Our Staff
Colleen Wiggins joined our Garden School Family as Head Teacher in 2018.
Colleen brings over 30 years of experience teaching in Montessori classrooms. She studied child development in college and has all three levels of Montessori training, 3-6, 6-9, and 9-12. She spent over 20 years teaching at the Montessori Children’s School in San Luis Obispo, CA. During her time there she taught Preschool, Lower Elementary, and spent 13 years as the Upper Elementary Head Teacher.
Colleen’s many years in the classroom at both the primary and elementary level, have given her a keen understanding of how to create an environment that meets the developmental needs of our mixed age class. She believes deeply in the Montessori Philosophy; recognizing that each child is a unique individual and that children have an innate love of learning. She loves coming to work every day and watching her students grow and learn.
Colleen and her husband Chris are parents to Kayla, Kyle, Emma, and Noah, and have 2 grandchildren, Aidan(4 1/2), and Scarlett( 2 1/2). In her free time, Colleen loves to read, cook, go to the beach, and spend time with family and friends.
Tracie Kenyon joined our staff in 2021. She was a Garden School parent with her 3 daughters since 2015 and a is great addition to our program. Tracie received her Masters in Teaching from the University of Chicago and taught Kindergarten and 1st grade in a traditional public school in Madison, WI. She then received her Montessori Certificate for ages 6-9 and taught as the head teacher at a public Montessori school in Chicago for 5 years.
Tracie’s educational philosophy and practice align strongly with the Montessori method. She loves helping Colleen create and maintain a developmentally appropriate, exciting and enriching environment for the children to engage with and learn. She enjoys watching the children grow and develop into the unique people they are.
Tracie is married to Jason and together they have 3 girls, Johannah, Claire, and Louisa, all graduates of Garden Montessori School. When she is not at Garden Montessori, she is busy volunteering for her children’s schools, swim team, and Girl Scouts. As a family they love to hike, camp, and spend time at the beach.
Jaye Perry is the owner and founder of Garden Montessori School. She graduated from Cal a long time ago and completed her Montessori training when her children were enrolled in a Montessori preschool in Kansas City in the 60’s. She opened a school in Cincinnati Ohio in 1971 and opened Garden School in Danville when the family returned to California in 1978.
She was the head teacher until 1990 when the school moved from a church on Diablo Road to the current building on Verona. Garden School has had 3 head teachers since 1978. Teachers enjoy the environment and the families that join Garden School and tend to stay until they move or retire. They are committed to enriching the lives of the children enrolled and preparing them for school and life.
Jaye and her husband, Marshall, have 2 children and 3 grandchildren. When she is not doing the gardening, painting or other chores at Garden School, she is doing those same things at home and enjoys traveling, and visiting with family and friends.
Garden Montessori School, Preschool, Danville, Ca.
