Hi. I’m Emily.
Emily Collins is the Head of School and Eastside Lead Guide at Montessori in the Pines. She has enjoyed teaching and leading children from a very young age. After receiving a Bachelor’s in Art Education, from the University of Georgia, Emily taught Art in a rural, public elementary school, before relocating to Oregon in 2014.
Upon her arrival, Emily fell in love with the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and with the Montessori pedagogy. She received her AMI diploma from Montessori Northwest, in Portland, as well as her Masters’ of Montessori Education from Loyola University, in Baltimore, MD. Over the last decade, she has taught in a variety of Montessori settings before fulfilling her dreams of opening a school of her own.
Miss Emily’s favorite things about teaching Montessori are helping children to become independent learners and guiding children to be peaceful leaders in their communities. She has designed a program that gives children the skills to solve conflicts peacefully, care for themselves and their environment, and become responsive global citizens.
Miss Emily likes to stay busy. In the past year, she completed her Montessori certification for Infants and Toddlers, bought and renovated her first home, opened a second MITP campus, and enrolled in Business Education courses. She also loves to hike, craft, read, explore, and sing. Miss Emily lives with her husband Kyle and their bunny, Gordy.
And, this is Allison.
Allison is the Administrative Director at Montessori in the Pines. Since she was a young girl, Allison has always admired, cared for and nurtured children (especially infants)! She grew up in Southern Maine, very close to the beach, and loved the snowy winters. She attended The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, where she earned a BFA from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts.
After college, Allison moved to the West Coast and began working at a Montessori charter elementary school. This experience changed her life. She explained that children are our future and in our wonderful Montessori classrooms, we help to guide the child to reach their greatest potentials. Allison has been working in Montessori schools since 2010. She received her Association Montessori International (AMI) diploma at Montessori Northwest in Portland, Oregon. During her time working at Montessori schools in the Portland metro, Allison has held a variety of different positions, including assistant teacher, lead teacher, administrator and director. She also started her own creative side business called Baby Burrows.
When Allison is not working in schools or caring for families in their homes, she is consulting for friends who are entering parenthood, organizing others’ homes, and most importantly, being the mother of two wonderful young children. She enjoys camping with her family and friends, snowboarding, spending time with family, traveling, and exploring the natural landscapes of the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
And my name is Trista.
Meet Trista our Outdoor Programs Assistant Director! She is a passionate nature enthusiast dedicated to fostering young minds.
Whether tending to plants, exploring Central Oregon with her daughters or sharing car rides with the families adventurous feline companion, her vibrant spirit shines.
Nestled in an uber tiny house on an 80-acre hobby farm near Tumalo, Trista thrives among the many animals and endless creative projects. Currently mentoring two girls in the COPY program, she guides them weekly, drawing from her extensive background in childcare and volunteering opportunities including roles as a para-educator, au-pair, and a decade-plus dedication to the Big Brother Big Sister organization.
As a Montessori mom herself, Trista values Montessori’s approach to social-emotional education. With a background in landscaping and experience on the farm, Trista is eager to nurture preschoolers through nature-based learning, leveraging her insights as a late-diagnosed ADHD adult and mother.
Under Trista's guidance, your child will flourish, embracing their individuality, all while connecting with the world around them.
Don’t Forget Caitlin!
Caitlin was born and raised in beautiful Bend, Oregon and can’t seem to leave. Her education includes an Associates in Liberal arts from Central Oregon Community College and a Bachelors of Arts in Cultural Linguistics Anthropology from Oregon State University in 2017.
Caitlin is a life-long learner and comes from a long-line of educators. Caitlin came to teaching with a passion for sharing and expanding knowledge to others. Caitlin’s journey in Montessori is just beginning. She is the auntie of a Bend Montessori School graduate, Quinn, and current Montessori in the Pines student, Nova, and has had the pleasure of watching them grow.
Caitlin loves spending my time with her husband and their yellow lab, June. She loves to mushroom hunt, snowboard, go fishing and hiking.
Oh, and of course, Rylin.
Rylin is the Lead Guide at the Downtown campus of Montessori in the Pines. Currently, she is pursuing her AMI 3-6 Montessori Teaching Certificate and a Master’s in Montessori Education. Rylin is excited to apply her growing knowledge in the classroom every day, while being excited to learn and grow alongside the children.
Originally from outside Denver, Colorado, Rylin’s love for the outdoors and curiosity about the world have been lifelong. She earned a Bachelor’s in Sustainable Foods and Bioenergy Systems from Montana State University and began her career as a farm and nutrition educator in elementary schools. Through this work, she discovered her passion for connecting children with the world around them.
Rylin later led nature-based education programs in Hawaii and Vermont before relocating to Bend in 2023, where she joined Montessori in the Pines. A 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher, Rylin also enjoys leading yoga classes, encouraging children to explore movement and body regulation.
Rylin’s favorite part of Montessori is respecting each child’s unique developmental timeline and fostering a love of learning, critical thinking, and responsibility. Outside the classroom, she stays active by trail running, skiing, and getting out on the water with her partner, Cameron!
My name is Sophie!
