Lidia has been teaching at Wild Roots since it opened in 2012. She holds her Bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Education from Cal State San Marcos and received her Montessori Assistant Teaching Certificate through the Montessori Institute of San Diego (MISD).

Lidia has a passion for early education and especially loves to work in an environment that focuses on education and development of the whole child. Lidia devotes herself to continuing her education and professional growth and to daily learn and discover alongside the children.

“When one teaches, two learn.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

Keleigh has been working in Early Childhood Education for more than 18 years. She holds an Associate of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education. She had eight years of experience teaching in a center based on the Reggio Emilia philosophy before joining the Wild Roots team.

Keleigh has a passion for working with infants and children under the age of two. Watching them grow and helping them to discover new abilities. Her own son is in elementary school and in a Montessori elementary school program. Through his experiences at school she has learned so much about Montessori teaching methods.

Keleigh looks forward to combining her experience in Reggio Emilia and what she has learned about Montessori education in her position with Wild Roots.
In her free time Keleigh enjoys hiking, kayaking and spending time outdoors. She is enjoying her new chapter with Wild Roots and looks forward to watching all the children learn and grow over the years.

Hi, Wild Roots families! I’m Amber, and I am a mother of two, ages 2 and 5 months! I have always had a passion for enriching the lives of little ones as I was a nanny for years before earning an associate’s degree in child development and becoming a preschool teacher. Sports and fitness have always been a passion of mine, even as a kid myself! I played as many sports as I could and even went on to coach, which has now led me here! I am so excited to be a part of the Wild Roots team, and look forward to what is to come!

April’s passion for children started at the young age of 10. After attending her first year of summer camp, she quickly realized she wanted to become a camp counselor and work with young children. This lead to multiple babysitting jobs and after school programs at the YMCA. She attended Gavilan College where she pursued her education in Early Childhood Development. While attending college, she began working for a recreational preschool in her home town and gained a passion for children’s nutrition and health.

In April’s free time she enjoys spending time with her fiancé while camping, fishing, and hiking. She is looking forward to working with Rosemary Room children, and getting to know each and every one of you. She is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Wild Roots family!

Niki is very excited to once again be a part of the Wild Roots Team! Niki has multiple Associates degrees from Riverside Community College in Early Childhood Education, Social and Behavioral Science, and Health Science. After graduating from RCC she transferred to Cal State San Bernardino to receive her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Anthropology and a certification in Museum and Archival Sciences. Niki has been working in various areas and levels in the educational field for over 10 years. She has been a tutor, an after school program director for the Moreno Valley Unified School District, a substitute teacher for The Val Verde Unified School District (grades TK-12) and a cultural museum intern and educator for the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians. Niki has been trained in Montessori and Reggio-Emilia theory and practices under various teachers and experts in the 2 years she worked as Atelier teacher at Wild Roots. 

In the future Niki is looking forward to using all her experience, training and education to make more captivating and enriching educational experiences in museums for children as an Education Specialist. 

Outside of teaching Niki enjoys spending her free time having spontaneous adventures with her friends, visiting museums, crafting, creating, drawing, painting, visiting theme parks, and continuing her never ending search for finding the yummiest and most interesting foods in the area. But most of all, Niki enjoys spending time spoiling and loving her dog and fur baby of 11 years Freddie.

My name is Monica and I have a Bachelors degree in psychology with a minor in Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies received from California State University, Bakersfield. I have worked with children since I was 12 years old. I volunteered at a children’s reading center during middle school and later became a trainer for my city’s local cheerleading squad in highschool. I coached girls ages 5-8. I quickly realized my passion was working with children. I would like to pursue a masters degree in counseling to accomplish my dream of becoming a children’s therapist. Watching children grow and prosper during these critical stages of development is something I am honored to be part of. I am amazed with  Montessori and Reggio Emilia’s philosophies and seeing the positive outcome it has on children. It gives me a different outlook on teaching and I’ve learned different ways to approach and assist children when learning to navigate through their emotions and education. 

Outside of teaching, my hobbies include going to the movies, shopping at local small businesses, spending time with my four sisters, being outdoors and seeing all the beauty it has to offer, and exploring new food and dessert places all over Los Angeles! 

Katrina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Grand Canyon University, an Associate Degree in Child and Adolescent Development, and an Associate Degree with Transfer in Early Childhood Education, both from Mt. San Jacinto College. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and plans to graduate in November 2022.

She has been in the educational field for six years and has a myriad of teaching styles she has become familiar with. While Katrina excels in Reggio Emilia, she has also worked in the Thematic, Montessori, Emergent, and Waldorf teaching styles. She has worked in a range of centers, from Private to Native American Family Care. Katrina is a loving, and caring educator who specializes in STEAM activities, specifically the sciences, and her love and enthusiasm for inquiry fosters curiosity in her students. She matches her high-energy personality with a love of learning and passes both down to the kiddos she has in her care.

When Katrina is not working, she spends her time with her two kiddos and husband out in nature. They are an active family playing soccer, karate and participating in Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. They also enjoy gardening, camping, fishing, hiking, and swimming. She loves a challenge and is excited to be joining Wild Roots!

Rachele is originally from New Hampshire and moved to California in 2007. She is a mother of an 8 year old daughter and a little rabbit named Oreo. She has studied Dance Pedagogy & Performing Arts at the Hartford Conservatory College from 2002-2004 after graduating high school.  She spent 6 years teaching dance classes to all ages 2 1/2 to adults after graduating from college in 2004.

After moving to California, she took a new passion in Child Development. She started taking ECE units in Child Development at Mesa Community College. She has worked in the field of Child Development for about 15 years. She started my journey at the San Diego French American School in Ja Lolla, California an emersion program where they taught French and Spanish in pre-school, elementary and middle school. She was able to learn about the French culture here in America, and even learned a little bit of the French language.  Originally, she started in the 3 year old classroom but focused on the 2 year old classroom the majority of my tenure. She also did lots of summer camps at the San Diego French American School in the both the pre-school and elementary side. She started at Wild Roots Holistic Learning Center In November of 2021 and has enjoyed working in the Hazel classroom.

She moved to Temecula from San Diego in 2021 with her family to start a new life here in the suburbs. She loves spending time with my family and friends, going wine tasting, gardening, and watching movies.

Melissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Arizona State University and an Associates of Art and Humanities from Palomar College. She is currently enrolled in child development courses and working towards her California Teaching Credential to advance her career in early childhood education. Melissa loves helping children learn using fun, visual and kinesthetic approaches.

Melissa’s teaching background provides a unique opportunity when combined with Montessori and Reggio Emilia philosophies. She has experience with sensory, pictorial, and hands-on immersive learning which she enjoys incorporating in educating our kinder and transitional kinder students as they transition to the world of academic learning. Her passion for knowledge creates an imaginative classroom environment that nurtures and fortifies a lifelong enthusiasm for learning. Melissa is also a mother of two beautiful girls who have taught her patience, kindness, and how to communicate effectively with children.

Penny has worked overseas with children ages three years old through eight years old as an ESL teacher for many years. Penny also has experience as a homeroom teacher in the four year old classroom at an International Baccalaureate school (which is much like a Montessori system). Penny has also worked at an afterschool program right here in Temecula for a couple years, and is now so happy to be here at Wild Roots! As a new member of the school, in the past months the children have made her feel proud, silly, elated, and most of all loved! She is excited to feel more of the same throughout the coming year!