Faculty & Staff
Kaleigh Brewer,
2’s and Young 3’s
Lead Teacher
“I have been working at Little Earth School since August 2021 but have been working in the field of Early Childhood for over 13 years. I discovered my passion working with young children after volunteering in my son’s toddler classroom and since then have grown into the teacher I have become today. I feel extremely lucky that I get to spend my days at Little Earth School inspiring the love of learning at such a young age while also building a strong community not only in the classroom but as a whole school! I feel children learn and grow in a environment that makes that is made for them and where they feel loved and celebrated for who they are, which is how I feel every child, family, and staff member feels walking into Little Earth School!”
Kaleigh Brewer
Associates Degree, Early Childhood Education, Santa Fe Community College, New Mexico
Child Development Associate Certificate (CDA), the most widely recognized credential in Early Childhood Education
Over 1200 hours of training in different, early childhood education and developmental areas.
Laura McCloskey,
Preschool / Kindergarten
Lead Teacher
“I’ve been a teacher at Little Earth School since June, 2004. I love coming into the homey atmosphere of Little Earth School every morning and wondering what new thing I will learn that day. I love art, nature and guiding young children. At Little Earth I am surrounded by creativity. I am able to be outdoors and explore nature with the children for a significant portion of every school day. The children are motivated to learn, explore and experience the world in ways I have never imagined. These educational opportunities make me excited to teach and come to work with new ideas. I love that at Little Earth the staff is so dedicated to the spontaneity of learning, to guiding young children to be creative and to think outside the box, to be close to and respect nature, and to be respectful to themselves and others.”
Laura McCloskey
BA in Studio Arts and Elementary Education, College of Santa Fe, 2003
State of New Mexico Elementary License K-8, 2004.
Isidro Urtiaga,
Preschool/Kindergarten
Assistant Teacher
“I have been working at Little Earth School since July, 2004. The children at Little Earth are learning valuable skills that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Other schools often overlook these skills. Here, they are learning how to learn, not just memorizing and taking tests. I love teaching here because Little Earth is part of our community and has a history in Santa Fe. Little Earth provides learning experiences that parents and students will always remember, as will I!”
Isidro Urtiaga
Annual trainings in Early Childhood Education as well as credit hours at
Santa Fe Community College.
Linda Brody,
1st-3rd Elementary
Class Teacher
“I have been working at Little Earth School since September, 1993. I feel lucky to be at a school where I have the opportunity to continually create and refine a curriculum that is both exciting for me to teach and really addresses both the academic and developmental needs of each child in my class. When I come to school each day, I think not only about what I am going to teach, but what I am going to learn. At Little Earth, I am always learning along with my students and fellow teachers – we are a true community of learners and thinkers, and I feel this environment is so important to instilling a life-long love of learning in our students.”
Linda Brody
B.A., German, University of Chicago,
1980; M.S.T., University of Chicago,
1982; Illinois Teacher Certification,
1992; New Mexico Department of
1994; Education Elementary License, K-8
Consuelo del Rosario Byrd, Spanish Teacher,
All Classrooms
“I am inspired by the way the Little Earth community of learners influence the children and how the children conduct themselves, with confidence, respect and love of learning. At Little Earth I feel like home.”
“I started teaching at Little Earth in 2018. I was born and raised in Tabasco, Mexico. I worked for six years as assistant producer and administrative coordinator of Telenovelas, Sports, Special Events and News for Televisa, one of the world leaders in Spanish-speaking media. In 2002, I married and moved to the United States. I lived in Florida and then New Hampshire, where I began teaching Spanish to children, pre-K to 6th grade.in both public and private schools. I taught privately as well as for established companies, including Global Child and More than Spanish. In 2008 – 2009 I was part of the Hollis Montessori School, bringing my unique perspective in guiding the children to acquire the Spanish language through discovery and encouraging them to apply it on their own. In August, 2010 I relocated to Santa Fe and have been working in various schools and with adults as a private tutor.”
Consuelo del Rosario Byrd
BS in Communications Science, Tepeyac University, Mexico 1996
Jillian Mazure,
Art Teacher, Elementary Classrooms
“Little Earth School is community.”
