Please meet
Sherry Herrin the director of our Montessori preschool program. She is originally from Maine, growing up in a family of eight siblings. Sherry’s parents were active foster parents which added to the fray around the house. Ultimately several hundred foster children would benefit from these loving parents; their efforts provided a healthy, respectful, nurturing and giving environment. Their modeling of these virtues was not lost on Sherry; she too developed a love for children and their mentoring soon became her passion. Sherry knew as she began her higher education that children would be her focus, completing her Early Childhood Education degree from Becker College in 1991.
After graduating, Sherry has worked in the Early Childhood Education field with over 25-years of experience working with children as she honed her philosophy and teaching methodology. Sherry’s experience includes teaching, directing, and even building and owning her own preschool. Sherry fell in love with the Montessori Philosophy while teaching at a Montessori School in Boulder Colorado in 1998. Although she believes in a Montessori-based philosophy, she incorporates the best of other philosophy’s as she has developed the curriculum and its supporting philosophy for Saint Columba’s early childhood program, including NAEYC educational philosophies concerning developmentally appropriate learning environments, Reggio Emilia for art, and Waldorf for out-of-door and creative play environments.
Sherry has a love for creating spaces for children and is always continuing her education to stay current with best practices of Early Childhood Education, recently attending Harvard School of Design, and focusing on creating indoor and outdoor environments for childcare settings. You'll notice that St. Columba preschool has undergone a complete remodel and will continue to evolve into a space that nurtures and supports the whole child. Thank you, Sherry!
As the Owner of a CrossFit Gym in Palm Desert, CA Sherry competed and succeeded as a Master’s Athlete in the 2016 World CrossFit Games, all while directing the ‘Montessori Preschool of the Desert”. In recognition of her athletic accomplishments, for her volunteering and “finding ways” to give back to those in need Sherry was inducted as a life-long ambassador for her service by Lululemon Corporation. She is a CrossFit Kids certified trainer and has directed local YMCA youth sports and programs.
Most recently Sherry hiked the 2,192-mile Appalachian Trail, a trek from Georgia to her home state of Maine. She is thrilled to call Durango home and will pursue her love for the outdoors; skiing, biking, hiking and trail running.
