FOUNDER
Managing Founder: Pam Nelson
Pam retired from Dow in 2001 to pursue a passion for bettering the educational options available to families. She co-founded her first school with Barbara in 1997 in Sugar Land, TX. In 2004, she co-founded Montessori House for Children with her husband of 50+ years. She is the proud mother of two daughters, grandmother of 6 grandchildren, and great-grandmother of six great grandchildren.
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
ExEcutive Director: Barbara Nelson
Barbara discovered and fell in love with the Montessori program when her oldest daughter first attended a Montessori School in 1991. Barbara co-founded her first school in Sugar Land, TX, in 1997. She became the Head of School at Montessori House for Children in 2004. Barbara holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and Administration, AMS Early Childhood Montessori Credentials, and is certified as a Positive Discipline Parent Educator. Barbara is passionate about the holistic approach of Montessori education. She loves the skills Montessori Children develop which allows them to contribute to society in a meaningful and profound way.
Head of school: Rujuta Arya
Rujuta serves as the Head of School at MHFC & ES, bringing a deep passion for Montessori education and a commitment to fostering a nurturing and engaging learning environment. She first joined MHFC & ES as the Curriculum Director in 2022.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, majoring in Economics & Finance from Mumbai University, India, Rujuta also holds an AMS (American Montessori Society) Early Childhood credential. Her extensive experience includes roles as a Montessori classroom teacher, curriculum coordinator, and head of school, giving her a well-rounded perspective on child-centered Montessori education.
A lifelong Montessori learner herself, Rujuta is dedicated to upholding the Montessori philosophy while continuously seeking ways to enhance the educational experience for students, teachers, and families. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and spending quality time with her husband and two children.
Admissions & Advancement director: Katherine seda
Katherine is delighted to return to Montessori House for Children and Elementary School, where her journey in Montessori education first began. As a “second timer” at MHFC, she feels fortunate to reconnect with the values and community that inspired her early on.
She and her husband are proud parents of three children—two adult daughters and a teenage son—and she beams with joy as “Nana” to her only granddaughter, affectionately nicknamed “Pancake.”
In recent years, Katherine has focused on family, operated a small personal catering business, and pursued further education in Business Technology and General Office Administration. With a belief that personal growth is a lifelong journey, and with the support of her loved ones, she transitioned into the field of education—a calling that felt both natural and fulfilling.
For over 20 years, Katherine has been an active member of the Lamar CISD community, including her time as an administrator at McNeill Elementary. It was there she discovered a deep passion for supporting students and families, which ultimately led her back to MHFC & ES in 2025, now serving as the Admissions & Advancement Director.
Family & Community engagement director: Jessica Diaz-Barrantes
Jessica Diaz-Barrantes was born in Costa Rica and moved to the United States in 2004. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education in Costa Rica from Latina University, and later earned a master’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in General Psychology, from Grand Canyon University. Jessica is passionate about the Montessori philosophy, as well as helping and learning from others. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outside with her husband and daughter.
Operations Manager: Marla Grajeda
Front office: debra smith
Front Office: Lima haikal
LEAD MONTESSORI CREDENTIALED TEACHERS AND ASSISTANT GUIDES
Toddler 2: Maria Aguilar
Maria joined the Montessori Teachers team at MHFC in 2012; she has always loved working with children. She believes that love and patience are essential when working with children. She is devoted to her faith and spends a great amount of time during the summer months serving on mission trips. Maria earned her AMS Montessori Teacher Certification from the Houston Montessori Center.
Assistants: Yubisay Gonzalez
Early Childhood 1: Rita Basu
Rita joined the MHFC family in 2017. She soon discovered a passion for working in an early childhood Montessori environment. Inspired by her family and colleagues, Rita decided to further her education in the United States, where she earned AMS Early Childhood Montessori Credentials from Houston Montessori Center. Rita enjoys writing, arts and reading. She is a proud mom of two children. Originally from India, Rita and her family now reside in the Katy area.
