Two Roots Montessori Team

Emma Broadfoot is a co-founder of Two Roots Montessori and serves as President and Head of School. She holds her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Boston University and brings over 14 years of experience in education, including work in public schools, private schools, and Department of Defense programs. She has spent eight years in the classroom as a lead teacher and guide, but leadership roles is where she found her stride. 

Emma is a Montessori mom and an educator at heart. She believes in respecting each child as a capable, thoughtful individual and is passionate about creating learning environments that are calm, beautiful, and purposeful. Her leadership style is grounded in warmth, consistency, and a strong commitment to child-centered education.

Throughout her career, Emma has been recognized for her ability to mentor teachers, support families, and build programs that balance academic excellence with emotional well-being. She has a strong vision for building Two Roots, ensuring that the school’s philosophy is lived daily in classrooms, curriculum, and community relationships. Creating a positive workplace and school culture of community, inclusion, and collaboration is critical to making this vision come to life. 

For Emma, Two Roots is more than a school. It is a place where children are trusted, families are supported, and educators are empowered to do the most meaningful work of their lives.

Outside of school, she can be found belting out ABBA songs with her daughter, patching a pair of pants on her sewing machine, or browsing at McKay’s to add to her vinyl collection. Emma loves any excuse to be near water, trying new coffee shops in Nashville, and hunting down deals at consignment sales. Be sure to visit the office to see what she’s wearing today too— she is known for her bold and stylish choices.

 Elle Meadows is the Co-Founder and Director of Finance of Two Roots Montessori. She holds certifications in Nonprofit Finance and Montessori Fundamentals and is currently completing an expedited master’s program in Psychology with a focus in Biopsychology.

Elle brings over a decade of experience in schools and management, along with a deep passion for building systems that truly support children, families, and educators. She is also a mom to two young daughters who inspire her daily and shape her commitment to creating safe, supportive, and joyful learning environments.

Outside of school life, Elle enjoys art, writing, fitness, event decorating and planning, and brings that same sense of balance and intention into her work, helping build a school where strong systems support calm, thoughtful, child-centered classrooms.

Carleigh serves as the Operations Lead, where she helps support the daily operations of the school, family communication, enrollment coordination, scheduling, and creating a welcoming environment for both students and staff. She enjoys helping share Two Roots’ mission with families in meaningful and supportive ways. A recent graduate of Belmont University with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing, Carleigh brings over seven years of childcare experience to her role and a strong understanding of early childhood environments. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with friends, cooking and baking, crafting, and being outdoors.

Emily has been a preschool teacher for nine years and brings a deep love for early childhood education into her work with children. Through her years of experience, she has developed a strong appreciation for the Montessori method and is passionate about creating environments where children are encouraged to explore, grow, and learn at their own pace. She believes that nurturing independence from a young age helps children build confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of self.

In the classroom, Emily focuses on supporting children as capable and curious learners. She values thoughtful guidance, consistency, and respectful communication, and enjoys observing children as they develop new skills and discover their interests. 

Outside of school, Emily enjoys practicing yoga, creating arts and crafts, spending time outdoors on nature walks, and connecting with friends. These interests reflect her calm, creative presence and her appreciation for balance, creativity, and connection, which she brings into the classroom each day.

Allie is a Toddler Guide at Two Roots Montessori with experience across a variety of early childhood programs. Through this work, she discovered Montessori and found a teaching approach that truly felt like home.

She loves supporting toddlers as they build independence through hands-on learning in a calm, nurturing environment where each child feels safe, capable, and confident. Ms. Allie is passionate about meeting children where they are and honoring their individual development.

Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, exploring local parks, enjoying a good cup of coffee, and working on puzzles, with a passion for baking.

Laura Perez is an experienced early childhood educator with over five years of experience working with young children. She has found a true passion in Montessori education and loves supporting children as they build independence, confidence, and a sense of pride in their work. Laura is especially drawn to creating calm, nurturing environments where children feel safe, respected, and encouraged to explore at their own pace.

She is a proud mother to her daughter, Emily, who inspires her daily. Originally from Mexico, Laura brings her cultural background into her life with warmth and creativity.

Outside of school, Laura enjoys cooking, trying new recipes, and expressing her creativity through art in her free time.

Nikki brings extensive experience in early childhood education and a deep commitment to supporting young children during their most important developmental years. After many years working with children in a variety of early learning environments, she discovered Montessori education and quickly found a philosophy that aligned with her values and teaching style. She has now been part of the Montessori community for over a year and continues to grow in her practice and understanding of the Montessori approach. 

Outside of school, Nikki loves to sew! She has  a young son and is new to motherhood. Nikki loves to cook and read.

Olivia Culley is a Montessori educator who believes children learn best when they are trusted with meaningful work, given time to explore big ideas, and supported in developing independence and responsibility. Her goal is to help guide children to a “help me to do it myself” mindset as Maria Montessori stated. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Cultural Anthropology from The College of Wooster and is Montessori trained through the North American Montessori Center. Olivia began her teaching career with Metro Nashville Public Schools before transitioning into Montessori education as an Upper Elementary Guide in 2023.

Outside of school, Olivia enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband, Eli, are Nashville natives and are raising their son Everett while preparing to welcome their daughter, Margaret, in April. In her free time, Olivia enjoys sewing, visiting Disney parks, traveling, and trying new food around Nashville.

Selena Nichols is a Floating Guide with over six years of experience in the childcare field. Her background includes babysitting, working as a nanny, and serving as a daycare teacher. Through these experiences, she discovered Montessori education and developed a strong appreciation for its philosophy and the way it supports children’s independence, curiosity, and overall development. One of Selena’s favorite parts of working with children is watching them grow and experience the excitement of learning new things. She enjoys supporting each child’s individual journey and helping create a positive and nurturing learning environment. Selena has a background in Social Work studies, which aligns with her passion for supporting children and families. She is also a proud mother to a two-year-old son and is excited to soon welcome a daughter into her family.

Outside of school, Selena enjoys spending time with her family and going on outings together.

Ashleigh is a floating guide with over two years of experience working with children and over twenty years of experience watching six siblings! She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Trevecca Nazarene University. When she is not working, she loves being a nanny for many families! Through generations of teachers in her family, Ashleigh is no stranger to the classroom, and her introduction to Montessori education has only strengthened her passion for watching children grow into the best versions of themselves! She is a firm advocate of the delicate balance of nurturing dependence and autonomy in children, and feels proud to have even the smallest part in shaping the next generation of leaders. In her free time, you can find Ashleigh dancing, listening to music, cooking, going on long drives, exploring new food places, and spending time with her husband.

Sarah stumbled into early education and quickly fell in love with helping children learn and grow. With experience ranging from toddlers to upper elementary, she brings a child-first approach focused on respect, support, and building a strong classroom community. 

Sarah earned her Bachelor’s degree in Family Studies from Union University. Outside the classroom, she enjoys baking, reading, and exploring new places! Sarah enjoys travelling, exploring local parks, and trying the newest pizza spot to find her new favorite slice!

Alice is an assistant guide for our children's house classrooms with over three years of experience working with children. She brings a nurturing, hands-on perspective to early childhood care. As a proud mother to one daughter, motherhood has deepened her understanding of just how important the earliest stages of life truly are. She is passionate about Montessori education because she believes that it all starts in childhood and that her purpose is to help give kids a structured foundation in trusting themselves to create a beautiful life. Becoming a parent has also strengthened her passion for supporting children as they grow, learn, and begin to understand the world around them.