Teachers & Staff

Birthday: June 2nd
My family: 2 adult sons Preston & Parker, 1 cat Linus
Schooling: Bachelor of Science in Music Education from UofM Twin Cities, Certification in Children’s House from North American Montessori Center.
At MRA since: 2011 (MRS)
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is the joy in a child’s face when they figure things out for themselves.
– Pick-me-ups –
Drink: Cherry Coke, Dr. Pepper
Treats: Sour anything, or milk chocolate
Snacks: Salty – chips, pretzels
Food: Pizza, McDonald’s, Panera

Favorite color: Purple

Birthday: April 26th
My family: married, 4 sons, 1 daughter, 1 daughter-in-law, 2 dogs, 3 cats, 1 bearded dragon, 1 ball python, 1 leopard gecko
Schooling: North American Montessori Center 3yr-6yr Certificate

At MRA since: 2022
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is having the ages together – you get to watch them grow in their learning, and it also gives the older students a chance to be leaders for the younger ones. Also, they can keep advancing in their learning.
– Pick-me-ups –
Drink: Diet Coke!
Treats: Anything milk chocolate
Snacks: Chips, nuts, fruit, dill pickle chips, kettle corn
Food: Raising Cane’s, Steak 🙂
Favorite color: Blue, rose, black

Birthday: September 13th
My family: married 32 years, 1 adult daughter, 2 adult sons, 2 dogs, 1 cat, 1 turtle
Schooling: North American Montessori Center 3yr-6yr certificate
At MRA since: 2008-2015 (MRS) 2019-current (MRA)
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is how the families make you feel like a part of their family. Teaching Montessori gives the kids different ways to learn hands-on.
– Pick-me-ups –
Drink: Caramel Cooler, coffee w/French vanilla creamer
Treats: Chocolate, fruity flavored treats
Snacks: Cheetos Cheese Puffs
Food: Pepperoni & green olive pizza from Chanticlear, Taco Bell
Favorite color: Purple, white, black, pink

Birthday: February 1st
My family: engaged, 1 cat Hermia
Schooling: Bachelor’s in Elementary Education w/science focus, Master’s in Montessori Education, E1 & E2 Certification, Montessori STEM Certification, Cincinnati Montessori Secondary Teacher Education Program in progress.
At MRA since: 2014 (MRS)
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is the Montessori Method. I really fell in love with it because I realized it fit with my own learning style, having multiple grades working together. The students can learn so much from each other and make discoveries. I enjoy focusing on the whole child, the emotional and the academic sides. I love that the collaboration and problem solving skills are being taught and practiced all the time. It is also a method that allows for optimal connections to be made between subjects as well as a deeper understanding of the world around us. I also love that so much of our work can be related to the experiences we can offer in and out of the classroom.
– Pick-me-ups –
Drink: Bubble tea, raspberry white mocha, any blended coffee drinks
Treats: Any!
Snacks: Pretzels, chips & guacamole
Food: Homemade pasta, Mexican food, Chipotle
Favorite color: Pink, turquoise

Birthday: December 17th
My family: married, 1 cat, 1 dog
Schooling: Bachelor’s from Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music, Master’s from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
At MRA since: 2022
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is witnessing the natural transfer of knowledge & experiences from the older students to the younger students, and watching students become leaders in the classroom.
– Pick-me-ups –
Drink: Iced coffee, hot tea
Treats: Cookies
Snacks: Nuts
Food: Wings, pizza, Raising Cane’s
Favorite color: Blue

Schooling: Bachelor of Science in Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, with a minor in Computer Science.
At MRA since: 2023
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is: Integration between the subjects that helps facilitate better understanding of the information in other contexts.
– Pick-me-ups –
Drink: A&W Root Beer, apple juice
Treats: Minty things, KitKats, Reese’s, peanut M&M’s
Snacks: Apples, Chex Mix, popcorn, peanut butter pretzels
Food: pasta, gyros, Chipotle, Cane’s
Favorite color: Green

Birthday: April 20th
My family: single, no kids, 2 dogs
At MRA since: 2021
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is the kids.
– Pick-me-ups –
Drink: Black coffee, Caramel Cooler
Treats: Brownies
Snacks: Beef jerky, Saltines
Food: Steak, potatoes, corn, Chick-fil-A
Favorite color: Black

Birthday: May 4th
My family: married, 3 daughters, 1 dog
Schooling: Bachelor’s from University of Minnesota Duluth
At MRA since: 2023
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is getting to know the kids on a personal level. It’s fun to see the toddlers learn new things and master their work.
– Pick-me-ups –
Drink: Coffee, specifically lattes
Treats: Chocolate, anything with tropical flavors
Snacks: Popcorn, fruit, sweet & salty mixes
Food: Anything!
Favorite color: Blue

Birthday: September 3
At MRA since: 2022
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is seeing the kids grow in their skills, and watching them be happy & have fun!
– Pick-me-ups –
Drink: Caramel flavored coffee
Treats: Fluffy cupcakes, Crumbl cookies, fruity candy
Snacks: Old Dutch Rip-L chips, pretzels, Goldfish, Cheez-its
Food:
Favorite color: Blue

Birthday: September 20th
My family: married, 1 son, 1 dog
Schooling: Bachelor’s with Education Studies focus
At MRA since: 2019
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is having students for more than one year, because I love seeing how they progress and develop over a long time span.
– Pick-me-ups –
Drink: Chai tea latte, blueberry pomegranate seltzer water
Treats: Dark chocolate
Snacks: Popcorn
Food: Chinese cheese wontons, Panera
Favorite color: Blue

Birthday: October 4th
My family: 
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At MRA since: 2023
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is:
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Birthday: December 21st
My family: 2 daughters, 4 cats, 1 dog, recently engaged
Schooling: CNA license from Anoka Tech
At MRA since: 2024
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is making someone’s day a little brighter.
– Pick-me-ups –
Drink: Iced black coffee
Treats: Chocolate (just not dark chocolate)
Snacks: Dried mangoes, sugar snap peas
Food: Chinese food, sushi, Taco Bell, 
Favorite color: Purple

Birthday: March 16
My family: 1 cat
At MRA since: 2022
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is watching the students learn and grow.
– Pick-me-ups –
Drink: Caribou blended turtle mocha, Scooter’s turtle latte, Celsius, Ramune
Treats: KitKat, Hershey’s, Snickers, Pocky
Snacks: Chili Cheese Fritos, sunflower seeds
Food: Burgers, wraps, sandwiches, burritos, Raising Cane’s
Favorite color: Blue, black, red

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At MRA since: 2024
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is:
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Birthday: April 26th
At MRA since: 2022
Schooling: Bachelor’s in Music Education from University of Kentucky (2012). Former PreK teacher, Assistant Director, and Director of child care centers.
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is seeing a child’s face light up when they have figured out a work that was previously hard for them to finish on their own.
– Pick-me-ups –
Drink: Caribou BOUsted iced drinks, zero sugar pop
Treats: fruity/sour/gummy candy
Snacks: cheesy chips, dill pickles, butter popcorn
Food: pepperoni & olive pizza, Arby’s

Favorite color: purple & black

Birthday: July 20th
My family: Fiancé, 1 dog
Schooling: Bachelor’s in Psychology from UofM (2020)
At MRA since: 2022
My favorite thing about working at a Montessori school is how funny the kids are.
– Pick-me-ups –
Drink: Coffee, Coke Zero
Treats: Dark chocolate M&M’s, Twix
Snacks: White Cheddar Popcorn
Food: Noodles & Co, Panera, Taco Bell
Favorite color: Blue, green, black