ABOUT COMS
Meet Our Guides & Staff
Innovative learning spaces and highly experienced, dedicated guides
Our dedicated staff brings years of experience, knowledge and joy to COMS. In the office, you'll meet our administrative team. In the classrooms, you'll see lead guides working with assistants to help children feel safe and nurtured.
Lead guides have years of experience in the Montessori approach to development and education in addition to holding a bachelor's degree. Montessori lead guides are responsible for setting up the prepared classroom environment, making it inviting and stimulating for young children.
Like Dr. Montessori, guides are trained observers, allowing children to explore the environment with as little interference from adults as possible. When a child first enters the classroom, gentle reminders may be needed while the child learns procedures. This guidance may include how to put a work away, respecting other children, how to work on a table or rug and other practical aspects of functioning in the classroom.
Through careful observation, the needs of each child can be met. Lead guides recognize when a child is ready for a "lesson" or introduction to new materials in language, math, geography, science and more. After a brief introduction, the child is free to explore and work with the materials, many of which are designed to be self-correcting.
Each class has an assistant to support the classroom, allowing lead guides concentrated time for specific lessons with children.
Jed Burchett
Director
Jed earned his BA in Art History from Sonoma State University in 2002. After working as a counselor in a program for deaf and hard of hearing clients in the foster care system, Jed began his Montessori journey in 2005 when he started as an Assistant Teacher. In 2008, Jed earned his Certificate as Montessori Primary Guide from the Maria Montessori Teacher Training Center under the guidance of Susan Cohn, a student of famous Montessorian Ursula Thrush, and who was recently awarded a Wisdom of the Elders award from the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE). In 2013, Jed earned a certificate with the NAMTA-AMI Orientation to Adolescent studies at the Hershey Montessori School, Huntsburg campus. It was during this time Jed began work as a teacher trainer for the Maria Montessori Teacher Training Center. Jed is now Co-Director of MMTTC with Rebecca Keith, with Susan Cohn as director emerita.
Jed has a passion for the Montessori system of education and developing new and experienced teachers to grow in their ever-changing roles as Montessori professionals. He loves to travel, garden, and to sing! He is thrilled to be a part of the College Oak Montessori School family!
Kelsey Mercado
Maple Class Lead Guide
After Kelsey graduated from Mills College with a BA in Child Development, she wanted to find a school that put individual children’s capabilities and interests first. She found that in COMS, where she has been working since 2012. After completing Montessori Primary training and working in Primary 1 (now Maple), she became Maple Lead guide in 2020. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with friends and family, pole fitness and floral design work.
In her own words: “I love the long history of community at COMS. We are able to take time and see each individual child for who they are, what their needs are, and how we can best support them during these most vital years of development.”
Jenna Wandrey
Mulberry Class Lead Guide
Jenna graduated with a BA in Early Childhood Studies from SSU in 2017. After leading a childcare program in Novato, she came to work at COMS in 2015. She assisted in Primary 2 with 3 to 6 year olds before joining Primary Prep, which is now Mulberry. In 2020, she became Lead Guide in Mulberry. Jenna was born and raised in Sonoma County and loves to draw, watch movies, go on hikes, play video games and visit San Francisco and eat pizza.
Karen Pierce
Willow Class Lead Guide
After studying Psychology at Brigham Young University, Karen worked in mental health for 17 years, while teaching Spanish at COMS. In 2013, she came to work full time in our Primary Prep (now Mulberry) class. In 2021, she helped COMS open Willow Class, creating the environment and becoming Lead Guide. Karen grew up in Santa Rosa and lived in Utah, Massachusetts and Costa Rica. Karen loves to travel, read, cook, bake, go to the movies and spend time with her family.
Crystal Mangahas
Director of Communications and Finance
Crystal received her MBA from the Stern School of Business, NYU and her BA in Business from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. She grew up primarily in the Seattle, Washington area and worked in management consulting before joining the administrative team at COMS in 2012. Outside of work, Crystal enjoys reading, traveling with her husband and teenager, baking and attempting yoga. One of Crystal’s favorite quotes is from Rumi: “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.”
In her own words: “The COMS community is amazing: committed to caring for one another and our children.”
Amy Root
Garden & Outdoor Environment Manager, Administrative Assistant
Amy has a BA in Social Work and Sociology with a minor in sustainable development. She grew up in Connecticut and Nashville, moved to California in 2017 and came to COMS in 2018. In 2022, Amy joined the administrative team as assistant to the directors. She enjoys hiking, reading, yoga, and seeing live music. She values the importance of relationships, connection to all living things and the opportunity to create life-long gardeners.
