Downtown Montessori at Ida B Wells Academy

Leslie Brisendine currently serves as a Primary Guide at Downtown Montessori at Ida B Wells Academy. She is a proud graduate of Skyline High School within Dallas ISD. With 24 years of experience in Dallas ISD, Leslie has dedicated her career to teaching, having served as a Kindergarten and Pre-K teacher at Annie Webb Blanton and Frank Guzick Elementary Schools. Throughout her tenure, she has taken on various roles, including LPAC chair, Dyslexia Coordinator, and Grade level lead.

When the opportunity arose to join a Montessori campus, Leslie eagerly embraced it. She completed her AMI Blended Primary certification at the Montessori Institute of North Texas. In addition to being a Primary Guide, she serves as the Lead Primary Guide for her campus and is the sponsor for Lone Star Challenge. Outside of the classroom, she sings in her church choir and on the praise team, as well as directs her church's children's choir.

George Bannerman Dealey Montessori Academy

Melisa Durkin is currently a Primary Guide at Dealey Montessori. Originally from Rochester, NY, she moved here in 2015 because she had attended a Montessori conference and was excited about all the things happening in Montessori in Dallas. Although she has 16 years of teaching experience, she has been with Dealey for 8 years and in Dallas ISD for 9 years. 

Throughout her teaching career, she has taken on various roles as an SEL Team Lead, SBDM Team member, Peace Education leader, Grade level team lead, and CILT member. She is passionate about helping children and adults reach their greatest potential and feel seen, cared about, and able to shine their brightest light from within.

Eduardo Mata Montessori

Mr. Eguren was born in Monterrey, Mexico. He graduated as a computer engineer and earned his master’s in business at Instituto Tecnologico y De Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. He worked in the business field developing software and hardware solution based on customer’s needs. Mr. Eguren started his educational career in 2006 with DallasISD as a PK-K Dual-Language teacher. In 2013 he moved to Eduardo Mata Montessori and became a certified primary guide by AMI in 2016. Mr. Eguren has been working as a Montessori primary bilingual guide since then at Eduardo Mata Montessori.

Eduardo Mata Montessori

Clarissa Garcia currently serves as a Primary Guide at Eduardo Mata Montessori. She has a longstanding passion and interest in Montessori education, having been a Montessori student herself from Primary through 8th grade. She attended upper elementary through 8th grade at Harry Stone Montessori and is a proud graduate of Yvonne A. Ewell Townview High School of Health Professions. She majored in Anthropology and Spanish which further strengthened her passion for cultural studies and interest in Montessori environments that celebrate diversity and uniqueness. She completed the Montessori-based parents as teachers program with both of her children and completed her AMI training at MINT. 

Downtown Montessori at Ida B Wells Academy

Marcela Ortiz, a native of Mexico City, holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Instituto Tecnológico de Oaxaca-Mexico and a master’s degree in management and organizational development from Alliant International University in San Diego, CA. She is certified as an Early Childhood (Primary) Guide by the American Montessori Society (AMS) and has six years of experience in the business field.

In 2006, Marcela relocated to Dallas, where she obtained certification to teach EC-4 Bilingual (Spanish). Since then, she has been dedicated to serving Dallas ISD, teaching students ranging from pre-K to 5th grade. While working as a pre-K teacher, she discovered her passion for early childhood education. Marcela shares the belief of Maria Montessori that “Early Childhood education is essential to the prosperity of society.”

Fluent in French and passionate about travel, Marcela is enthusiastic about her role as a Bilingual guide at Downtown Montessori Academy, where she continues to make a difference in the lives of her students.

Eduardo Mata Montessori

Marilyn Paredes has been a Dual Language Primary Guide at Mata Montessori for 9 years. Marilyn is a proud graduate of Woodrow Wilson and decided to work in the community. She started as a TA, working with kindergarten for 5 years while attending school. She also volunteered for a few summers at Jubilee Community Center as a lead teacher. She graduated from UNT and then started her teaching career with 2nd-grade Math and later Kindergarten for two years. When the opportunity came for her to become a Montessori guide at the end of the school year, she gladly accepted and transferred to Mata the next school year. She completed her certification at Shelton. In 2017, she decided to further her education and went to SMU to earn her Masters in 2019 with a specialization in Montessori.

Eduardo Mata Montessori

Rebekah Scott is in her sixth year as a Primary Guide at Eduardo Mata, and her ninth year teaching with Dallas ISD. She has spent her lifetime in libraries. Her special interests in children’s literature are indigenous stories and truthful storytelling to aid integration to place and time.