administrative team
Ellen Graham
CEO + Founder
Ellen earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from UNC-Wilmington. She went on to earn her NC Early Childhood Credentials and attended Graduate School at Western Carolina University for Special Education before founding The Garden in 2014. She is also the founder of Kindermusik with Ellen, an early childhood music and movement program which has been in operation in Southern Pines since 2011, and additionally has over 20 years of experience in childcare and early education with training in Montessori for Early Childhood, Developmental Play Therapy and Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers.
Elizabeth DeMeyere
CPO, Wild Hearts Operations
Elizabeth earned her degree in Developmental Psychology and has spent nearly 15 years of her career in early education. She also has a Master’s in Organizational Development and Leadership and is a board-certified coach through the Institute of Life Coaching. She is the founder of Rooted Resiliency Coaching, offering professional and personal coaching to help people of all ages meet their goals.
Megan Muniz-McAleavey
CAO, Instructional Coach
Megan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts and a M.Ed. in Teaching & Learning with a Concentration in Montessori Education. She spent several years working with children of all ages before discovering Montessori in her time working at The Garden in 2015. She went on to earn a MACTE Lower Elementary (6-9) Montessori Credential and AMI Primary (3-6) Diploma in addition to completing training in the Orton-Gillingham method, and has been working in Montessori Education for 10 years.
Mary Travis
Program Director
Mary has been with us since 2021 and holds a Master’s in Geography and a BS in Sustainable Development from the University of Southern Mississippi. She has taught at the college level and has several years of experience in early childhood education as a Preschool teacher and through her work in children’s public library programming. Mary has also completed our Grow & Guide Teacher Training Program and helped develop and design our Wild Hearts Scope & Sequence.
teaching administrators
Amanda Shay
Co-Lead Nature Guide: Tree Huggers
Preschool Team Lead
School Improvement Project Coordinator
Amanda has been part of our Wild Hearts team since 2022 and previously worked as an assistant and lead teacher in elementary special education and preschool settings, and as a program director at a residential camp for children and adults with disabilities. She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of New Hampshire and a certificate in Early Childhood Education. Amanda supports students, families and educators to ensure whole school growth and continued improvement.
Ashley Lowe
Co-Lead Nature Guide: Tadpoles
Tots Team Lead
Ashley joined our team in 2024, helping to establish our newly formed Wild Hearts Tots program. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and has worked as a court advocate and as an assistant and lead preschool teacher in a nature-based setting before joining our team here at The Garden. Ashley supports students, families and educators to ensure whole school growth and continued improvement.
classroom guides
Olivia Haralson
Lead Nature Guide: Polliwogs
Nature Club Leader: Creative Movement
Olivia graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Child Development and was an intern at The Garden in 2023, then returned after her graduation in 2024 to help with the development of our Wild Hearts Tots program. Olivia has worked as a dance and movement instructor and nanny.
Sarah Maccio
Lead Nature Guide: Trailblazers
Wild Hearts Nature Club Leader: Yoga, French
Sarah joined our team in 2023. She holds a BA in Music Education from ASU and has interned at the elementary and high school levels. She brings a solid foundation in education and a passion for nurturing student growth to our Wild Hearts teaching team and is currently completing her Grow & Guide teacher training.
Brittany Bumgardner
Co-Lead Nature Guide: Polliwogs
Brittney has experience as a daycare teacher and cheerleading coach as has been a substitute teacher at The Garden since 2023, before joining our founding team of the Wild Hearts Tots program. Brittney will be participating in our Montessori Apprenticeship program through Sandhills Community College this year to earn her AA in Early Childhood with a Montessori focus.
Kathleen Shuler
Co-Lead Nature Guide: Tadpoles
Katie joined our Wild Hearts team in 2024. She earned her Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Maryland and spent two years supporting exceptional children in a Montessori primary environment. She has also worked as an assistant teacher and floater in a traditional setting.
Ashley Farris
Co-Lead Nature Guide: Trailblazers
Ashley holds a BA in Art History & American Studies and a M.S. in Experiential and Outdoor Education. She has experience in educational management as well as classroom teaching experience, most recently with Moore County Schools.
Lauren Pataki
Co-Lead Nature Guide: Trailblazers
Marketing Manager
Lauren holds an MBA and taught Middle School before moving into HR & educational management, then eventually found her way back to teaching, most recently at a farm preschool setting.
support staff
Ashley Rose Young
Floating Support Guide
Ashley Rose is one of our Wild Hearts parents. Both of her daughters attend our program, and she brings a unique parent perspective to our team as well as decades of military experience in leadership. She is currently completing our Grow & Guide teacher training.
Katie McCormack
Dedicated Aide
Katie has experience working as a classroom assistant and as a 1:1 instructional assistant for students with exceptionalities. She provides direct support for our Student Accessibility program.
substitute guides
Lorri Perrini
Sara Hester
partners
Kelly Fagan Echavarria
Kelly has been teaching yoga at The Garden since 2016 and continues to visit once a week to share her special classes with our Wild Hearts students.
We partner with Play with Me OT to offer consultations and occupational therapy for students who need support in this area.