have moved on, while I’ve stayed and will for as long as I can foresee! It’s a fantastic place to work. Being a part of a team of truly caring, loving teachers investing our time and energy into building a community of conscientious young world citizens, is a privilege.

    “To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, to raise the genius, and to mend the heart.” Years ago, I came upon this impassioned quote by Alexander Pope, written in 1713. Its clarity and meaning so resonated with me, that my deep desire to learn to paint and create excitedly came to life. I've had a series of wonderful art teachers over the last 10 years, and currently am enrolled in Schoolism.com, which is an on-line school with classes taught by many well known, professional artists. Learning to paint and create is absolutely thrilling and, I believe, so important to our own personal growth and emotional wellbeing. I plan to teach art, learn and create for as long as I possibly can.

    I enjoy so many aspects of my work, but I especially enjoy observing parents as they experience the blossoming of their child in the Montessori program. The growth that happens when a child, thirsty for knowledge and independence, is matched with this rich Montessori environment, is a magical thing to witness!

Woman with dark brown hair and a sleeveless olive green top playing an acoustic guitar outdoors among yellow flowers and green trees.


  • Music Together Teacher

    One of my earliest memories is being with my father's extended family in Vermont and, after a delicious meal, gathering in the living room for a lively jam session. The sound of guitars, banjos, washboards, spoons (just about everything was an instrument!) and boisterous singing filled the air. What fun it was! This was the beginning of my love for making music and it has been an integral part of my life ever since. I’ve sung in choirs my whole life and continue to do so with the Love Notes Chorus, bringing the joy of music to those with early stage memory loss and their care givers. I also compose songs and play the guitar for my band, Magnolia Blue Trio. Since 2007, I have been a grateful and enthusiastic Music Together® teacher for Bluebonnet Montessori!

    What began as a fun music class to attend with two of my sons, Jason and Ryan, has become my life’s work. Through Music Together In-school and Rhythm Kids curriculum, I aim to give your children the same kind of joyous, immersive, musical beginning I had by facilitating a space where your children can find their voices and become the music makers we know they can be.

    As a level 2 certified Music Together® teacher with a bachelor’s in Applied Learning and Development from UT (Go Horns!), I am certain, together, we will support your child’s most important developmental domains while growing them musically AND having FUN! Let’s make music together!

Partially visible woman with dark wavy hair smiling, wearing a light beige fluffy jacket, standing outdoors among green plants and blooming purple flowers.


  • Spanish Teacher

A woman with glasses and long dark hair smiling, standing on a stone path with lush green trees and a section of the Great Wall of China in the background.


  • Chinese Teacher

    I was born and grew up in China, received my Bachelor of Science degree (major in Chemistry, minor in Education) from Beijing Normal University. After graduating from college, I worked at a Beijing high school as chemistry teacher for several years.

    I've also lived in other countries including Singapore, UK, and Canada, enjoyed exploring different cultures and places around the world. I have been teaching Chinese as a private tutor since I moved to the United States 25 years ago.

    It has been a great pleasure teaching at the Bluebonnet Montessori School of Lakeway since I joined the team in 2019. I focus on the practice and application of language, teaching students authentic Mandarin and culture lessons with age appropriate and engaging activities. I am always inspired when I teach Chinese and introduce Chinese culture to children! I hope that through my continuous efforts, children can learn Chinese in a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere and master more Chinese language.

    I have two wonderful sons, in addition to spending time with family, I enjoy hiking, gardening, and cooking.

The Bluebonnet Team of Teachers 

Our passionate and experienced teachers are committed to nurture the children's innate curiosity, inspire academic excellence and creative expression, and provide a crucial source of stability and consistency in their early years of life!  

Bluebonnet Montessori School of Lakeway

Our Montessori certified teachers possess a unique set of qualities and skills, including:

Love for Learning:  They model joy and passion for learning and exploration.

Empathy: They cultivate a nurturing and empathetic environment, supporting the children's emotional development.

Patience: They patiently and carefully observe the children as they explore and learn at their own pace so that they may understand their individual needs and better support their growth and development.

Flexibility: They constantly adapt to the needs and interests of the children, fostering a child-centered approach so that every child may discover their own unique hidden potential.

Communication: Compassionate and effective communication is essential for collaborating with parents and colleagues.

Knowledge of Montessori Method: They are well-versed in the principles and practices of Montessori education.

Organization: They order and beauty in the prepared learning environment.

Adaptability: They adapt their teaching methods in order to honor each child's unique learning style.

Creativity: Montessori teachers find creative ways to engage and inspire children in their learning journey.

Dedication: They are deeply committed to the holistic development of each child.

Bluebonnet Montessori School of Lakeway