About Our School
Echinacea Montessori School is a single open, sunlit-filled
classroom that is modeled in the tradition of the first
Montessori "Casa de Bambini," or Children's House.
Each of our children has an individualize learning plan base
on their interests, strengths and areas of need as observed
by our highly trained staff and regular communication with
families. To better serve our community we are proud to be
a bilingual Montessori school, teaching in Spanish
and English.
Our one-room school house serves as the hub of learning.
Children 2.5 to 6 years old intermingle, receiving lessons,
exploring materials together, learning about each other.
Materials in the classroom focus on six main areas:
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Practical Life-care of self, other & the environment
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Sensorial-exploration through the senses of beautiful, precising crafted materials.
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Language-learning writing in both cursive & print & reading.
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Math-from understanding quantities to mathematical operations.
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Culture-We explore the cultures of the children in the classroom through food, art, music, geography, and holidays.
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Grace & Courtesy-a somewhat fussy term for social/emotional development of individual voice, listening skills and respect for self and each other.
We radiate out into our community with daily neighborhood walks, playing at nearby parks. We experience the magic of nature in the city: leaves changing into brilliant colors, crunching under our feet, looking at individual snow crystals with wonder, welcoming the brilliant greens of spring in our gardens and hooting with laughter and summer fun!
Echinacea Montessori School began it's work in 2019 with the idea of serving the children and their families in a small, community-centered Montessori school in the heart of Denver. We opened our doors in early 2020 to serve children ages 2.5-6. In August, 2026 we started our seventh school year!
Our Teacher Leaders
Amanda Clarke
Founding Teacher Leader
she/her
I was most inspired to become a teacher by three educators: my father, Mrs Ruth Denney, and Mrs Laurie Gonzales. It was their examples of deep respect for their students, their kind patience, humor and fierce love of teaching, that ignited my drive to be an educator. I grew up in Colorado and am both a Montessori teacher and parent. My teaching at a public Montessori school coincided with my daughter beginning in a primary classroom and we learned about Montessori together. I earned my teaching degree from Lesley University in 1997 and my formal AMI Montessori training in 2015 in Denver. My goal is to continue to inspire and guide children in exploring and expanding their world with confidence and curiosity while learning about themselves and others.
Adriana
Lopez-Ayala
Lead Teacher
Hello, my name is Adriana. I have been working in early childhood education since 2010 and have experience in both traditional classroom environments and Montessori settings. Throughout my career, I have also served as a school director, helping to open and license early childhood programs.
I love working with children because it is always amazing to see how they view and learn about the world. Their curiosity, creativity, and excitement for discovery inspire me every day.
I truly enjoy working at Echinacea Montessori because it is a small, one-classroom school that reminds me of the early days when Maria Montessori first opened her Children’s House. Being part of such an intimate learning environment allows us to create a nurturing space where each child can grow, explore, and develop a love of learning.
Our Staff
Sheridan Manfredi
Administrative Assistant
Hello Echinacea families! My name is Sheridan Manfredi and I use she/her pronouns. I am currently a graduate student at the University of Colorado Denver obtaining a dual masters degree in criminal justice and public administration with a nonprofit management concentration. I am passionate about criminal justice reform, and one way I see this being realized is through education. I hope to use what I have learned in my program to assist Echinacea, and all of you, to the best of my ability. I was born and raised in Reno, Nevada and moved to Denver for grad school in 2021. I have since fallen in love with this city and all it has to offer. In my free time I like to hike, camp, eat good food, and hang out with my amazing friends. I look forward to getting to know all of you!
Kacey Bennett
Assistant Teacher
Kacey is a Colorado native and learned about Montessori as her daughter started at a nearby public Montessori school. She has broad experience working with children with sensory needs as well as working with teams of adults fundraising for education. She is currently pursuing her degree in Early Childhood Education. Kacey loves being a mom, going to concerts, hiking and spending time with friends.