Originally from Boise Idaho, Sophie has always had a deep love for the mountains and the outdoors. She attended the University of Oregon where she obtained a degree in International Studies with professional concentrations in Global Health and International Nonprofit Management. During her time at Oregon, Sophie partnered with the Early Childhood Intervention program, volunteering weekly for close to three years at the First Place Early Childhood Project at St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County. There, she facilitated a supportive social playtime and learning group for children ages 2-6, whose families were in transition due to homelessness.
After graduating, Sophie moved to San Diego, California where she worked in Human Resources for 7 years, primarily as a Human Resource Generalist. After 8 years in Southern California, she decided to move closer to her mountain roots and now resides in NE Bend with her fiancé, Kyle, her goldendoodle, Stanley and their 5 happy chickens (Peanut, Lavender, Olive, Meatball & Pickles). In transitioning from her career in HR, and upon moving to Bend, she decided to work for a season as a ski instructor at Mt. Bachelor, where she had the chance to guide children primarily aged 3-6 on and off the snow. It was there that she rediscovered her passion for working with children and became fascinated with the Montessori methods of teaching. Miss Sophie has been working at both MITP schools as a substitute teacher since May of 2024 and is thrilled to join full time at the downtown campus!
Hi, I’m Gillian!
Hello! I was born and raised in Bend with my three sisters who I am very close to. We all grew up on a farm which has all but completely cultivated who I am today. I now live in a tiny home on my parent’s property right outside of Bend with my sweet and energetic two year old daughter. On the weekends, you can typically find me spending quality time with family, be it making wildflower bouquets with my sister, or baking sourdough with mom. I also have a deep connection to nature; I love to camp, care for animals, grow my own food, and find myself near bodies of water! I am constantly looking to grow, or for my next adventure, such as creating memories with my daughter, taking an extended rafting trip, or expanding my career!
With that said, I am currently certified through North American Montessori Center and on the verge of pursuing my Association Montessori International, which is something I am really excited about. I have been working with children for nine years now and would consider it my passion.
I have loved every moment of my career and could not imagine spending my time or energy on anything else. I truly believe that this profession is as beneficial for the teachers as it is for the children and I absolutely love seeing life through their perspective. I am beyond enthusiastic and passionate about the Montessori philosophy, and cannot wait to see you all marvel as your children grow and thrive in this environment. Furthermore, to witness the independence and confidence this learning style will exude through your children. I am so grateful and excited to be a part of the Montessori in the Pines community and I cannot wait to get to know your families!
Plus, here is Shannon, our dance instructor!
Miss Shannon grew up in Northern California, and has been dancing for over 35 years! She was inspired by music videos on MTV in the 80’s and loved emulating moves from Janet Jackson to Paula Abdul and more! Shannon didn’t receive formal training until Highschool, where she was on the Cheer, Drill and the Dance Teams. Her older brother Brian, soon discovered Hip-hop and introduced his younger sister to a class and the rest is History!
After receiving her BA in Psychology at Cal State University of Long Beach, Shannon worked for an AIDS intervention organization for a year, while still dancing on the side. Her love and passion for dance soon became her livelihood, after booking a dance agent in Los Angeles. Some of her credentials include: House of Blues, Nike, Memoirs of a Geisha and The Ellen Show. She has toured with Asian singers and has taught internationally as well. After dancing professionally for a few years in Southern California, Shannon became a dance instructor in Santa Barbara California and currently teaches all across Central Oregon, sharing her love of dance with all of her students!
Meet, Heather Tweedie, our Occupational Therapist.
My name is Heather Tweedie, I am a Bend resident and owner of Pediatric Village Home Care. I have been a pediatric occupational therapist for 20 years. My passion is working with infants that have been hospitalized, as well as other infants with feeding difficulties (breast or bottle), torticollis, and babies that are difficult to calm. I provide in home therapy services in Bend and surrounding areas for kids 0-5. I currently lead sensorimotor groups in various preschools in the Bend area and work privately with students in preschool. I am also a postpartum doula specializing in supporting moms of NICU babies. I have extensive knowledge of premature infant development. I assist NICU families not only by nurturing and supporting the family unit but also by educating parents of the special developmental needs of their infants. I believe in empowering parents and providing then with the tools to be successful!
Emily Johnson joins us as our Speech Therapist!
Emily Johnson, M.S., CCC-SLP is a board certified speech language pathologist (speech therapist) and owner of Juniper Therapies. She received her masters degree in communication disorders from Arizona State University and has worked in private practice and public schools for 10 years.
She specializes in diagnostics, speech sound disorders, language disorders, social language skills, Autism, genetic syndromes, stuttering, and early intervention. She values neurodivergent affirmative care and loves parent coaching. She is passionate about multidisciplinary service models and loves collaborating with other practitioners and preschools to provide the best possible care. She is particularly drawn to growing a practice that connects the best providers with families so our whole community can thrive together.
Emily grew up in Denver, Colorado and currently lives in Bend with her husband and 2 young children. When she’s not working, you can find her gardening, singing, playing a variety of string instruments, baking, painting, or hiking.
Visit the Juniper Therapies website speech therapy inquiries outside of school and for caregiver resources: www.JuniperTherapies.com
