Leadership
Director, Corey Babay
Corey’s background is in corporate and non-profit finance, having worked here in the high country for the past 16 years. He’s held various positions managing multifaceted teams from various backgrounds. He prides himself in being a leader, not a boss, integrating staff members and utilizing their various diverse strengths to build a strong team to better support Mountain Pathway’s mission. He believes in each person’s right to dignity, support, respect, and a professional and happy workplace. Corey know these ethics and values align with the amazing work of Montessori schools, specifically Mountian Pathways, so he is thrilled to be able utilize his skills in the MPS environment.
Corey lives in Valle Crucis along with his husband of 20 years and their 4 dogs. He enjoys gardening and is currently very proud of having grown a ton of his plants from seeds this year. Corey also really enjoys being in the kitchen. He likes baking and cooking, usually trying to replicate something from a restaurant, baking sourdough or sweet treats, or attempting something from scratch that would be far easier purchased in a grocery store!
Faculty
PRE-PRIMARY Magnolia (12 Months – 30 Months)
Bailey Cook, Lead Teacher is from Baton Rouge Louisiana! She is an Appalachian State student in her senior year and is studying child development. Bailey started as an afterschool in August 2025 and has gained many new experiences in early childhood education since then. We are thrilled that she was able to transition to becoming our full time Lead Teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. By working at Mountain Pathways, her love for Montessori education has blossomed and she is now working on getting her Montessori accreditation. She has been working with children since she was sixteen and plans to continue working with children after she graduates in May of 2027!
Leslie Taylor, Asst. Teacher. After many years serving as a police officer in South Carolina, Leslie retired and began a new chapter of life when she moved to North Carolina in 2019. Life has brought its share of challenges, but Leslie is a survivor. She lives with Lyme Disease and Alpha-gal syndrome, and uses her experience to advocate for awareness and support others who are walking a similar path. Leslie’s journey has also led her to begin learning herbalism as she continue exploring natural ways to support health and healing.
Integrity is something Leslie believes in deeply—it guides how she lives and how she treats others.
She’s always had a big heart for animals and nature. As a child, her love for animals earned me the nickname “Ellie Mae,” and that connection to the natural world has stayed with Leslie her whole life. Whether it’s caring for animals, spending time outdoors, or learning about plants and herbs, nature is where she feels most at home.Leslie is grateful for this life, for the lessons it’s taught her, and for the opportunity to keep growing, helping others, and appreciating the beauty around her every day.
PRE-PRIMARY Maple (2 Years — 3 Years)
PRIMARY Willow (3 Years — 5 Years
Emerson Leach, afterschool teacher is from Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a junior at Appalachian State University studying Child Development and Somatic Sustainability. Emerson started at MPS in February of 2026. He has worked at two previous schools but feels like he really found his community at MPS. He enjoys writing, playing roller derby, and spending time with his two cats in his free time. One of his favorite things about afterschool is seeing the children discover new interests and make new friends!
Peyton, afterschool teacher is originally from Houston, Texas but moved to Boone in the summer of 2023. Since then, she has fallen in love with the beauty of the North Carolina mountains and the wonderful community that makes Boone such a special place.
She is currently a senior at Appalachian State University, where she is pursuing a degree in Child Development. Peyton values the opportunity to play a meaningful role in supporting children’s education and success.
Support Staff
Saige Spoon, substitute is from High Point, North Carolina. She’s been living in Boone for the past four years and is currently a senior at Appalachian State University studying Child Development and Psychology. She’s always loved working with children and have been coaching cheerleading for the past three years, leading teams, classes, and clinics. After graduation, Saige plans to become an elementary school teacher! Outside of school and work, she love spending time with her cats and enjoying time with friends and family!
Reid Pond, floater is a Boone, NC native who just so happens to have attended Mountain Pathways herself! She is a graduate of the Students with Diverse Abilities Program at ASU where she studied Early Childhood Education. Working with young students is one of Reid’s passions and it fills her spirit with love and joy. Her favorite things to do at school are art and reading with the children.
She lives in Downtown Boone and enjoys visiting coffee shops, hiking, and watching movies with her family!
Maddie Worth, substitute worked with all classrooms at MPS from 2022-2024. She is currently working on her master's in Professional School Counseling at Appalachian State and she babysits when she has some free time. Maddie looks forward to working with you all and your children!