Meet the Teachers
Planting the seeds of knowledge since 2022
Our highly trained teachers create opportunities for exploration and learning. We create an engaging environment where students feel safe, comfortable, and confident.
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Molly McDowell
Co-Founder
Early Childhood Teacher
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Mrs. Molly has spent the past 10 years pursuing her passion for education, first in undergraduate studies, then at Westminster College where she earned her Master's in Education and Montessori Certification. During her master's, she completed a study on effective practices for teachers to empower parent involvement in their child’s education and independence.
Mrs. Molly believes the greatest single influence on education today is to encourage the love of discovery and learning. She feels this serves as a foundation for lifelong learning, as a child will develop a joy for knowledge and stimulate their imagination.
Before living in Park City, she grew up in Orinda, California and learned the love for the outdoors from her parents. She learned to ski and swim at Lake Tahoe, CA and is passionate about hiking and exploring the world around us. She rode and competed horses in Three-Day-Eventing through high school and is certified in Pony Club. Mrs. Molly is an avid traveler and lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina for a year in college. While there, she honed her Spanish and enjoys passing that along to her students. After college, she traveled around to different ski towns and taught skiing at Vail Mountain in Colorado. She now lives in Park City with her three children and husband, where they love getting outside whenever they can.
Starting a nature-based school has always been a dream of hers and she is so thrilled to bring this to Park City.
Shannon Dixon
Co-Founder
Early Childhood Teacher
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Shannon grew up in a small town in northern California, where she developed a deep appreciation for nature while camping, hiking and canoeing with her family. She earned a degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Human Services from Santa Clara University, then then spent several years living in a variety of beautiful areas of California, including the Central Coast, Humboldt County and the eastern Sierras. Shannon moved to Utah 10 years ago and loves the outdoor adventures available, including hiking, kayaking, riding horses, and snowmobiling with her husband and two stepsons. She’s also an avid gardener and enjoys sharing that love with the kids of Wild Roots.
Shannon has extensive experience working with both children as well as adults, including those with special needs, developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. She has had an opportunity to teach in adaptive recreational programs, outdoor education, community integration programs, as well as more traditional classroom settings.
Shannon has worked in Montessori education for the last eight years and is a great believer in the philosophy and core values it promotes. The creation of Wild Roots is a beautiful opportunity to fuse those beliefs with the joy and wonder of exploring our natural world with children. Shannon can’t wait to embark on this next adventure and share in the excitement of children becoming enthusiastic, lifelong learners!
Alex Sample
Teaching Assistant
Growing up in the heart of Michigan, Alex discovered a passion for outdoor education early on. This love led to guiding climbs and expeditions in the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains, where she honed her skills and deepened her connection with nature. Bringing that expertise to Colorado, Alex continued to inspire others through outdoor adventures. Now, she's found her way to Park City, where she's thrilled to be doing what she loves most. When she's not teaching, Alex enjoys climbing, hiking, and creating ceramics.
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Izabela Comer
Aftercare Art Director
Izabela Comer is an Art Educator currently pursuing a Master's degree in Teaching Fine Art at the University of Utah. After moving to Salt Lake City to earn her Bachelor's degree in Psychology, she has gained valuable experience working in various educational settings, including daycare programs, Montessori classrooms, and homeschool startup programs. With over six years of experience in childcare, Izabela is passionate about working with children and is excited to leverage her skills in art education to help students develop their creativity and self-awareness.
Izabela’s teaching philosophy emphasizes creating an interactive and supportive environment where students feel safe to explore their creativity and express themselves. By providing a safe space for sharing unique perspectives and engaging in the creative process, both individually and collaboratively, Izabela aims to offer a transformative art education. She is committed to nurturing individual growth, fostering creativity, and preparing students to contribute meaningfully to our collective democratic society.
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Christina Coonradt
Music Teacher
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Mrs. Christina is an experienced and passionate Early Childhood Music educator, who has taught music for 6 years. Her Bachelor’s Degree is in Music Education, and I have other extensive experience in the field.
Her EC Music curriculum is an engaging, pedagogically sharp, and fun! She approaches her teachings with a well-established Kodály method as well as more modern techniques. She has found that it complements the Montessori values well, especially multi-sensory education, integration of cultural and global awareness, and independence.
Rocky Road
Class Pet
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Meet our adorable class pet, Rocky Road, the guinea pig! He has quickly become a beloved member of our classroom, winning over the hearts of all the students with his gentle nature and playful personality. He loves to interact with the kids, often coming to the front of his cage to greet them each morning with a squeal. His favorite treat is fresh green lettuce, which the students love to feed him from our tower garden. Rocky Road not only brings joy and companionship to our class but also teaches the children about responsibility, and the importance of caring for animals.
Izabela Comer
Aftercare Art Director
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Rocky Road
Class Pet
Meet our adorable class pet, Rocky Road, the guinea pig! He has quickly become a beloved member of our classroom, winning over the hearts of all the students with his gentle nature and playful personality. He loves to interact with the kids, often coming to the front of his cage to greet them each morning with a squeal. His favorite treat is fresh green lettuce, which the students love to feed him from our tower garden. Rocky Road not only brings joy and companionship to our class but also teaches the children about responsibility, and the importance of caring for animals.
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