Our Staff
| Front Office Staff |
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Ms. Heather – Ms. Heather works in the front office at MEA. She functions as the DIRECTOR and office manager. She joined MEA in the spring of 2005 and has been a pillar of strength, continuity and joy. Heather has a sunny disposition and always sees the positive aspect of a situation. Prior to joining MEA, Ms. Heather worked as a lead toddler teacher in traditional preschool environment. Ms. Heather was an in-home daycare provider for several years. Ms. Heather is the mother of a college aged son, Nikolai.
Ms. Karen - Ms. Karen is MEA's Enrollment Director and Staffing. Ms. Karen is AMS Montessori Certified Instructor and completed her training at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Boulder, Colorado. Ms Karen has been a primary directress at both Keystone Montessori and Montessori Educare Academy. Ms. Karen believes in the benefits of Montessori and has three children that have all attended Montessori schools. Ms. Karen currently has a Kindergartener, Braedon, in Ms. Kim and Ms. Anny's class. Ms. Karen's favorite areas of the classroom are math and language.
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Ms. Brandee – Ms. Brandee works in the office and is MEA’s former director and current facility administrator. Ms. Brandee founded MEA out of a desire to have a more nurturing academic Montessori environment for her children. Ms. Brandee has a Chemical Engineering degree from Texas A&M and an MBA from Harvard Business School. MEA is her home away from home and a true labor of love.
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Pre-Toddlers |
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Ms. Vikki – Ms. Vikki is a lead teacher in one of our toddler classes. Ms. Vikki began working at MEA during the summer of 2004. Ms Vikki began working in our infant program where she taught sign language, object permanence and worked to build their gross motor skills. Ms. Vikki holds three bachelors degrees, a teaching certificate, and is working on her Infant/Toddler Montessori Training. Ms Vikki has two grandchildren that have attended MEA.
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Ms. Elaine - Ms Elaine joined MEA in January of 2006 to assist in our toddler program. She has worked in both our infant and toddler environments and is very gentle and grandmotherly to our students. Ms Elaine has three grandchildren she enjoys caring for.
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| Toddlers |
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Ms. Kazumi – Ms. Kazumi joined MEA in the fall of 2004 and has worked in our Toddler program. Ms Kazumi began studying Montessori in Japan when her two sons attended Montessori school as primary students. During the summer of 2006, she began leading a toddler class. Ms Kazumi continues to read and research Montessori on an international level. She enjoys working with the children and fostering independence. Ms. Kazumi is from Japan and also does cultural presentations to our primary classes when they are studying the continents.
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Ms. Vicki - Ms Vicki is an assistant in our toddler classroom. She has assisted in a Montessori based Sunday school for the past 5 years. She also has twins in the fifth grade at Kyrene de la Cerritos. Ms Vicki joined MEA in 2006.
Ms. Liz - Ms. Liz currently assists in our toddler program. She joined MEA during the summer of 2006 and has been an exceptional asset to our program. She enjoys interacting with the children and is creatively engages them in different activities. Ms Liz has worked in all of the classes at MEA and is wonderful with children. She currently attends MCC and speaks Spanish fluently.
Ms. Padma - Ms Padma is an assistant in one of our toddler classrooms. She has three children who have attended and graduated from Montessori programs.
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| Primary/ Kindergarten |
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Ms. Pam – Ms Pam joined MEA in January of 2003. She has worked with toddlers, pre-toddlers, and primary aged students. Ms Pam completed her AMS training and was awarded her AMS Certificate in 2005. program Ms. Pam's warm and loving spirit creates a nurturing and fun environment for the children in her classroom. Ms. Pam is the Montessori directress for classroom 5.
Ms. Carla - Ms. Carlaco-teaches in one of our primary classes. She joined MEA in February of 2003 and has almost 25 years of teaching experience, most of which has been in a Montessori classroom. For the past 16 years she has worked as a lead Montessori teacher for 3-5 year olds and obtained her training under the direction of an AMS certified teacher. She earned her B.A. in English from Trent University. Ms. Carla also has a minor in Spanish and reinforces the children’s weekly Spanish lessons.
Ms. Kathy – Ms. Kathy joined MEA in January of 2004 as a co-teacher in our primary program. Ms. Kathy has worked in a Montessori environment since 1995 where she began as an assistant teacher at Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori. She obtained her AMS certification through CMTE/NY in 1998. Ms. Kathy’s favorite areas of the classroom are sensorial and math. She has mentored many future Montessori instructors.
Ms. Kim - Ms. Kim is the Montessori Directress for classroom 7. She joined MEA after moving here from Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2003. Ms. Kim began working in a Montessori environment in 1999 and completed her NCME/AMS Montessori training shortly after. Ms. Kim tutors many elementary aged students using Montessori methods. Ms. Kim has led both toddler and primary classes during her tenure at MEA. Her favorite area of the classroom is Language.
Ms. Jennifer - Ms Jennifer joined MEA after moving to Arizona from Albuquerque, NM. She completed her AMS/NCME training in 2003 and was subsequently awarded her cerfificate. She began by revamping our aftercare program and then leading a summer class. Ms Jennifer is the Montessori Directress for Classroom 8. Ms Jennifer's favorite areas of the classroom are math and sensorial.
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Ms. Suzie - Ms. Suzie began working in a Montessori environment in 1995 as a substitute and then as an assistant. She worked at Parker Montessori Educational Institute in Colorado. Suzie joined MEA to work with Ms. Pam when she relocated to Arizona. Ms Suzie enjoys children of all ages but loves working with the primary group.
Ms. Anny – Ms. Anny is an assistant teacher in our primary program as well as MEA’s primary Spanish teacher. She speaks Spanish fluently and enjoys sharing her knowledge with our students. Anny joined MEA in August of 2003 and has earned the love and admiration of MEA’s students and teachers. Ms Anny has worked in our toddler and infant programs and also taught our summer elementary classes and Spanish immersion program.
Ms. Michelle - Ms Michelle joined MEA in March 2009 after moving from Ireland, where she lived for 11 years. She completed her Montessori Training in Dublin. In addition to working in a Montessori environment, Ms. Michelle has also worked with children who have special needs. Ms. Michelle is originally from Scotland.
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| Aftercare |
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Ms Christine- Ms. Christine is a Kindergarten Montessori graduate and has worked with children of all ages at MEA and is the daughter of an AMS Montessori Certified Teacher. She is currently leading our primary aftercare program. Ms. Christine is a student at ASU and is majoring in English and literature.
Ms. Lauren - Ms. Lauren has worked with all age groups at MEA and is currently leading our toddler aftercare program. She is a Senior at Desert Vista and enrolled in their child development program.
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Ms. Erika -Ms. Erika was awarded her degree in Elementary Education from NAU in 2009. She works part time at MEA and is also fluent in Spanish. She enjoys conversing with the children in Spanish and works on their vocabulary as well as different Spanish Bingo games. She is creative, extremely patient and loves reading to the students. The students really enjoy interacting with her during work time and line time.
Ms. Jourdan - Ms. Jourdan is an assistant in our aftercare program. She is a former Montessori student and daughter of a Montessori directress. Working with children comes naturally. Ms. Jourdan is a Senior at Desert Vista and is in the process of applying to colleges.
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