Our Staff

Monika Phillips

Monika Phillips

Founder, Lead Teacher

Monika has been an educator for over twenty years. Guiding children from as young as two months and grown-ups as old as seventy years, she has been an early childhood teacher in infant-toddler, preschool, and K-2 elementary classrooms, as well as a team leader, trainer of teachers, mentor, and program administrator.

She holds a Master’s of Arts in educational leadership from The College of New Jersey and a Bachelor of Science in early childhood development and education. She has been honing her skills in Poland, California, Indonesia, and Italy, and is on a continuous path to learn, share, and inspire.

Allegra Marie Hudson

Allegra Marie Hudson

Co-teacher

Allegra is an experienced early childhood educator and has been teaching for the last 13 years in the Phoenix Valley at various preschools, mostly with children ages 2 to 6. She holds a certificate of early childhood development and is currently enrolled to continue her educational journey with the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies. Her teaching philosophy does not take from just one form of teaching but rather introduces children to many different forms of learning, drawing from Waldorf education, and Montessori practical life skills. She has been an assistant teacher and co lead in the classroom. Some of her teaching inspiration comes from Mr. Rogers, Bev Bos, Janet Lansbury as well as Lisa Murphy. She believes in supporting each child with a nurturing heart, an open mind and respect so every child may blossom and bloom. She believes children learn through play, interactions, problem solving and discovery.