Our Montessori Family

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

Our Montessori guides are the heart of Mount Ogden Montessori School. Passionate, dedicated, and deeply committed to the Montessori philosophy, they create a nurturing environment where children feel seen, supported, and inspired. With a love for teaching and a focus on fostering independence and curiosity, our guides empower each child to reach their fullest potential. Their expertise and genuine care make learning a joyful and transformative experience every day.

Lead Aspen Community Guide

Shawane Murray

N/A

Ms. Shawane is originally from Brazil and began their journey in early childhood education at a bilingual preschool in 2013. Since then, she has been dedicated to working with children and fostering their development. In 2015, while in college, she decided to move to the United States to improve her English skills.

She holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and has continued to grow her expertise in early education. In 2019, a parent in their class introduced them to the book Montessori from the Start: The Child at Home, from Birth to Age Three by Paula Polk Lillard. Inspired by this approach, Shawane began integrating Montessori philosophy into her home life with her daughter.

Her next career goal is to pursue a formal Montessori credential.

Assistant Aspen Community Guide

Taylor Wyant

She/Her/Hers

Ms. Taylor is a dedicated childcare professional from Oregon with eight years of experience in early childhood education. Currently working towards earning her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, she is passionate about nurturing young minds and supporting their growth.

Outside of her career, Taylor is a proud mother of two and values spending quality time with her family. When she's not working or caring for her children, she enjoys traveling and exploring new places with her loved ones.

Lead Maple Community Guide

Jailyn Montoya

She/Her/Hers

Ms. Jai became a Montessori guide right out of high school graduation in 2020. She is currently the Lead Toddler Guide. She’s also had positions as interim lead guides for both children’s house and toddler. She truly loves the toddler age group and helping them gain their independence. She knows all of her students inside and out.

She excels in her ability to calm the children for nap each day. Miss Jai is happy to have another year ahead of her at Mount Ogden Montessori. She looks forward to creating consistency within a comfortable environment for the students and families.

Assistant Maple Community Guide

Briana Saari

She/Her/Hers

Ms. Briana grew up in Hurley, Wisconsin, near Lake Superior. In December 2024, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. This year marks her first as a staff member at a Montessori school. Ms. Briana has a particular passion for working with children, especially those ranging from toddlers to third grade. Her academic background and hands-on experience in the classroom have prepared her to foster a nurturing and dynamic learning environment for young students.

Lead Juniper Community Guide

Emma Hubbard

She/Her/Hers

Ms. Emma is the Lead Guide in the Juniper class at Mount Ogden Montessori, where she has been a part of the community for over a year. She is attending Weber State University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development with a minor in Communications. Recently married to her husband, Harry, in August, she is passionate about working with children and furthering her education to make a meaningful impact in their lives.

Emma is dedicated to supporting children as they develop their own personalities, ideas, boundaries, and experiences. Her goal is to continue excelling in the Montessori approach, graduate with her degree, and apply her education to enrich her career and the lives of the children she guides.

Assistant Juniper Community Guide

Summer Yazzie

She/Her/Hers

Ms. Summer was born and raised in Ogden, Utah, and has strong family ties to the Navajo reservation in Arizona and New Mexico. Her experience in Special Education and her time at Guidepost Montessori have nurtured a deep passion for working with children, which she finds incredibly fulfilling. Summer plans to continue her education at Weber State University, majoring in Special Education, with the goal of becoming a high school teacher. She also dreams of seeing the northern lights, learning to play the piano, and running a half marathon.

Lead Pine Community Guide

Utana Rhodes

She/Her/Hers

Ms. Utana is a vibrant educator/teacher aid whose journey from devoted stay-at-home mother to passionate advocate for education embodies resilience and innovation.

With a foundation in Montessori principles and firsthand experience homeschooling her daughter, she brings a wealth of empathy and creativity to her teaching approach. Beyond the classroom, Ms. Utana finds joy in exploring the wonders of the outdoors, fueling her adventurous spirit and inspiring her entrepreneurial mindset.

Constantly driven by a desire to make a positive impact, she eagerly pursues opportunities to create her own business, fueled by the vision of uplifting and empowering others. With her warm demeanor and unwavering commitment to excellence, Ms. Utana is not just a teacher, but a positive attribution to her students and colleagues alike.

