Broadwater School
Beth (Mary Elizabeth) Smaka
Classroom Assignment: Lower Elementary 1st-3rd
Years in District: 7 years
Years in Montessori: 6 years
Training/Certification: Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest (MEIPN)
Personal Statement: “I enjoy Montessori because of the relationships that students, families and teachers form as they learn and grow together over the years.”
Annie (Rhiannon) Tague
Classroom Assignment: Lower Elementary 1st – 3rd
Years in District: 6 years
Years in Montessori: 3 years
Training/Certification: B.A. In Elementary Education with a minor in Reading, AMS Certification for Lower Elementary Montessori
Personal Statement: “I truly believe that Montessori classrooms provide the most natural way for children to learn. The hands on, individualized materials and methods is what allows the Montessori child to understand concepts to their core. I love the passion and understanding that I see from my students. The community that is developed in a Montessori classroom is so unique and real-world. For three years I get to stay with a student and their family. I get to watch them interact as a learner and a teacher as they progress from a first year to a third year. It truly is a community of learners and teachers, including me!”
Jodi Majerus Delaney
Classroom Assignment: Upper Elementary 4th/5th grade
Years in District: 4 years
Years in Montessori: 2 years
Training/Certification: North American Montessori Center
Personal Statement: “I enjoy teaching with a Montessori philosophy because it helps me meet the differing needs of my students as effectively as possible. The Montessori materials and lessons meld together with the District’s public school curriculum to provide a rich wealth of learning opportunities that can be tailored to individuals. The multi-age aspect of Montessori classrooms also provides for a host of benefits to children as they progress through the program and become leaders in their own right. I feel the emphasis on teaching young people to do and think for themselves, and learn to problem-solve independently, are great skills they will use for the rest of their lives.”
Central School
Elizabeth (Libby) Kenney
Classroom Assignment: Lower Elementary 1st – 3rd
Years in District: 4 years
Years in Montessori: 4 years
Training/Certification: North American Montessori Center
Personal Statement: “I believe Montessori style schooling makes learning fun and enjoyable for the students. I really enjoy watching kids learn at their own pace and guiding them through their discoveries.”
Charla Kempa Rice
Classroom Assignment: Upper Elementary Montessori
Years in District: 16 years
Years in Montessori: 11 years
Training/Certification: AMS Certified – San Leandro, CA
Personal Statement: “I wish as a child I could have had the opportunity to have been taught in a Montessori classroom. I would have been able to tap into my creativity, have a better understanding of why math works the way it does and surround myself with all of the beautiful Montessori materials. Now that I am an adult, teaching the Montessori methods, I can see how powerful this way of teaching can be. This is why I enjoy teaching Montessori.”
Deb Johnson
Classroom Assignment: Lower Elementary 1st – 3rd
Years in District: 26 years
Years in Montessori: 18 years
Training/Certification: B.A. Elementary Education from the University of Montana (1973); AMA (Montessori) Certification from St. Katherine’s College (1993); M.E. Curriculum and Instruction from Leslie College (2000).
Personal Statement: “I love teaching Montessori because it allows me to teach to the individual child, taking into consideration developmental levels and interests. I enjoy the relationships I build with my students and their families. It is exciting to see the growth each child makes in three years. The Montessori system encourages independence and children become competent, confident, lifelong learners who love to learn.”
Smith School
Shannon Callahan
Classroom Assignment: Lower Elementary 1st – 3rd
Years in District: 13 years
Years in Montessori: 14 years
Training/Certification: Montessori Teacher Education Center of San Francisco Bay Area/Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education/ Master of Science in Education, Learning Developments/National Board Certified Teacher
Personal Statement: “I enjoy Montessori because of the connections I get to build with my students and their families. Having the same student for three years closes learning gaps over summer break. I know the families and children and we are able to work together to best educate the child because we have time to develop a strong rapport of trust and understanding while working as a team.”
Joslyn Carney
Classroom Assignment: Lower Elementary 1st – 3rd
Years in District: 5 years
Years in Montessori: 2 years
Training/Certification: BA Liberal Studies and French from Seattle University (2000), MA of Teaching from the University of Portland (2002) and Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest (MEIPN) certification (in progress)
Personal Statement: “I am delighted to be working in a Montessori classroom at Smith Elementary. I was initially drawn to Montessori education because of the materials that aid students in understanding abstract concepts. As a result of my training and teaching in the Montessori classroom, I have been moved by the classroom community that develops in a multiage setting, the opportunities for children to work at a self-directed pace and the love of learning that buzzes throughout the classrooms.”
Debra Beaver
Classroom Assignment: Upper Elementary Montessori (4th and 5th)
Years in District: 1 year
Years in Montessori: 1 year
Training/Certification: Center for Montessori Teacher Education New York, Upper Elementary
Personal Statement: “One of the aspects I appreciate about Montessori education is that it taps into children’s natural curiosity about the world. Students are encouraged to take an active role in their learning- to find answers to their questions. There are typically a variety of ways students can show what they know, which supports a wide range of learning styles.”
