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Brigitta Hoeferle, Director
The owner and founder of Montessori Kinder. She started the school in Munich, Germany in 2002, before she moved Montessori Kinder to Cleveland, TN in 2004. Brigitta speaks German and English fluently.
Mrs. Hoeferle is an expert in Montessori teaching, with a degree in education science, an undergraduate degree in Domestic Economy and Social Pedagogy, a certification in Montessori Methodology and a degree in Marketing. Brigitta is a founding member of the East Tennessee Montessori Community, serves as Vice President for Educational Opportunities for the Ocoee Region Multicultural Services and as a member of Mainstreet Cleveland.
Caitlin Land, Administrative Assistant
Caitlin Land recently graduated from Lee University with a Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies with a minor in Spanish. She has been an assistant to educators and administrators for the last three years and had the opportunity to experience extensive international travel. Her love for cross-cultural interaction and education makes her a great fit for Montessori Kinder.
LeeAnna Lutz, Lead Teacher Primary Community
Mrs. Lutz has been a well educated, loyal and highly motivated teacher at Montessori Kinder since August 2007. Her teaching experience of more than 25 years, combined with her degree in Montessori Methodology makes Mrs. LeeAnna the Early Childhood specialist for ages 3-6 years. Mrs. LeeAnna utilizes her hands-on teaching and guiding skills to lead the Montessori Kinder primary community with enthusiasm, structure and love.
Jesenia Howard, Lead Teacher Pre-Primary Community
Señora Howard is a motivated and caring certified teacher since May 2007 and is leading the pre-primary classroom with her expertise of the Montessori method, backed up by her certification as a Spanish School Teacher of Lima, Peru and her Bachelors Degree in Translation and Interpretation of the Spanish, English and French languages.
Sra. Howard is an experienced Early Childhood Teacher since 2003. She is an expert with a profound understanding of the development of infants and toddlers. Prior to her position at Montessori Kinder, Sra. Howard was employed at the International School of Charlottesville, VA.
Sarah Fettig, Lower Elementary Teacher
Mrs. Fettig has been working with children in differing capacities since 2006. Her past careers as nanny, caregiver in a daycare, church school teacher and VBS teacher make her a content and dedicated teacher. She has lived and worked for over a year in Ukraine and Romania. Miss Sarah has traveled extensively to many places around the globe and in the US and Canada. She obtained her Associates Degree in Early Childhood from Cleveland State Community College and then
went on to complete her BA at UTC in Elementary Education. Miss Sarah is a certified Pre-K through 3rd grade teacher in the state of Tennessee. She is currently working on her Montessori Elementary certification.
Sarah Fettig is a member of Kappa Delta Pi and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Audrey Waldecker, Foreign Language Teacher
Ms. Waldecker started working at Montessori Kinder in August 2011, coming into the job as a recent graduate from Covenant College, where she began her serious venture into learning German. Growing up speaking both English and Spanish in Chile as a missionary kid has given Ms. Audrey a love for languages and diversity. Ms. Audrey takes great joy in learning, and is thus delighted to be working towards her Montessori Diploma. She very much enjoys being around children everyday, and feels privileged to be a part of the children’s development. Ms. Waldecker is a great asset to the Montessori community with her knowledge of the German language.
Lauren Durham, Teacher Primary Community
Ms. Durham has worked with children up to age 5 for the past three years.
She is working on her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education at Lee University and CSCC and has earned her Associates Degree in Summer of 2010 from Cleveland State Community College in Early Childhood Education. With her focus on the Montessori Method, Ms. Lauren has been a dedicated, loving and patient assistant teacher since November 2008 at Montessori Kinder.
Beth Jones, Teacher Primary Community
Mrs. Jones has worked in the field of Early Childhood Education since five years, she has acquired her associates degree in Early Childhood Education in 2007. She also acquired a Who’s Who award for outstanding merit and accomplishment at Cleveland State Community College and was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honors society.
Ms. Beth joined the Montessori Kinder team in June 2009. Currently she’s completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education at UTC.
Bethany Lutz, Teacher Pre-Primary Community
Ms. Lutz has joined the team in Summer of 2010. She is working towards her Montessori Degree. Ms. Lutz is a wonderful, experienced, loving and patient teacher. Bethany Lutz is focusing her work and education on the early learning with our infant group.
