Our Teachers
Erin Neary
Erin graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2012 with a Concurrent Bachelors of Science in Geography and Environment & Natural Resources. Her journeys have taken her from the slopes of Colorado and Montana as a snowboard instructor to teaching outdoor-based science in Colorado, Oregon, Montana, and Australia.
Along the way, she discovered the Montessori Method—a perfect blend of her love of education and the natural world. Erin earned her Montessori Certifications from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies (MECR) in 2018. Erin’s background in science comes into the classroom often and the children love it.
Outside the classroom, Erin is an avid snowboarder and paddle boarder who also enjoys camping while doing those activities, sometimes in a tent and other times in a little 1990 pop up camper. Erin enjoys going on fun outdoor adventures with her husband Tim, their son Murphy (born in 2022), and their silly rescue dog, Hatchet.
Erin is the Director and Owner of Little Door Montessori, as well as a teacher.
Kalley Wheat
Kalley was born and raised in Idaho and first moved to Colorado in 2001 when she met her husband Tanner. They left Colorado for a bit but once they were married they decided Colorado would be the perfect place to raise their family. In 2008 they moved to Erie to start this journey. They have two children, Bodey (born in 2007) and Brinley (born in 2011). Both Bodey and Brinley attended the Montessori Primary program and this is when Kalley fell in love with it.
In 2019 Kalley's dreams came true and she received her Montessori Certifications through the North American Montessori Program (NAMC). She has since been loving every minute of the Montessori Method, the curriculum, but most of all, the children. The joy that children bring to Kalley is indescribable for her. Kalley feels one of her greatest accomplishments has been helping so many children learn and grow in these precious years of their lives. Kalley gives her whole heart to every child that comes to our school.
Kalley and her family love spending time together traveling, skiing, camping, watching soccer and horseback riding, or whatever else they have up their sleeves. They believe family time is the best time. They have a third child, their dog named Blue! Blue is an adorable rescue dog that the whole family loves very much.
Kaitlyn Ramirez
Kaitlyn grew up in Aurora, Colorado, and has always had a passion for working with children. From starting with babysitting her younger sister to coaching soccer to nannying, and eventually discovering Montessori in 2022, she has been dedicated to supporting children’s growth in many different ways. She earned her Early Childhood Montessori credential from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in May 2025 and is currently completing her bachelor’s degree in psychology at MSU Denver.
Kaitlyn’s love for Montessori stems from how the method respects the whole child—fostering independence, curiosity, and confidence. She feels one of the greatest joys of teaching is witnessing children discover their own abilities and blossom into themselves. She especially values how Montessori allows her to stay curious, open-minded, and even her natural silly self-alongside the children. A strong advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), Kaitlyn is passionate about creating nurturing, inclusive spaces where every child feels seen, respected, and supported.
Outside of the classroom, Kaitlyn enjoys dancing, journaling, and expressing her creativity through art and design. She loves to stay active through fun-filled activities, explore new places through travel, and spend time outdoors to stay grounded. Family and community are very important to her—she is the eldest sister to her younger sister and two younger brothers, and she cherishes quality time with her mom, siblings, and close friends. At home, she enjoys the company of her beloved basset hound, Sebastian.
Lauren Panther
Lauren discovered her passion for caring for children early in life as a babysitter, camp counselor and nanny. She attended the University of Colorado at Boulder earning a degree in Integrative Physiology before moving to New York to teach preschool in the Bronx. She returned to Colorado once again to earn her Masters Degree as a Physician Assistant before heading back to New York City to work in Obstetrics and Pediatrics.
Lauren ping-ponged back to Colorado with her husband in 2018 where they settled in Erie. They have three children, all of whom have attended Montessori. Their wonderful experience at the former Blue Mountain Montessori is what sparked Lauren’s love of the curriculum and reignited her enthusiasm for teaching. Watching the children’s faces light up as they discover something new or learn a greater sense of all the wonderful things they are capable of brings indescribable joy to her heart. She cherishes those moments with the students and the relationships she builds with them and their families. Motivated by her love of children and passion for teaching, she obtained her Early Education Montessori Certification through the North American Montessori Center in 2025.
Outside the classroom, Lauren can be seen juggling the circus act that is her household. She has been lucky enough to be with the love of her life, Linds, since 2010, and together they have three incredible children- Lorelai (born 2018) and twin boys, Camden and Emmett (born 2021). She really loves spending time with her family, often found seeking new adventures, biking around Erie or traveling to the mountains, and when she can find a spare moment, you can catch her hiking, gardening, baking or reading.