Why us?
Little Lantanas is a Primary Montessori school for children between the ages of three and six. We are centrally located in downtown Phoenix off the I-10 3rd Street exit at Grace Lutheran Church. (There is no religious affiliation with the church.) The Burton Barr library, Japanese Friendship Garden, museums, parks, and theaters are short walks away. Taking advantage of Phoenician culture is something we are passionate about sharing with our students. We believe children deserve to learn, contribute, and be a part of their community.
Being a boutique school, we believe in keeping things small. Our families receive a personalized experience with class sizes that have 40 percent fewer students than the typical Montessori classroom in Arizona. By maintaining an exclusive environment of 16 students, with a teacher to student ratio of 1:8, we ensure that all of our children receive one-on-one instruction from experienced teachers.
At Little Lantanas Montessori, we are committed to giving our community a personalized, high quality, AMI education that will set a strong foundation for life long learning.
Space for outdoor play and gardening
School outings to the puppet theater, library, and more!
Fiesta Bowl Play at Hance Park
Individual instruction
A space that fosters independence
Developmentally appropriate materials
Ms. Elledge
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Ms. Elledge is the owner and lead teacher at Little Lantanas Montessori. She has a B.A. in Elementary and Special Education from Northern Arizona University, an M.Ed. in Montessori Studies from Loyola University Maryland, an AMI Primary diploma from the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies, and an AMI Assistants to Infancy diploma from The Montessori Institute. For the past ten years, Ms. Elledge has taught in public Montessori classrooms and traditional classrooms throughout the Phoenix area.
Ms. Shawntae
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Ms. Shawntae comes to us with over a decade of experience in early childhood care and education. She has worked in inclusive classrooms supporting neurotypical and neurodivergent learners. Her experience includes traditional preschool, respite care, and nannying. Ms. Tae’s passion lies in nurturing children’s independence, curiosity, and confidence. Being a proud neurodivergent learner herself, she strives to create environments where every child is seen and supported.
Ms. Katie
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Ms. Katie is a certified AMI Primary assistant with 30 years of experience in Primary and Elementary classrooms. She is a proud neurodivergent learner, grandmother, and nature enthusiast. Ms. Katie has worked in six national parks, including The Grand Canyon and Lake Tahoe. Her favorite pastime is sharing her love of nature, art, and cooking with her granddaughter.