Assistants: Krupali Bhatia and Elsa Rodriguez
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Early Childhood 2: Anna Rubin
Anna was born in Ukraine and moved to Israel after graduating high school. She earned a Practical Engineering in Architecture degree in Israel. She moved to the United States with her husband, where her son and daughter were born. She found interest in Montessori education when her daughter attended Montessori school. Anna earned her AMS Montessori Early Childhood credentials from the Houston Montessori Center and worked at Montessori school for 10 years as an assistant and a lead. She is fluent in four languages and enjoys storytelling, singing, and art creations. She believes that the Montessori environment helps children to develop a love for learning and helps them prepare for life—to become peaceful, patient, supportive, kind, and responsible human beings.
Early Childhood 3: Lakshmi Thirumalai
Lakshmi joined the Montessori Teachers team at MHFC in 2014 after many years of teaching experience in India and the US. She has a master’s degree in management and earned her AMS Montessori Early Childhood Credential from the Princeton Center for Teacher Education in New Jersey. She is a certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator and Brain Gym instructor. Her special interest is to facilitate learning for children with learning differences.
Assistants: Karla Tarazona and Leslie Castillo
LOWER ELEMENTARY A: Erika camacho
Erika joined the Montessori Teachers team at MHFC & ES in 2023. With 11 years of experience in education, she has had the opportunity to teach a diverse group of students. Over the years, she has developed a strong passion for teaching and a commitment to fostering a positive and engaging learning environment. Her experience has equipped her with the skills to effectively manage a classroom, and create a supportive atmosphere that encourages student growth. She is extremely motivated to continually develop my professional skills, stay updated with the latest educational practices, and contribute to the success of her students. She completed her Elementary training in 2024.
Assistant: Rosario Via
LOWER ELEMENTARY B: Yadira Hernandez
Yadira first joined the MHFC community as a parent in 2012. Through her children’s enrollment, she discovered her love for Montessori education, which inspired her decision to shift careers from a Geologist to a Montessori educator. In 2021, Yadira joined MHFC as an Elementary Guide. She completed her Lower Elementary training in 2022 and holds a bachelor’s degree in Geology. Yadira was born in Mexico and moved to the United States in 2010. She has two children and enjoys spending time with her family.
Assistants: Alexandra Rohl and Rosario Via
Upper Elementary: Elisa Jiwani
Elisa was born in India and came to the United States with her family in the late ’90s. She joined the Montessori Teachers Team at MHFC in 2018 and is married to her supportive husband, and together, they have a teenage daughter. Elisa completed high school in Oklahoma City and earned a Bachelor of Art in Educational Studies, emphasizing Interdisciplinary Studies. After many years of dedicated services in the education community, she decided to pursue her Montessori Teachers Credential. She earned her Elementary 6 – 12 AMS Credential from the Gulf Coast Montessori Teacher Education Center. Her combined experience in public and Montessori schools helped her define her passion for the Montessori philosophy and methodology.
Assistant: Ebtisam Agbaria and Rosario Via
SPECIALS TEAM
Spanish: Elia de la garza
Elia de la Garza is a passionate Spanish teacher with over 16 years of experience in the United States, working in various schools, institutions, and Hispanic non-profit organizations.
Her teaching approach focuses on immersing students in the Spanish language and culture through rich experiences that include food, music, and interactive workshops.
She believes that language acquisition is most effective when students are engaged in rich, culturally relevant experiences.
Nature Education: Amber bedoya
Amber is a life-long Houston-area resident with a passion for teaching and learning. She began her career as an English teacher to third and fourth grade students in the suburbs of Paris, France before moving back home to pursue an MBA from the University of Houston and transitioning into a learning and development role at BP. It was in the search for a preschool for her first child that she first discovered Montessori education. After two years of homeschooling using the Montessori method and one year of volunteering with the school, Amber decided she was ready to pursue a formal training in Montessori education for elementary students. She joined the team at MHFC in September of 2024 as the Nature Guide. In addition to a love of Montessori education, Amber brings a passion for the study of nature, and strives to help students understand and appreciate our deep human connection to nature, to foster curiosity about the environment in which we live.
