ellen graham
CEO + FOUNDER
head of school
Ellen earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from UNC-Wilmington and went on to earn her NC Early Childhood Credentials and attended Graduate School at Western Carolina University for Special Education before founding The Garden montessori in pinehurst, nc in 2014. She is also the founder of Kindermusik with Ellen (est. 2011), and wild hearts nature school (est 2018). additionally, ellen has over 20 years of experience in childcare and early education with training in Montessori for Early Childhood, Developmental Play Therapy and Early Intervention.
olivia parks
Olivia earned her Master’s Degree in Experiential and Outdoor Education and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a minor in Urban Youth and Communities. With nearly a decade of experience in youth programming, Kindergarten and as a Montessori classroom co-lead, Olivia brings a wealth of knowledge, experience working with exceptional children and a deep commitment to joyful, child-led learning. Olivia’s Montessori training through American Montessori Society (AMS) will be complete in December 2025. She has also earned AMS Early Childhood Reading Certificate and is certified through the Natural Learning Initiative in Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments.
chelsea ball
children’s house assistant
Chelsea earned her b.a. in education with an add-on in early childhood education and holds a masters in teaching ESL. she worked as an elementary educator with cms for 10 years and has been at the garden since we opened in 2022.
erin chmura
music specialist, toddler assisant
erin studied theatre and earned her associate of arts at cpcc. she has supported her three children through their montessori journeys from pre-k to high school. erin also spent many years working with and guiding young children alongside her mother, who was a preschool teacher for decades and from whom she has learned a lot. erin has been teaching at the garden since we opened in 2022.
OLIVIA SLAHTA
arts specialist, lead toddler teacher
OLIVIA HOLDS A bfa IN ARTS AND DESIGN FROM alFRED UNIVERSITY AND HAS SPENT THE LAST FOUR YEARS WORKING IN EARLY EDUCATION AS A daycare PROVIDER AND LEAD TEACHER. OLIVIA SUPPORTS OUR ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM bY GUIDING THE CHILDREN THROUGH DAILY PROCESS ART OPPORTUNITIES and has been teaching at the garden since 2023.
mercedes cardenas
p.e. and spanish language specialist
Mercedes holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Inef Romero Brest, Buenos Aires, and her Master’s degree in Motor Skill development. She is also a certified Personal Trainer, Youth Fitness Specialist, and Health coach. mercedes has been teaching young children in an immersive Spanish preschool setting for the last 7 years. mercedes is currently completing her Montessori training for early childhood through the Authentic Institute of Montessori and has been teaching at the Garden since 2023.
judaea keller
montessori intern and classroom assistant
judaea was a Montessori-educated child and has been working in early education for a year. she is undergoing montessori assistant training and is excited to expand her knowledge and embark on her montessori career journey.