Assistant Pine Community Guide

Sadie Borup

She/Her/Hers

Ms. Sadie Borup is the Assistant Guide in the Pine Classroom at Mount Ogden Montessori. This is her first year in Montessori education, but she brings two years of experience in childcare and has developed a deep appreciation for the Montessori philosophy and teaching strategies. Sadie is committed to supporting each child’s unique growth in a respectful, nurturing, and hands-on learning environment.

In the Pine Classroom, Sadie collaborates with the Lead Guide to create an environment where children can explore, discover, and develop independence at their own pace. Her future aspirations include starting a family, building a happy home, and pursuing a degree in Elementary Education.

She is proud to carry on the legacy of being an educator, following in the footsteps of her parents, grandparents, and siblings.

Outside of the classroom, Sadie enjoys traveling, painting, singing, reading, spending time with loved ones, and engaging in outdoor activities. These passions help her connect with children in meaningful ways, fostering creativity and curiosity.

Assistant Pine Community Guide

Bridgette Bolin

She/Her/Hers

Ms. Bridgette is a lifelong learner, book lover, and toddler-wrangling extraordinaire from Ogden, Utah.

As a former Toddler Guide and now a Pine Community Guide at Mount Ogden Montessori, she is dedicated to sparking curiosity and creativity in her young learners. Before embarking on her Montessori journey, Bridgette honed her skills in patience and problem-solving as a paraprofessional at Venture Academy.

A proud United States Air Force veteran, Bridgette served for four years as a Services Journeyman. Today, she is pursuing her passion for education as a student at Weber State University, working toward a degree in English Teaching with a focus on Secondary Education.

Outside of the classroom, Bridgette enjoys diving into good books, writing stories, crocheting cozy creations, and exploring the great outdoors with her loyal companion, her dog Loki.

Operations Director

Kaitlyn Astin

She/Her/Hers

Ms. Kaitlyn is the Operations Director at Mount Ogden Montessori and has been working in childcare for the past six years. She is passionate about creating a nurturing and well-organized environment for both children and staff. Kaitlyn and her husband have been married since 2019 and have lived in Utah ever since. Together, they have two children: Nora, who is 2 years old, and Henry, their newborn.

Kaitlyn is dedicated to fostering an environment at Mount Ogden Montessori where both children and staff feel supported, valued, and inspired to grow.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and navigating the rewarding (and sometimes chaotic) journey of parenthood.

Campus Director

Chatney Knapp

She/Her/Hers

Ms. Chatney grew up in a small rural town in Pennsylvania, where she developed a deep appreciation for community and strong relationships. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Child Psychology and Sociology in Charleston, South Carolina, contributing to research that influenced the state’s foster care and adoption laws.

Later, she pursued a master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, focusing on the connection between staff satisfaction and organizational success.

After working as a behavioral therapist for children, she entered early childhood education in 2022 as the Assistant Head of School.

By 2024, she became the Head of School and now serves as the Campus Director for Mount Ogden Montessori. She is passionate about partnering with parents to create a supportive community where children grow, learn, and form lifelong relationships.

Meet The Founders

Jeni and David Owen

Jeni and David Owen called Ogden home for many years. They have three wonderful daughters (two are elementary aged, and a third is happily married and living/working in Chicago).

Jeni built a successful program management career through her time in the USAF as a civilian and more recently, Northrop Grumman. Her hobbies include: anything science related; traveling as much as possible to warm tropical climates; and striving to be the best mom she can be.

David is a local entrepreneur who settled in Ogden after touring much of the world via a major record label rock band. David started an award-winning music school, Imagine Music, that is now in its 10th year and serves 400+ students between Ogden and Huntsville. Imagine Music’s Huntsville location also doubles as the Mountain Arts and Music art space and triples as a wedding & event venue. Additionally, David is the Principal Broker of Imagine Life Real Estate, established in 2020. David’s hobbies include mountain biking, hiking with their dog Max, and most importantly…enjoying his time with his beloved daughters.

David has been heavily involved in Ogden and greater Weber Co through their volunteer efforts as board members for such entities as: Ogden Trails Network, Trails Foundation of Northern Utah, RAMP, Ogden Historic Trolly District, and Weber-Davis Mountain Biking.

Jeni and David’s personalities – along with their respective work and life experiences – complement each other well. Jeni’s business acumen, patience, and cautiousness work well with David’s entrepreneurial spirit and people-focused businesses. This dynamic allows them to take on operations of Mount Ogden Montessori with a local and grassroots perspective, focusing on the best possible staff and safest and most well-cared for children & families possible…all here on Ogden’s East Bench, at the foot of Mount Ogden, in the worlds best mountain town.