About Us

Founded by Michael and Meredith Malak, seeking the best education for their own children, and with the goal of bringing an AMI school back to Denver for the first time in a decade. Bergamo Academy was incorporated in April, 2008, the first school year began September 2, 2008, received AMI Association in March, 2009, and AMI Recognition, the highest level of AMI accreditation, in August, 2009, less than a year after opening.

Bergamo Academy was named after a city in Italy where Dr. Montessori's son lived and founded the International Centre for Montessori Studies Foundation.

Staff

Cecily Toddler Guide	Cecily did her Assistant to Infancy (ages 0-3 years) training under Judi Orion at The Montessori Institute, and continues to assist student teachers there with material making and album reviews. She studied Special Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Education at Metropolitan State College of Denver. Having worked in Montessori, conventional, and Special Education early childhood programs since 1998, she was drawn back to Montessori by the individualized education provided to each child.
Erin Primary Guide	Erin did her Primary (ages 2.5-6+) training at Montessori Institute Northwest under Ginni Sackett, a renowned world-wide AMI Montessori lecturer and author of the forthcoming book, "Classroom Management: The Art of Normalization". Erin recently completed her second AMI training, the Assistant to Infancy training (ages 0-3) at The Montessori Institute with Judi Orion. Erin also has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education from the University of Kansas. She moved to Colorado from her home state of Kansas in order to enjoy all that the mountains have to offer, and soon got a job at Mountain Shadows in Boulder, working her way up from assistant to being one of the most requested teachers. She then took on the challenge of being a founding teacher at a Montessori Charter school before returning to the AMI world. She loves to ski, hike, practice yoga, and travel. And she is passionate about the Montessori philosophy and loves the work she does with the children in the classroom.
Lacey Toddler Guide	Lacey did her Assistant to Infancy (ages 0-3 years) training under Judi Orion at The Montessori Institute. Lacey has been at Bergamo Academy since 2008 and has a natural talent for calming any child.
Shannon Primary Guide	Shannon completed her Primary (ages 2.5-6+) training at the Montessori Institute of San Diego and has a B.A. in Visual and Performing Arts from California State University San Marcos.
Katherine Primary Guide	Katherine completed her Primary (ages 2.5-6+) training at the Montessori Institute of San Diego. Katherine has an M.A. in religious studies from the University of Edinburgh and will be completing her M.Ed. at Loyola in the summer of 2011.
Amy Elementary Guide	Amy has an M.Ed. from Loyola in Maryland and a B.S. in Elementary Education from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. She completed her AMI Elementary (ages 6-12) training at the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, and has seven years experience as an AMI Montessori Elementary guide.

Staff lineage (by trainer) back to Maria Montessori