Maria Rivera
Primary Teacher

Ms. Rivera is with us for her 19th year! She is a teacher in one of our primary classrooms. She is a graduate of Western Mindanao State University in the Philippines where she achieved two B.S. degrees. One is in chemistry and the other in elementary education.

In addition, she has a Certificate of Specialization in Pre-school Education. Maria graduated from The Montessori Institute of San Diego with her AMI Primary Teacher's Diploma.

Click here to see Mrs. Rivera's 2024-2025 class photo.

Maria can be reached at: maria.rivera@mehermontessori.org

Kristin Kintanar
Lower Elementary Teacher

Miss Kintanar joined Meher Montessori School in the Spring of 2024. She is currently our lower elementary class teacher. She is a graduate of the University of the Philippines with a BA in Political Science. Additionally, Kristin is an AMI Primary graduate of the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota and an AMI Elementary graduate of Montessori Northwest. She has several years of experience as both a head primary teacher and head elementary teacher.

Click here to see Miss Kintanar’s 2024-2025 class photo.

Monica Lopez
Primary Teacher 

Len Mindes
Upper Elementary Teacher

Mr. Mindes is an Upper Elementary teacher at Meher Montessori School. Len is an AMI certified Elementary Teacher and a 1995 graduate of the Washington Montessori Institute. In the summer of 2013 Len spent five weeks at the Hershey Montessori School in Ohio taking the AMI Montessori Orientation to Adolescent Studies course. Len led the Meher Montessori Middle School for six years. We are excited to have him lead our Elementary program. Len also has a B.A. degree in Mathematics from Boston University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Antioch University.

Click to see Mr. Mindes’ 2024-2025 class photo.

Len can be reached at: ls.mindes@mehermontessori.org

Anette Mills
Primary Assistant

Ms. Mills started working at the Meher Montessori School in Monterey Park in 1992 as a part-time P.E. teacher. She completed her required Child Development courses at East Los Angeles College. She assists at the Primary level. 

Click to see Ms. Mills’ 2024-2025 class photo.

Anette can be reached at: anette.mills@mehermontessori.org 

Salena Bayon
Primary Assistant

Ji Young Suh
Primary Assistant

Ms. Ji Suh is Ms. Lopez’ assistant. She is starting her 15th year at Meher. Ji was with our school for many years as a parent. Her two children, Joon-Woo and Erica are former students. She is a graduate of Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul, Korea and received her Child Development Certificate from Patten University.

Click to see Ms. Suh’s 2024-2025 class photo.

Sabina Arida
Primary Assistant

Michelle Gonzalez
Elementary Assistant

Angelica Gusman
Primary Assistant
Extended Day Care Staff

Ms. Arida joined our support staff in January of 2024. She assists in the primary classrooms at both our Monterey Park and Altadena campuses. Sabina is a graduate of San Diego State University and has a BA in Women's Studies with a minor in Child Development. She is also a former student of Meher Montessori School.

Click to see Ms. Arida’s 2024-2025 class photo.

Ms. Gonzalez (parent of Meher alums Jacqueline & Samantha) joined our staff twelve years ago. She assists at the Elementary level. Michelle earned her Certificate in Child Development from Rio Hondo College. In addition she recently earned her Holistic Health Counselor Certificate from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. 

Click to see Ms. Gonzalez’s 2024-2025 class photo.

Ms. Gusman is one of our extended Day Care staff, a Primary Assistant, and a parent of an elementary student at Meher.

Click to see Ms. Gusman’s 2024-2025 class photo.

Althea Wildhaber
Director/Primary Teacher

Ms. Wildhaber is the director/teacher at our Altadena site. She has worked in the primary classrooms at both the Monterey Park and Altadena schools, as well as before and after school daycare.

In addition to completing her required child development courses, she has earned an AA in Social Sciences from PCC and a BA from Pacific Oaks College in Human Development with a focus on Early Childhood Education. Althea graduated from The Montessori Institute of San Diego with her AMI Primary Teacher's Diploma. Althea graduated from Montessori Northwest in the summer of 2024 after completing the AMI Elementary Teacher Education Program.

Althea describes her experience this way:

"I love that the Montessori Method fosters independence and leadership skills through a mixed age environment. What makes Meher Montessori such a special place is the diversity and feeling of community the students, parents, and staff have developed over the years."

Click to see Ms. Wildhaber’s 2024-2025 class photo.

Althea can be reached at: altheawildhaber@mehermontessori.org

Victoria McCray
Primary Assistant

Lillian Van Ness
Primary Assistant

Ms. McCray has been with the Meher Montessori School since 1986. She completed her child development classes at Pasadena City College. Victoria is the assistant teacher in Mrs. Wildhaber's classroom and she also does the day care in the mornings, greeting the children and parents. Here is how Victoria feels about working at Meher:

"I like working at the Meher Montessori School because it gives me the opportunity to experience and work with children of different ages working individually and together in the same classroom." 

Click to see Ms. McCray’s 2024-2025 class photo.

Lillian Van Ness completed her Early Childcare education at Miami Dade Community college, before attending the University of Phoenix, where she earned her Bachelor's In Psychology.  

Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, Lillian recently relocated to LA County to be closer to family.

Her 30 years of teaching experience, ranging from preschool to up to the elementary level, has made her an asset as an assistant teacher in Ms. Tinajero and Mrs. Wildhaber's classrooms.

Click to see Ms. Van Ness’s 2024-2025 class photo.

Adela Muñoz
School Director

Adela Muñoz is our School’s Director. She started with the school as a part time substitute teacher in September 1992, became our assistant director in 1993. She became the School’s Director in 2004. Adela graduated from the AMI Teacher Training at the AMI Montessori Institute of Los Angeles and holds an AMI Primary Teacher’s Diploma. She also completed administrative requirements through UCLA extension.

In 2020 Adela completed the requirements for the AMI Montessori Administrators Certificate at the Whole School Leadership Institute in Willowbrook, Illinois.

Adela can be reached at: adelamunoz@mehermontessori.org 

Elodia (Kookie) Chavez
Business Administration

Ms. Chavez (parent of Meher Alums Evita & Eli) is the school's business administrator. She is in charge of all student records, county required student reports, payroll, and human resources.

Kookie can be reached at: echavez@mehermontessori.org

Karina Page
Library, Garden, Special events

Karina Page gives all-round support in the Schools, developing the gardens and library, purchasing supplies, and helping with special events. She has recently begun offering elective class material as well.

John Page
Founder & Executive Director

Mr. Page founded the Meher Montessori School in Altadena in 1972. He taught there, as well as administrated, until 1982 when he started an affiliated school in Alhambra. Then for the next 2 years he taught in Alhambra, as well as doing its administrative work, until starting our Monterey Park School in 1984.

He is a graduate of UCLA and the AMI Montessori Institute of Los Angeles. Mr. Page holds an AMI Primary teaching credential from the Montessori Institute of Los Angeles and an AMI Elementary teaching credential from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee.

John can be reached at: jpage@mehermontessori.org

Los Angeles Times "Featured story" detailing Meher Montessori Schools as an example of an authentic Montessori School