"The energy that can help mankind is that which lies within the child." Maria Montessori - Secret of Childhood
Faculty
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Administration
Mary Gaudet - Co-owner/Administrator. Mary has been with MSP since 1978. She is married and has five children (her youngest attended MSP) and seven grandchildren, four who are currently attending MSP. She has a BA and MA in Early Childhood. She also has an AMS Early Childhood Credential as well as a St. Nicholas Certificate. She enjoys reading, walking, and finding bargains at garage sales.
Maria Mitkevicius - Co-owner/Head of Elementary & Middle School. She began her educational career in 1972 in public school in Connecticut. She has a BS in Elementary Education from Southern Connecticut State University. She is also AMS Early Childhood, Elementary I & II certified. She has been "doing" Montessori since 1980. She is married and has three children who all attended MSP. When not at school, she enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, and visiting her family.
Kathy Turtle - Co-owner/Early Childhood Program Director and the co-founder of MSP. She has been with MSP since 1977 and teaching Montessori since 1972. She has two sons (both former MSP students) and three grandchildren. She has an AA Degree and holds a St. Nicholas Montessori certificate as well as being AMS Early Childhood Certified. She loves her job, spending time with family and friends, reading, making window jewelry! After all these years, she is still thrilled to be part of Montessori Education.
Administrative Support Staff
Irene Bolen - Administrative Assistant - 12th Avenue. Irene worked for the Montessori School from 1994-1998 and returned in 2008. She has a BS in Elementary Education and an AMS Early Childhood certificate. She has been working with children since 1981 and helped open Montessori World in Mobile, AL. Her daughter attends the Montessori Drive campus. Irene's long-term goals include extensive travelling with her daughter.
Ellen Kellar - Administrative Assistant - Montessori Drive Business Office. Ellen has been with the school since 2002. She taught pre-school for ten years prior to returning to school to work on a business degree. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, grandchildren and her dog, Dixie. Her two granddaughters attend MSP.
Wanda Nelson - Business Manager. She has been with MSP since 2003. She has a BS degree in Systems Science/Business from UWF. She enjoys watching soccer, tennis and British comedies. She loves to read non-fiction, history and travel books. No kids, lots of cats! She continues to find it amazing to watch the discoveries that children make every day. She especially loves watching the older students teach the younger children.
Entry
Shae Brown - Site Director - 12th Avenue Entry Level Coordinator / Head Teacher Entry South classroom. Shae has been with MSP since 1998. She has an AA degree, is AMS Infant/Toddler Certified and has taken 3-6 Montessori Training as well. She is a native of Pensacola and is married with six daughters and six grandchildren. She has a grandson who attends MSP.
Maritza Candelario - Teacher - Entry North classroom. Maritza has been with MSP since 2003. She has an AA Degree from Boricua College, NY. She has one son, two stepchildren and three grandchildren. She loves working with children and enjoys arts and crafts in her spare time.
Amy Gillis - Teacher - Entry North classroom. She has been with MSP since 2005 and has worked with children since 2002. She is a native of Pensacola. She is working towards her AA. Degree and has a CDA. She has five sisters. Her hobbies include reading, art and antique shopping.
Juliet Phillips - Teacher - Entry South classroom. She has been with MSP since 2006. She attended Montessori training. She is from England and is married and has 3 boys. She has a CDA and is working on her AA in education at PJC.
Sarah Grimes - Teacher - Entry North classroom. Sarah previously taught at MSP and returned to the school in 2008. She has been working with children since 2002. She has birth-3 Montessori training and 3-6 practical life and sensorial training. She was a private nanny for two years and is currently working on her degree in Early Childhood.
Linda Wilson - Teacher - Entry classroom. She has been with MSP since 2000 and has attended Montessori Infant-Toddler training. She has been working with children for more than 20 years.
3-6 Classes
Jennifer Austin - Co-Head Teacher - 3-6 East classroom. She has been with MSP since 2002. She is Early Childhood AMS Certified and graduated from UWF with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, a minor in Sociology and Social Welfare, and a Master's in Primary Education. She has a son who attends MSP.
Gaylene Brotherton - Early Childhood Level Coordinator / Head Teacher - 3-6 West classroom. She has been with MSP since 1989. She is married and has two girls who attended MSP. She is AMS Certified in Early Childhood and Infant/Toddler. She loves to paint, create, read and bask in the sun.
Donna Carney - Co-Head Teacher - 3-6 Montessori Drive classroom. She has been with MSP since 1998. She is Early Childhood AMS Certified and is currently enrolled at PJC in their Early Childhood program. She has a National CDA. She enjoys working with the preschool and kindergarten children and loves the multi-age classroom. She is originally from California and was educated in the Los Angeles County school system. Donna has seven children.
