Our Team

Eliza Barton, Director and Lower Elementary Lead Guide

Eliza Barton has taught a variety of subjects over her 16 years of teaching experience. She is state-certified in Early Childhood through Sixth Grade by the state of Texas and is also trained and certified as a Lower Elementary Teacher by the North American Montessori Center. Eliza is excited to be part of an environment that places child-centered learning and respect at the heart of its Montessori pedagogy. Before discovering her passion for teaching, Eliza trained as a geologist and continues to be inspired by the natural world and its patterns. This perspective has become an integral part of her teaching, along with her love for all things ‘wild.’

Addie Curry, Aid in Children’s House

Few can boast the years of experience at Alpine Montessori that Addie Curry can, as she quite literally grew up at the school. Addie was an elementary student who later became a volunteer for several years before officially joining as an employee in 2019. In addition to her hands-on knowledge, Addie has completed many hours of Montessori training to support her teaching role in the Primary class. She is particularly magical with our youngest students, as is evident when one sees how they flock to her.

Evie Dorsey, Curriculum Guide

Evie Dorsey brings a wealth of experience to our school, including AMI certification for all age groups and over 40 years of teaching experience around the globe. She has taught in Montessori schools in Texas, Hawaii, and Norway. Her insights on Montessori education have been published in the NAMTA Journal and AMI-USA Parent Magazine. Evie is a wonder with both children and adults, and she is also an accomplished musician and creative thinker. We are truly blessed to have her as a mentor in our Upper Elementary program, where she guides the class with a spirit that is both infectious and wonderful to behold.

Mollie Durkin, Children’s House Lead Guide

Miss Mollie is the lead guide in our Primary/Children’s House environment. Currently enrolled in AMI training at the Montessori Institute of North Texas in Dallas, she has been busy with her studies and has filled the classroom with new materials and works this year. Miss Mollie has lived in Alpine since 2020. Before settling in West Texas, she spent many years traveling and working in various fields. A certified herbalist and birth doula, her work has always centered on care. With over a decade of experience providing specialized childcare for various families in Providence, RI, and teaching at a trilingual preschool while living in Mexico City, Mollie is excited to be back in the world of education, working with and for our youth. She views care and curiosity as a natural approach to life, and the Montessori teaching philosophy aligns deeply with her beliefs about human development and the process of always becoming. Mollie has a background in architecture, illustration, photography, dance, and performance arts. When she’s not working on one of her many art or plant-related projects in her studio, you can find her outdoors, forever in awe of nature.

Betsy Larson, Children’s House Mentor

Elizabeth Larson, also known as ‘Betsy,’ is an AMI-certified teacher with over 40 years of classroom experience. In 1989, she, along with a few colleagues and parents, founded a school in Charleston, South Carolina, which later became a successful Montessori public school. She recently spent six years in China, where she focused on training teachers in the Montessori method and consulting in their classrooms. Betsy has taught in our Primary class since 2018 and now guides the Lower Elementary class alongside Ms. Eliza. She often has a carefully considered nugget of wisdom to offer on any number of questions, and we are fortunate to have her and her many Montessori hats on our staff.

Cory McCullough, Substitute and Afterschool Care

Rachel Valenzuela, Aide in Lower Elementary

Rachel Valenzuela began working at Alpine Montessori in 2020 as a classroom aide in the Lower Elementary Program. It quickly became evident that working with children was her calling. In 2021, she moved to the Children’s House as a teacher’s assistant, where she truly blossomed. She pursued Montessori Assistant training through Trillium Montessori and worked under the guidance of AMS veterans Irene Curry and Betsy Larson. Due to her hard work, she became the Children’s House Lead Guide until the ’24-’25 school year, when she joined Ms. Eliza in the Lower Elementary classroom. Rachel is also certified to teach the 3-6 age group by the North American Montessori Center.

Shelby Chester, Upper Elementary Lead Guide

Shelby Chester began at Alpine Montessori as an assistant in the summer 2024 program. She is now guiding alongside Ms. Evie in our Upper Elementary class. With a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology and a background in environmental education, Shelby inspires a sense of awe and wonder for the natural world. She aims to nurture well-rounded individuals who understand and respect the world around them, promoting critical thinking and a sense of responsibility. In her free time, Shelby enjoys sewing, swimming, and pottery.