Alesha Noble-Sims, Teacher Pre-Primary Community
Ms. Alesha is a dedicated educator with a commitment to the social, moral, and academic growth of every student. She graduated with an Associates of Science degree at Cleveland State and graduated with her Bachelors degree in interdisciplinary studies (K-6) in December 2009. She was a teacher in the Kindergarten classroom and is working on her Master's degree in special education as well as working toward her certification in the Montessori method.
Andy Morris, Assistant Teacher Pre-Primary Community
Heather Lutz, Teacher
Heather Lutz has worked with children of all ages for many years including being the current Site Director of the Cleveland City Schools after-school program at Arnold Elementary. Ms. Lutz has her Associates Degree from Cleveland State Community College and is planning to finish her Degree in Education at Lee University. Her six months spent in Paraguay has given her the passion and ability to teach Spanish as part of her part-time position as an assistant teacher at Montessori Kinder.
Celia Shaneyfelt, Music & Suzuki Violin Teacher
Mrs. Shaneyfelt has been a team member since the very beginning of Montessori Kinder and brings more than 25 years of experience with her. With her certification as a Suzuki Violin teacher and a music teacher, Ms. Celia has the ability to make musical education and music appreciation alive and interactive.
Lyudmila Voytso, Foreign Language Teacher
Mrs. Voytso is a certified translator for Russian and Ukrainian, she holds a 4 year degree in Business Administration of the University of Chernigov, Ukraine and is a certified Associate CPA from CSCC. Ms. Luda has worked with children for more than 10 years. We welcome her as the newest member to the Montessori Kinder community, teaching Russian and the Culture of Eastern Europe.
Sarah Johnson, Teacher Aide Pre-Primary Community
Ms. Johnson graduated from Cleveland High with a Special Ed Diploma. After 4 years of work at Medical Center Pharmacy, Ms. Sarah was ready for a new challenge. She is a student of the Cleveland Trousdale School and has been a member of the Montessori Kinder Team since August 2009 in the position of a teacher-aide in the pre-primary community.
Hannah Elam, Teacher Aide Primary Community
Ms. Elam graduated from Ooltewah High School. She is a student of the Cleveland Trousdale School and worked in the Trousdale Card Shop. Miss Hannah is a member of the Montessori Kinder Team in the primary community.
Tonya Wilson, Substitute Teacher
Mrs. Wilson is a certified school teacher and a certified Montessori elementary teacher. With her expertise in Botany and Zoology, Ms. Tonya has been a loyal team member since January 2008 and occasionally assists the MK team as a substitute teacher since January 2009.
Mandi Colloms, Substitute Teacher
Ms. Colloms became a member of the Montessori Kinder team in 2008, while still working part time at Clyde Colloms and Sons Plumbing, where she is responsible for the office operations and receivables. Ms. Mandi has undergraduate work in communications and has recently started her official Montessori education.
Melinda McMahan, Substitute Teacher Lower Elementary
Grant Writing Committee:
Cathy Burton
Tiffany Potter
Fundraising Committee:
Anne Falcone
Rich DeWitt
Advisory Board Members:
Tom Johnson, President of Health Services Management Group, LLC and Founder & President of Board of Directors Trousdale School
Garry Rodgers, Owner of Rodgers Group, Cleveland, TN
Jan Wills, VP Leasing of CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. Chattanooga, TN
Scott Taylor, CEO at Bank of Cleveland
Nancy Casson, Owner of Red Ribbon
Montessori Kinder prides itself to employ only educated, knowledgeable and ambitious staff members who have experienced a certain amount of higher education. All of our staff members participate in mandatory training sessions, including staff orientation, continuing training in Early Childhood Education and in the Montessori Method (all staff education is paid for by Montessori Kinder).
Montessori Kinder generally exceeds the state-required 18 hours of training per school year. Each staff member has accumulated over 26 hours of training in 2011/2012 (ytd).
All teachers have completed background checks and have been fingerprinted and approved by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Montessori Kinder is licensed by the Department of Education and by the Department of Health.
Montessori Kinder has been a member of the Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce since 2005.
Montessori Kinder has been a founding member of the East Tennessee Montessori Community (ETMC) since 2005.
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