Meet the Lanterns Global
Core Team
All Lanterns Global teachers are LiveScan fingerprint background checked and have their FirstAid/CPR Certifications!
Founders and Directors
Megan Moreno - Founder and Visionary Director of Lanterns Global
I'm Megan Moreno! I am the founder and visionary director of Lanterns Global. I was born and raised in southern California. I am married to my best friend and high school sweetheart, mama to five beautiful children, avid beach goer, hobby farmer, amateur artist, and pianist. My educational background is in Education, Art, and Music. I am passionate about alternative outdoor education and have been homeschooling for over a decade.
I founded Lanterns Global and created our Language Tutoring, El Jardín, Tides, and Terrain programs purely because of my children — out of a desire to have programs that would enrich their lives, our family, and our community. I feel deep gratitude for the way families across California have enthusiastically embraced our small-group, outdoor educational programs and how we have continued to grow each year together.
Saul Moreno - Director & Daily Operations of Lanterns Global
Hey, I’m Saul Moreno! I can’t believe that I get to be married to and work daily alongside of my high school sweetheart and get to be a father to 5 amazing and incredible children. As a family we have had the privilege to adopt our youngest daughter and are actively fostering other precious children. I love sports, anything adventure, camping, hiking, the mountains, travel, and learning more about history, world languages, peoples, and cultures. I have a Bachelors in Religious Studies, TEFL (ESL Teaching) Certificate, and California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. I taught two years as an English Professor at Santa Barbara Business College with International Students. After which, I taught primary school, of all ages, in public schools, charter schools, and homeschooling programs for over six years. I am so excited that we not only get to build these amazing small group, outdoor, hands-on experiences for hundreds of students each semester, but that my own children get to be a part of enjoying them weekly as well.
The Admin Team
Maria Garrett - HR and Administrative support
Hi, I’m Maria! I was born in South Carolina and lived abroad in Mexico City when my family went on an expat assignment for 4 years. I went to college in SC and received a Bachelors degree in Human Resources Development. My husband Aaron and I have two amazing boys! My family loves traveling, hiking, hanging out with friends, and going to the beach! Many nights you can find us at the local baseball field, watching the boys play their favorite sport. I’m excited to be part of the Lanterns Global administrative team and look forward to serving the families and staff that are part of our awesome learning programs.
Lorna Moreno - Recruiter & HR Director
Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, I grew up spending summers at our cottage and spending every waking hour in or on the water and exploring nature. Two years after graduating from York University with a Specialized Honors degree in Physical Education, I received a job offer that allowed me to pursue my dreams along the beautiful California coast. I am always up for a good board meeting - as long as it's on a paddleboard! Kayaking, hiking, and spending time with my family (including grandkids) are my other guilty pleasures! As a Business Consultant and Professional Organizer, I have over 20 years of experience working with some of the busiest people on the planet. I am incredibly passionate about customer care, employee engagement, and building community. As part of our Lanterns Global HR/Recruiting team, I have the privilege of sourcing talent for our programs. We are so grateful for the incredibly brilliant and passionate teachers that share their love for learning with our students each and every day! Thank you for being part of our community and entrusting our Lanterns Global Team with your students!
Hope Hereman- Finance and Charter Team
Hey there! My name is Hope Herreman. l grew up in South Carolina but now live in sunny Florida with my husband and 5 kids. I have a Bachelor's degree in Business Management, and a Masters in Accounting. I enjoy exploring new activities with my kids, often volunteering to help out where I can. When I'm not working or hanging out with my kids, I can usually be found doing projects around the house, playing in our local amateur pool league, or doing crafts.
Melanie Betz- Managing Assistant to the Director
Howdy Y’all! My name is Melanie Betz and as you may have guessed, I’m from Texas. I grew up on a small farm raising pigs; planting, growing, picking, and canning fresh vegetables; and running bare foot in our pastures. I had a wonderful carefree childhood and wanted to give my children, Olive (age 15), Jonah and Mary (twins, ages 13) a similar experience, so about 10 years ago my husband Adam and I decided to educate them at home. Although we have moved away from our family farm, we have not lost our love for animals, nature, and running around barefoot.
Prior to being a wife and mom, I completed my undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Communication studies and my master’s degree in Counseling with an emphasis on higher education. I worked in a university setting for over 15 years with my most recent position being the Director of Academic Advising and Student Success.
I am so happy to be part of Lanterns Global and continue to participate in the personal and academic development of children.
The Tides Manager
Madison Lawrence - Tides Manager
Hi! I’m Madison Lawrence - a SCUBA MSDT instructor, teacher and new mom of twin girls! I’ve traveled extensively for both exploration and diving, I’ve worked with a team to disentangle whales, spent many hours in a lab researching plankton and most recently teaching others to scuba dive! Encouraging others to be involved with the ocean in any capacity is my dream. As a past head teacher of San Diego with Tides turned to a co-manager of Lanterns Global, I am thrilled to continue sharing my passion with our communities!
The El Jardín Manager
Laura Lieras - EL Jardin Manager, El Jardin Irvine Pequenos Maestra
¡Hola! I’m Laura Lieras, a.k.a. Maestra Laura. I am a Spanish teacher at El Jardin, Orange County. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Education. I have over 20 years of experience working with children (and their families), as this is a lifelong passion for me. I spent my teen/young adult years in Costa Rica, where I learned most of my Spanish and became a lover of nature. As an El Jardin Maestra, I enjoy sharing these experiences daily with our brilliant students, as we learn Spanish- while we spot bunnies, birds, butterflies, and other wonderful creatures- in our beautiful outdoor classroom. At home, I enjoy spending time with my family, visiting different beaches, reading, cooking, and snuggling my dog, Rescue Pup.
The Farm to Table Manager
Bridget FinkE - Farm to Table Manager and Youngers Head Teacher
Hello! I'm Bridget, and I'm thrilled to be the Younger’s Pod teacher at Farm to Table. With a bachelor's degree in early education, these little ones are my kind of pals.
My bliss is found outdoors – be it riding waves while surfing, exploring scenic trails on my bike, or camping. Originally from Minnesota, my journey led me here after seven years of travel, and I've been immersed in this wonderful community for the past five years.
My philosophy revolves around creating a nurturing and inspiring space where kids can grow and flourish. I hope to foster their love for learning, curiosity, and creativity against the beautiful backdrop and space of the farm!
The Terrain Manager
Laura Lieras - Terrain Manager and EL Jardin Manager
¡Hola! I’m Laura Lieras, a.k.a. Maestra Laura. I am a Spanish teacher at El Jardin, Orange County and part of the Terrain OC team. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Education. I have over 20 years of experience working with children (and their families), as this is a lifelong passion for me. I spent my teen/young adult years in Costa Rica, where I learned most of my Spanish and became a lover of nature. As an El Jardin Maestra, I enjoy sharing these experiences daily with our brilliant students, as we learn Spanish- while we spot bunnies, birds, butterflies, and other wonderful creatures- in our beautiful outdoor classroom. At home, I enjoy spending time with my family, visiting different beaches, reading, cooking, and snuggling my dog, Rescue Pup.
