Peak Ave Montessori School of Silicon Valley
Founded in February 2025, the Peak Ave Montessori School of Silicon Valley introduces a fully implemented Montessori school and curriculum to the Morgan Hill area.
Our school proudly offers comprehensive programs to the families of Morgan Hill, Gilroy and surrounding communities; catering to children aged 6 weeks to 6 years. At the Peak Ave Montessori School of Silicon Valley, we boast fully integrated Montessori environments across our Nido, Pre Primary, Primary, and Kindergarten classrooms.
Programs Offered At This Location
Upcoming Events
Peak Ave’s Community Trunk or Treat
Peak Ave Montessori School is opening its campus to current and prospective families, community members, and local businesses for Trunk or Treat on Friday, October 23rd.
Children can visit decorated trunks, collect treats, and take part in Halloween-themed activities. Families and local businesses are also encouraged to decorate a trunk and share treats with the children.
We’re looking forward to spending time with the people who make up our school and the wider Morgan Hill community.
Refer a Family, Earn a Tuition Credit
Our Caring Connections Referral Program rewards our families for growing the MSOSV community.
When you refer a new family and their child starts at MSOSV, you receive a $400 tuition credit, and the family you referred receives a $100 tuition credit as a welcome. The referred family simply needs to list your name in the Referred By field on their application. See your Head of School for more details.
What Our Families Are Saying…
The Coglitore Family; Meadow
Our daughter Meadow is thriving at MSOSV! Her teachers are gentle, patient, and loving, which made the early weeks of the transition to school more bearable. Now every morning our kiddo wakes up and tells us how excited she is to see her teachers and friends! We feel so lucky to be a part of this community — it has been such a blessing for our family.
The Wyant Family; Ava & Emma
Both our daughters attend this new MSOSV location and absolutely love it! We have a 1 year old and 4 year old. Classrooms are open and bright! Staff is loving and supportive!
The Bear-Menard Family; Ace
We have been very happy with Peak Ave! All of the members of the team are so sweet and loving and provide an amazing environment for Ace. We love seeing the photos of his day and all the activities that he gets to partake in. The variety of activities are so enriching and it really seems that he is thriving! We are excited about his continued enrollment and development at Peak Ave, and about the community we are developing.
The Barton Family; Arlo
Overall, Arlo has been having a positive experience (drop-off aside 😊). She seems to be settling in well, making friends, and loves to share little pieces of what she does during the day. She’s mentioned loving playing on the playground, the water pouring activity, and painting. Her one main struggle has been adjusting to drop off with me, but has seemed to do ok with dad this past week (although she has mentioned crying a bit later on in the day). Ms. Nicole has been very helpful in offering tips on how to make the transition smoother, and I’m confident she’ll get there eventually. She’s been at home with me up until she started with the childrens courtyard in August, so it definitely makes sense that she’s having a harder time adjusting to the separation. We’re so appreciative of the strong sense of community that you all have, and we’re excited to watch Arlo continue to learn and grow throughout the rest of the year!
Staff Photos and Bios
Amanda Wagner
Head of School
Ms. Amanda has been working with children for nearly 13 years, beginning her journey by providing ABA therapy to children in the Milpitas community before transitioning into Montessori education in 2015. She holds an associate’s degree in general studies, a BA in Psychology, and a Montessori Teaching Credential for the Primary age group. Additionally, she has completed the necessary Early Childhood Education units for teaching in a childcare setting and has pursued numerous professional development courses covering topics such as infancy development, children with exceptionalities, health and safety in preschools, and childcare administration.
As both an educator and a mother of two, Ms. Amanda finds deep inspiration in Montessori’s philosophy of respect for the child, independence as preparation for life, and faith in the child’s potential. She believes in the power of education not just to prepare children for school, but to help them grow into confident, compassionate, and capable members of their communities. Stepping into the role of Head of School at Peak Ave Montessori allows her to expand her impact—not only guiding the children in the school’s care but also supporting and inspiring the dedicated educators on her team.
One of Ms. Amanda’s greatest joys in teaching is witnessing a child’s confidence grow as they navigate new challenges and experience the pride of independence. There is nothing more fulfilling than being chosen by a child to celebrate their accomplishments—whether it’s overcoming a challenge or proudly presenting a masterpiece they created with care.
Outside of school, Ms. Amanda enjoys spending time with her family, heading to the theater, trying out new breakfast spots, or exploring hiking trails. When she’s not out and about, she loves revisiting Maria Montessori’s writings and studying the art of leadership. Her early professional experience at the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose played a pivotal role in shaping her career path, allowing her to gain hands-on experience with children and community outreach programs.
With the opening of Peak Ave Montessori, Ms. Amanda is excited to connect with the Morgan Hill community and watch the Lupine, Poppy, and Buttercup classroom communities come to life, filled with unique personalities, peaceful energy, and a love for learning.
Annie Encina
Interim Assistant Head of School
Ms. Annie was born on the island of Oahu in Honolulu, Hawaii and moved to Mountain View, California when she was 2 years old.
She first joined Montessori School of Silicon Valley in 2010 as an Assistant Teacher at Crescent Montessori, but after just 6 short months she was promoted to Assistant Director. Ms. Annie is now the Operations Manager at MSOSV and helps maintain important tasks for all of our campuses.