“I have been working at Little Earth School since September 2016.I love to share my passion for art and art history with children
by breaking down complex topics into age appropriate lessons. I feel that given the right materials and support young minds can do amazing things. My passions outside of school are painting, hiking and traveling. I’m a classically trained, realist painter currently focusing on portraits and landscapes. I’ve traveled to many European countries,
most recently spending a month in Argeton-Chateau, France for a painting workshop. Before teaching at Little Earth I had over
eight years of teaching experience with children ranging from age 2 – 12th grade. Three years as a full-time preschool teacher, five years as a full-time art teacher (ages 2 – 18), including experience as a substitute teacher, summer camp administrator and art teacher for at risk youth programs throughout.”
Jillian Mazure
Bachelors of Fine Arts, focus in painting and art education, certification for Pre-K through 12, West Virginia University, 2008.
Jill Hill,
4th-6th Elementary
Class Teacher
“I consider it such a wonderful privilege to be able to partner with families to help children thrive during these formative years. I am honored to have the opportunity to work in such a warm, supportive, and community-driven environment with teachers and administrators who share my passion for early childhood education.”
“I grew up in a small town in Southern California and graduated from California State University, San Marcos with a B.A. in Liberal Studies. In 2012, moved to Chicago where I completed my M.Ed. in Early Childhood Administration. During this time, I had the pleasure of working as an Early Childhood Teacher, Education Director and Preschool Director. In addition, I had the true joy of welcoming my daughter, Hazel, into the world. Throughout the last 15 years, I have worked with children in infancy through third grade. I have always felt an unwavering draw to early childhood education and I am thrilled to be continuing my journey with Little Earth School.”
Carolyn Brandi,
Director
“I began my journey with early childhood education in 1991 where I worked for a number of years in a preschool immersion program at the New Mexico School for the Deaf. My interest in working with children continued through my years in college while studying psychology. I then had two children and I focused my energies on growing and operating a family run business. However, I always wanted to return to my love of early childhood education and was delighted to begin my work at Little Earth in 2008 as the Office Manager. I was a Little Earth parent for many years before that. In 2015 I became the Assistant Director and had the privilege of being mentored by the school’s longtime Director, Ellen Souberman, before her retirement. In 2023 I was offered the opportunity to become the Director and I am delighted to work with such an amazing group of educators. I truly enjoy working here because I believe in the quality of education that we are providing. It’s wonderful being a part of the process that supports children’s love of learning and knowing that they will carry that with them throughout their lives. I strongly believe in the motto that ‘childhood is a journey and not a race’ and I feel grateful to be able to be a part of a school that truly follows this philosophy.”
Carolyn Brandi
Undergraduate studies, Psychology/Family Studies, University of New Mexico and Santa Fe Community College, 1994.
NAC Recipient- National Administrator Credential from the NECPA Commission
Annual trainings in Early Childhood Education, 2008-present.
Ellen Souberman, Director from 1987-2021(Retired)
Ellen’s 34 years of dedicated leadership at Little Earth School is immeasurable. During her time at the school she continually worked towards the highest quality of care, connection and community. Ellen played a profound role in helping to shape the future of so many children. We will miss her dearly and celebrate her daily!
“I have been the Director of Little Earth School since July, 1987. Little Earth School is every educator’s and every child’s dream come true. I feel honored to work with teachers who are so dedicated to their profession, who understand so well what the true education of young children requires, and are willing to work hard to achieve it for the benefit of every child in their classrooms. I know that children at Little Earth will acquire the academic skills they need to succeed. But equally important to their success as individuals, I know that each child at Little Earth, whatever their culture, ethnicity or economic status, is recognized and respected for who s/he is and encouraged to pursue his/her interests. I know that children at Little Earth are encouraged to question, to think, to feel, to be curious and creative. I know that children at Little Earth are taught to be comfortable with, and interested in, diversity; to listen attentively and respectfully to the opinions of others; to directly experience the natural world and be stewards of the earth; to problem-solve and resolve conflicts non-violently; and to stand up for what they believe in and for the rights of others. I know that children at Little Earth are encouraged to play, and to experience and celebrate life with all their five senses. I know that with this kind of education, a better world must be possible.”
B.A., Psychology, Rutgers University, 1969; J.D.,
University of New Mexico School of Law, 1976;
Legal practice focusing on education, family and adoption law, 1976-1987.
Co-edited with Michael Cole, Vera John-Steiner and Sylvia Scribner, Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes, by L.S. Vygotsky, Harvard University Press, 1978.