Paige Ellis - Teacher - 3-6 West Classroom. She has been with MSP since 2008. She has a BS Degree in Education from TCU and a Master's in Education from Loyola College in Maryland. She is AMI certified for the primary classroom through the Washington Montessori Institute.
Janie Forgione - Teacher - 3-6 West classroom. She has been with MSP since 1995. She has attended most of the 3-6 Montessori training. She is married and has two children. Her daughter attended MSP and her son is in our MSP Middle School. She enjoys taking pictures and making jewelry. She is a native of Pensacola.
Ashley Gardipee - Mont Dr. She has been with MSP since 2007 and has worked with children since 2004. She is a graduate of Tate High School. She is currently in school majoring in Elementary Education and she attended Montessori 6-9 training this summer.
Brandi Gulley - Teacher - 3-6 East classroom. She has been with MSP since 2008. She has a BA in Early Childhood Education and has been working with children since 2002. Brandi is a native of New Orleans and loves the New Orleans Saints!
Sonja Johnson - Teacher - 3-6 West classroom. She has been with MSP since 2001. She grew up in Germany and received her Early Childhood Degree in 1977. She graduated from the Academy of Social Pedagogies. She has attended some of the 3-6 Montessori training. She is married and has a son and a daughter. Her hobbies include cooking, aerobics, Tae Bo and entertaining guests.
Rena Lautzenheiser - Teacher - 3-6 East classroom. Rena has taught at MSP since 1995. She is AMS-certified in Early Childhood, Elementary I and II, as well as being Florida-certified educator in Prekindergarten/Primary Education, Elementary Education, and Mathematics (Grades 5-9). Both of Rena's children graduated from MSP. Rena is a lifelong learner who enjoys spending time with her family, outdoor activities, and reading. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Land Surveying and spends her summers land surveying in Montana.
Pam Meharg - Co-Head Teacher - 3-6 East classroom. She has been at MSP since 1994. She is married and has two children who are both former MSP students. She is AMS Infant/Toddler and Early Childhood certified. This is a second career for her. She was formerly a photographer and has always enjoyed working with young children and looks forward to each new school year. She enjoys reading, gardening and cooking.
Sibylle Reuter - Co-Head Teacher - 3-6 Montessori Drive classroom. Sibylle has been with MSP since 2002. She was born and raised in Germany. She has two younger brothers. She attended Hotel School in Germany for three years and then came to the U.S. as an au pair in New York. She moved to Pensacola in 2001. She loves working with the children and being silly with them. In her free time she loves playing volleyball and eating ice cream and hanging out at Barnes and Nobles. She is AMS Early Childhood Certified. She is finishing her AA Degree this Fall ('09).
Sophie Sassine Rose -Teacher- 3-6 West. She has been at MSP since 2005 and worked with children since 2002. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Sophie took Montessori 6-9 training this past summer.
Cheryl Vann - Teacher - 3-6 MD. She has been with MSP since 2006. She has been working with children and families for over fourteen years. Two of her boys attend MSP and one graduated from MSP in 2009.
6-9 Classes
Jessica Fry - Teacher - 6-9 North classroom. This is Jessica's third year at MSP in 6-9 North. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from UWF and Florida teacher certification through the Teacher Ready program at UWF. She plans to pursue a Master's in Special Education in the future. Jessica took 6-9 training this summer and is interning this year. She has always wanted to work with children. She loves what she does and wouldn't change it for the world. Jessica lives in Lillian, AL with her wonderful husband of three years. She does not have any children yet, but she does have two miniature dachshunds that mean the world to her.
Ann Geiger - Teacher - 6-9 South classroom. Ann has been with MSP since 2008. She has a BS in Physical Education from Auburn University and a Florida state teaching certificate. This summer Ann took 6-9 Montessori training and this is her intern year.
Kristin Korody - Teacher - 6-9 South classroom. She has been with MSP since 2008. Kristin has a BA degree in Japanese Language and Literature with a minor in Economics from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She has a Master's Degree from Sacred Heart University in Education. Kristin has a Florida state teaching certificate and took segments of the 6-9 Montessori training this past summer.
Alisen Spear - Elementary Coordinator, Campus Coordinator and Teacher - 6-9 North classroom. She has been with MSP since 1998. She graduated from UWF with a BA in Elementary Education in 2000. She has an Elementary I Montessori Certificate from MTEC/San Francisco in 2003.
9-12 Class
Cecilia Akin - Teacher - 9-12 classroom - She has been with MSP for two years and took Montessori 6-9 training this summer. Cecilia has a BS degree in Chemistry from Springhill College. She has two children at MSP.