Growing up, Ms. Annie learned to love working with children as she always enjoyed taking care of her younger family members. Prior to working at Crescent Montessori, Annie began working in the educational field in 2006. To gain a better understanding of the Montessori philosophy, Annie invested in many Montessori classes, as well as earning Early Childhood Education units from Ohlone College.
Watching the children in her community grow to be independent individuals and witnessing their little personalities blossom is something that Annie takes to heart and loves to be a part of. Her favorite part about working in our schools is seeing the children get excited over all the little things that happen throughout their day at school. It also always brightens her day when she receives the most random drawings from the children.
In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with her family, being outdoors with her fur baby, and doing various arts and crafts on her Cricut machine. She also loves singing in the car, especially to Disney songs, Glee songs, old school 90s and R&B songs. Lastly, anyone who knows her knows that she loves her Bay Area sports teams! She is a die-hard Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants and San Jose Sharks fan!
Maria Gonzalez Chavez
Lead Nido Guide
Buttercup Community
Ms. Maria Gonzalez Chavez is the Lead Nido Guide in the Peak Ave Buttercup Community. She began her journey in early childhood education in 2024 and has quickly grown into her role with dedication and heart. Her time in the classroom has been marked by a deep commitment to supporting infants and their families during one of the most important stages of development.
Ms. Maria holds an Associate’s degree in Child Development. She is passionate about continuing her education and strengthening her understanding of child development to better serve the children and families in her care.
Ms. Maria is inspired each day by the opportunity to support children as they grow and develop through their work. She especially values working with families from diverse cultural backgrounds, building meaningful connections, and helping each child reach their full potential. She believes that every child deserves to be seen, supported, and nurtured as an individual.
Her favorite part of being a teacher is witnessing the children’s moments of growth and accomplishment. She finds immense joy in their smiles and the pride they feel when they achieve something new, and these moments continue to motivate and inspire her work each day.
Outside the classroom, Ms. Maria enjoys staying active by going to the gym and hiking, as well as reading. She loves being with her family and especially enjoys taking walks with her dog, Luna. Known for her ambitious spirit, Ms. Maria is determined and resilient, always pushing forward to achieve her goals no matter the challenges she may face.
Ms. Maria comes from a large and loving family and is the ninth of nine siblings. She is a proud aunt to eight nephews and five nieces, all of whom she has helped care for and support throughout their lives. These experiences have deeply shaped her love for children and her passion for guiding their growth.
Ms. Maria is honored to be part of the Peak Ave Montessori community and is dedicated to nurturing each child with care, respect, and a deep belief in their potential.
Alexa Jennings
Lead Pre Primary Guide
Poppy Community
Ms. Alexa joined Peak Ave Montessori in July 2026 as the Lead Guide of the Poppy Community, bringing several years of experience working with children in a variety of educational settings. Since beginning her career in 2018 as an ABA therapist, she has worked as a resource teacher, co-teacher, teacher’s assistant, after-school program leader, and paraprofessional. These experiences have given her a well-rounded understanding of child development and classroom support.
Ms. Alexa holds an Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education, an Associate of Arts in Spanish, and a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science. She also earned a Certificate in Family Intervention from California State University, Monterey Bay and is currently continuing her professional development in Montessori education.
Having worked within several educational philosophies, Ms. Alexa was drawn to Montessori for its emphasis on independence, concentration, and discovery. She especially enjoys watching children become deeply engaged in their work, following their curiosity and making new discoveries through hands-on learning.
Her favorite part of teaching is supporting children as they build independence and confidence throughout their day. She finds joy in helping them strengthen their skills, do more for themselves, and recognize their own growing capabilities.
Outside the classroom, Ms. Alexa loves reading fantasy novels, exercising, and occasionally running half marathons. She also enjoys dancing around her living room to music videos and expressing her creativity through spontaneous painting.
Ms. Alexa is excited to continue her Montessori journey at Peak Ave and looks forward to helping the children of the Poppy Community grow into confident, capable, and curious learners.
Nicole Vogt
Lead Primary Guide
Lupine Community
Ms. Nicole has been teaching since 2010 and has dedicated her career to providing children with an authentic Montessori experience. She earned a Minor in Education from Multnomah University and a Master’s in Education from Loyola University Maryland. She holds AMI teaching credentials for both the 3-6 and 0-3 age groups, completing her training at Montessori Northwest in Portland. After several years of teaching, she furthered her education with an Inclusive Education Diploma from the Montessori Institute of San Diego.
A core principle of Montessori that deeply resonates with Ms. Nicole is respect for the child. She is passionate about creating an environment where children feel valued, capable, and joyful in their learning. Her goal is to plant the seeds of peace and curiosity that will last a lifetime.
One of her favorite aspects of teaching is the special moments of shared laughter and connection with the children. She treasures the relationships built within the community and finds fulfillment in the trust and joy that develop in the classroom.
Outside of teaching, Ms. Nicole enjoys free diving in Monterey and hiking trails with her family. She also has a unique life experience—she spent ten years living in Japan, where she taught in a Montessori preschool.
Ms. Nicole is excited to bring a high-quality Montessori program to the Morgan Hill community and looks forward to creating a warm and enriching space for children and families at Peak Ave Montessori.
Location Photos
