Primary Classrooms

Hello!  I am Ms. Catherine Tantengco. During my college years I was an assistant in a Montessori classroom, and knew early on that I wanted to pursue a career in Montessori education.  I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development degree in 2002, after which I pursued my Montessori teacher certification from the Association Montessori Internationale, the organization personally founded by Maria Montessori.  In 2005 my husband and I moved to Colorado and soon after I became part of the Buena Vista team.  When I am away from school I am very busy raising four fast growing children; Malia, Dominic, Nathaniel, and Christine.

Hi everyone! I feel honored to be a part of the Buena Vista Montessori Community. I have had a long and varied career in education, and it feels good to be in such a welcoming environment. I spent the first part of my career working with elementary and high school students as a resource teacher. I loved my students and my work, but I felt the frustration of many of my students as their needs weren’t identified until later in their schooling. It was at this time I decided to dedicate myself to Early Childhood Education and earned my Montessori teacher certification. It is Dr. Montessori’s deep respect for young children that drew me to her philosophy and has guided me as I have worked in various early childhood classrooms. I have worked as a Montessori teacher, early childhood special education teacher and a kindergarten teacher. I am thankful to be back in a Montessori environment here at BVES.

My husband and I have four grown children and four grandchildren.  We absolutely love being grandparents and spend much of our free time with our grandchildren.  We also enjoy camping, hiking and gardening.

I am so thrilled to be back at Buena Vista Montessori. I have been involved with Montessori education for the better part of my career since 1983. It all started when my new sister-in-law asked if I wanted to go to this "Childhood philosophy" class. I watched a video at that class that was taken at the teacher's Montessori Preschool. It captured me heart and soul and I asked her for a job that night at class. I worked in a school that was only primary, and was put in charge of the before and after school care. I am not sure how I knew exactly what to do, but I did. I asked a lot of questions and continued my primary training. I became a classroom assistant and after finishing my primary certification I earned a classroom of my own. I continued on in primary for 8 years. We moved to Hawaii, where I taught with some very amazing people in primary. With a move to Arizona, I got the chance to earn my lower elementary certification, and then my upper elementary training came with a master's Degree. I have enjoyed working with children from 18 months old to 12 years old over my long, wonderful career. Secretly, I find primary and upper el students to be on similar planes of development. They are both trying to figure out how the next stage of their lives will develop, and how to get along with their peers. 

Teaching is not just my job, it is my life, and my passion. I feel very strongly about how a child is educated and how they develop the independence, drive, and confidence that will guide them through their lives. I want to be an integral part of their successes and mistakes to help them grow in mind and spirit. I will always love working with your child and getting to know your family. It iruly takes our partnership to help your child succeed.

When I am not teaching I enjoy many activities, travel being my favorite. I love to travel with my mom, and recently my neice has begun joining us on our annual trips. I have been to England, France, Spain, Italy, South America, Mexico and to almost all 50 states. I like to do crafts, decoratie my home, garden, read and play games with friends and family. I love my family, I have four brothers, three sisters-in-law, four nephews, a neice,two great nephews, my son is 29, and my mom. We are very close and love spending time together.

My name is Joy Magee. I received my Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1992. I have worked in Colorado at a Montessori school for over 20 years! I obtained my Primary Montessori certification in 2004 through the Montessori Institute of America. I also completed my K-6 Colorado teaching certification recently. I love guiding children through all areas of the Montessori curriculum. I truly believe that the Montessori approach is the best way to reach children of all ages. In my free time I love to travel, hike, garden, listen to music and do any outdoor activity.

I have been employed at Buena Vista Montessori Elementary School since 2006.  I earned my Bachelor of Science in Education, English major at Far Eastern University, Manila Philippines.  I earned my Early Childhood Montessori Diploma at North American Montessori Center, a Canadian-based Montessori Training Center.  I earned my Master of Arts, Curriculum and Instruction major with Special Education as my minor at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.  I am currently pursuing National Board certification to advance the quality of teaching and learning.  My family and I enjoy travelling and have been fortunate to have traveled to 5 continents.

Greetings! I am Heather Berthelson. I started at Buena Vista Montessori in the fall of 2024. I had previously taught at a Montessori school in Utah in Primary as well as Upper EL. I have worked in Montessori since 2011 after I graduated from Unity College in Unity Maine with my Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Environmental Education. I enjoy running, hiking, mountain biking, camping and really doing any outdoor activity with my family. I have two boys. I am so excited to meet you and your wonderful children, and I look forward to an amazing year full of love, laughter and growth! I am so excited to have your child in my class!