
Meet the IME Staff, Pt. 15. Maia Correal, ISP, has wanted to be a teacher since 2nd grade. She is excited to join the IME team & be a part of creating systems to best support students. Maia is an avid reader & believes it is important to "Be the change you want to see."


Meet the IME Staff, Pt. 14. Tre Collins, psychologist, is looking forward to establishing systems & foundations at IME that will foster growth & positivity. He finds joy in educating & helping kids develop into upstanding community members. Tre enjoys coaching basketball.




Meet the IME Staff, Pt. 13. Kristen Barnard, 1st, is a team player & looks forward to creating a positive school culture with the IME Team. She welcomes the hard work ahead knowing there is going to be a lot of fun along the journey. Kristen enjoys watching baseball & hockey.


Meet the IME Staff, Pt. 12. Lesley Olff, 1st, is honest, fair, & finds the positive in every situation. She loves working to create an organized & calm place where students can thrive. In her free time, Leslie loves hiking and planning fun family trips.


Meet the IME Staff, Pt. 11. Cynthia King, TK, is driven by a deep purpose to make a difference in the lives of every kiddo she teaches, & is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to their journey of learning & growth. Favorite quote "Believe you can and you're halfway there"


More smiles as students receive their letters welcoming them to Montañez Elementary. The staff wants every student to feel welcome & wanted to personally reach out with a personalized letter. Brooklyn & Nolan are thrilled to join their mom as the 3 of them head to IME.



The construction crew has been hard at work & their progress is amazing. Bathrooms have sinks, toilets, & stalls! Classrooms are coming together with the cabinets, cubbies, whiteboards, & carpet. The exterior has color & the yard is leveled. Kudos to RGMK & Overaa crews.




IME is excited to welcome six new staff members to the Otter Family. The team is growing and we are anxious to start planning for the upcoming school year.


Last week Montañez students received a letter welcoming them to the Home of the Otters. The joy captured as these precious students opened their letters full of confetti, a special bookmark, a personal note from a staff member, and an otter sticker is priceless.





Meet the IME Staff, Pt. 10. Jamie Griggs, 5th, strives to create a learning environment that she always longed for: A family community where students feel they belong & enjoy learning! Her warm demeanor helps students feel welcome. Fun fact: favorite Starbucks- iced tea no sugar!


Meet the IME Staff, Pt. 9. Rebecca Delgado, 4th, is passionate about teaching & finds joy in the excitement students feel when they have "a-ha" moments. She enjoys camping (trailer), reading, the outdoors, & family. Rebecca is excited to be a part of starting a new school.


Meet the IME Staff, Pt. 8. Cynthia Pannu, K, is always smiling! It is with her smile, kindness & warmth that she works her magic in shaping little minds. Outside of work she enjoys reading, scrapbooking & traveling. Fun fact: favorite Starbucks drink is a peppermint white mocha!


Meet the IME Staff, Pt. 7. Kate Cook, 3rd, is empathic & understanding which contributes to her helping every child see their potential & realize how amazing they are! She strives to make students feel important & worthy. Outside of school she enjoys the mountains & her family.


Meet the IME Staff, Pt. 6. Lindsey Saylor, 3rd, lives by Walt Disney's belief that "It's kind-of fun to do the impossible." She is curious by nature, loves to laugh, & has a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Lindsey is passionate about helping students develop a love for reading.


Welcome back from spring break. Stay tuned for more spotlight features on the amazing IME staff.

We are taking a short break from "Meet the IME Staff" due to spring break, but this staff does not slow down for long. On their first day of break they laughed & got to know each other over breakfast & a tour of IME. The excitement is palpable!





Meet the IME Staff, P. 5. Alecia Dean, 2nd, is looking forward to building a culture where all students feel comfortable & welcome so they can be the best version of themselves from day 1. She believes having fun is not a diversion from a successful life, its the pathway to it.


Meet the IME Staff, Pt. 4. Angela Daansen, Intervention, loves that her job enables her to make a difference. She provides students a safe & loving place to grow & finds being part of their learning rewarding. Each day in education is a new adventure! Progress not perfection.


Meet the IME Staff, Part 3. Ashley Wilkins, 2nd, looks forward to the challenge of starting a school from the beginning. The quote, "Do or do not. There is no try!" (Yoda) highlights Ashley's work ethic & dedication to her students. Ashley & her little otters are big 49ner fans!


Meet the IME Staff, part 2. Arlene Gusto, Kinder teacher, is excited to be a part of opening a new school, but she is no stranger to the hard work & energy it requires. She helped open Loma Vista & Pioneer. Words to describe Arlene are trustworthy, humorous, creative & faithful.