Aaron Vincent Ritz - Teacher - 9-12 classroom. Aaron has been with MSP since 2005. He completed his AMS 9-12 training in May, 2008. Born in Pensacola, he has also lived and worked in a variety of U.S. cities which include Aberdeen, Washington, and Detroit, Michigan. He served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps for one year and is AMS 9-12 certified. He has a BA degree in English from the University of Detroit - Mercy. Aaron took Montessori 6-9 training this summer and is in his intern year.
Nikki Penchak - Teacher - 9-12 classroom. Nikki is new to the MSP family. She took Montessori 6-9 training this summer. She is originally from Pittsburgh, but has been living in Pensacola on and off for the past 8 years. She attended Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA, where she received a B.A. in English. Nikki's past teaching experiences include work with The Princeton Review, Sylvan Learning Center, Tutor-to-Learn, and East Hill Christian Academy. She loves to write, run, read, and sit at Starbucks with her little Papillon, Esme.
Middle School
Anne Byers - Teacher - Middle School classroom. Anne is thrilled to be a part of the MSP family. She is originally from Canada and holds a BS degree, with first class honors, in Civil Engineering. She worked for ten years in Offshore Oil Exploration, where she was always using math and science concepts. She has Florida state certification to teach math to grades 6th-12th.
Kathie Johnson - Teacher - Middle School classroom. She has been with MSP since 1999. She has a BA (FSU) in Anthropology and History. She has a Masters in Education - Technology in the K-12 classroom. Kathie attended Montessori M iddle School training in Houston this past summer. Her son graduated from MSP.
Enrichment Staff
Vanessa Fuentes - 9-12 and Middle School Spanish Teacher- Vanessa was raised in Puerto Rico and moved to Pensacola at the age of 20 to attend UWF. She has a BA in Elementary Education. She is a new addition to the MSP family. She has been teaching for the past two years, which has confirmed her true love and passion: children!
Mary L. Hamilton - Knitting - everyone's "Grandma".
Lauren Southern-Godwin - Elementary and Middle School Art and Drama Teacher/Media Center and Public Relations- 12th Ave. and Mont. Drive. This is Lauren's sixth year at MSP. She has a BS Degree from Boston University in TV/Film and Education. Lauren began working with children in junior high school, when she started teaching art at summer camps. She also worked in children's television for PBS and the BBC in London. She is the volunteer Children's Coordinator for the local Greater Good Music, Art, and Children's Festival, as well as music festivals on the Suwannee River. She also serves as vice-president for Ever-man Natural Food Co-op. Lauren has a stepson who attends MSP.
Vanessa Mayes - Early Childhood and 6-9 Spanish Enrichment Teacher - 12th Avenue & Mont. Drive. She has been with MSP since 2007. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, she has a BS Degree in Latin American and Caribbean Affairs with a minor in Communications. Before moving to Pensacola she worked as Director of International Admissions for the University of Tampa. She has two children who both attend MSP.
Reita Paul - Elementary and Middle School Music Teacher. She has been with MSP since 2005. She taught elementary school music for ten years in Pennsylvania before moving to Pensacola. Two of her children and one of her grandchildren attended MSP. She currently has one granddaughter in MSP. She absolutely loves teaching music! She previously taught at our school many years ago when her children attended MSP.
Extended Care
Nikki Forgione - Entry extended care. She has been with MSP since 2008. Nikki graduated from high school in 2008. She is a former MSP student! She is currently attending UWF. Nikki sings and plays guitar and loves playing music with the children.
Elizabeth Longsworth -Montessori Drive Extended Care and Substitute. She has been with MSP since 1997 and has taught in every classroom. She has a BS degree in Elementary Education from the University of West Florida and is also AMS Elementary I & II certified. When she is not working at MSP she is a local Doula, childbirth educator and kid yoga instructor, which includes the afterschool children's program here at MSP. She has a brand-new baby boy and her other two children attend MSP.
Zac Moore - 12th Ave. Extended Care and Early Childhood Substitute. He has been at MSP since 2007. He is a graduate of MSP. Zac received an AA from PJC and is now attending UWF. His favorite times are spent with his young son, who attends MSP.
Substitutes
Donna Bingham - Entry Substitute. She has been with MSP since 2001. She has an AA in Early Childhood Education and has worked with children since 1980. She is married and has two children and three grandchildren.
Pat O'Brien - 6-9 Substitute. He has an Elementary Education degree as well as an AMS credential in Elementary I. Pat worked for MSP for 10 years before retiring at the end of the 2006 school year.
Cristal Waterhouse -Substitute. She has been with MSP since 2005. Cristal enjoys music and is a talented guitar player.