Ann Spaulding
Kitchen Manager & Sequoia Class Assistant
Ann earned an AA in Early Childhood Education from SRJC and a BA in Elementary Education from Humboldt State University. She worked as a substitute teacher at COMS before accepting a full-time position in 2018. She currently lives in her childhood home in Windsor and enjoys taking jazz and modern dance classes, snowboarding, and time with friends and family.
Melissa Parker
Sequoia Class Lead Guide
Melissa attended San Francisco State University to obtain Elementary and Special Education credentials and has worked in a variety of environments teaching people with and without special needs, ages 2 to 72 years. Melissa started at COMS in 2014 and became the Sequoia Lead Guide in 2023. Away from COMS, she loves going to the ocean and the mountains, hiking, yoga, Contra dance, gardening and volunteering at a local horse rescue.
Rylee Almendariz
Mulberry Class Assistant
After graduating from Sonoma State University with a degree in Early Childhood Studies, Rylee joined our staff in 2021. She plays several instruments, including piano, guitar and ukulele and enjoys singing with the children. Away from school she enjoys rollerblading and painting.
In her own words: “It’s rewarding to see children get excited when they learn something new.”
Susan Webb
Willow Class Assistant & Aftercare Lead
After an 18 year tenure teaching in public schools, Susan decided to work with young children and obtained her Early Childhood Education permit. After joining COMS in 2021, she says, “I love being part of a learning environment that puts children’s needs, happiness and development first!” Away from school Susan loves to spend time in nature, with a special fondness for birds and their habitats.
Aaliyah Boggeri
Aide
Aaliyah attends Santa Rosa Junior College, earning units in Early Childhood Education and Art Studio. She enjoys drawing, Japanese anime and music. She is happy to be starting her career in ECE here at COMS.
Tess Schnieder
Sequoia Class Assistant/Friday Enrichment Lead
Tess graduated from Sonoma State University with a BA in Early Childhood Education in 2020 and recently obtained her diploma in Montessori Primary training. She began working with children coaching a local swim team in Sebastopol for 7 years before finding COMS from 2017 to 2020.
After working at other Montessori schools, Tess returned to COMS in 2023 as Assistant in Sequoia Classroom and also is the Friday Enrichment Lead Guide. She believes that children become their truest selves when they are given the chance to explore and express their interests, which she has found so true here at COMS.
Outside of work, Tess finds comfort in camping, hiking, photography, caring for her plants and two young cats, and spending as much time as she can with friends and family.
Joan Saywell
Joan has a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish Literature from UCLA. She has a MBA in International Business. Her two girls grew up in Montessori and as a result, Joan became a preschool teacher in Lake Tahoe. Joan also works for NORC at the University of Chicago as a Field Interviewer. Joan says being among many different ages and types of people is always fun and interesting. Joan is a long time substitute for COMS and is the Friday Enrichment Assistant. She enjoys the outdoors and swimming, and has coached and judged synchronized swimming.
Esmerelda Cholico
Campus Aide
Es joined our team in 2022 as a multi-area-assistant. She helps where needed! On any given day you may find her setting up nap beds, cleaning up in the kitchen, delivering lunch and more to classrooms and more. Away from campus, she enjoys writing and crochet.
Jerry Silhanek,
Primary 1 Head Teacher (retired)
Jerry was the head teacher of Primary 1 from 1988 until 2020.
In his own words, “What I liked most about working at COMS is being able to be myself at work and the joy of the children.”
Jeannette Frank
Primary 2 Head Teacher (retired)
Jeannette came to COMS in 1990 and was head teacher of Primary 2 and Director from 1997 until 2020.
In her own words: “What I love about College Oak is that the young experience a time of personal renaissance.”
Jeanne Maher
Primary Prep Head Teacher (retired)
Jeanne was head teacher of Primary Prep from 2001 until 2020.
In her own words: “I appreciate working with teachers who value the voice and contributions of every student, along with the fair, open minded approach COMS practices.”
Michelle Gleed Sequoia Class Lead (retired)
After receiving her BS in Natural Resources from Humboldt State University, Michelle joined COMS in 1991 as an assistant and co-founded our lunch program. In 1997, she took a hiatus from COMS to open Pick of the Litter Thrift Shop for Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County. She returned to COMS in 2001, becoming head teacher in Primary 3 (now Sequoia) the following year. After many years on our administrative team, Michelle was appointed Director in June 2022. Michelle grew up in San Diego and outside of work enjoys vegan cooking, sewing, reading paperbacks and living in the forest of Cazadero with her extraordinary husband, surrounded by animals wild and domestic.
In her own words: “COMS is a magical place where children, staff and families are respected as individuals while being part of a supportive community. It’s a privilege to work here.”
“Our son Jacob started COMS at 2 years old and we opted to stay through Kindergarten. We absolutely credit the 3 years he spent in Michelle's classroom for laying a foundation of success that carried through his entire academic career.”
— Lori Austin, alumni parent