Montessori Children's Room: Located in Omaha, NE

The teachers at Montessori Children's Room are qualified specialists in early childhood education. They are professionally trained Montessori instructors who help guide the children through the classroom that has been carefully planned for their developmental needs. The self-correcting materials are used as the child's best teacher.

It is important to know that the role of the teacher is to guide children through the prepared environment, helping to develop self-direction and self-confidence within the child. The materials and work the children do throughout their day act as the main teacher. For it is the "HANDS-ON" experiences that help children learn best!

	Mary Boden Anderson, Head of School Mary holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and a Primary level (three to six year olds) teaching certificate from the College of St. Mary and American Montessori Society (AMS). She obtained her Elementary level (six to nine year olds) teaching certification from Montessori Education Center of the Rockies and AMS. She holds an active Nebraska teaching certificate. Mary has been a featured speaker at several national Montessori Conferences across the country and is the author of the booklet, The Outdoor Classroom. She is involved in several educational organizations both locally and nationally. Mary has been active in Montessori education for over thirty years and was one of the original founders of MCR twenty three years ago.			Mary Stormberg, School Administrator Mary holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Public Administration from University of Nebraska at Omaha. Mary has been with the school at this position for fifteen years.
	Diana Cupich Diana teaches in Classroom B. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and a Primary level Montessori teaching certificate from the College of St. Mary and AMS. Diana has worked in Montessori education for over thirty years and has been with the school since its infancy twenty three years ago.			Karen Gaitens Karen teaches in Classroom A. She holds a HND in Arts Administration from Motherwell College, Glasgow, Scotland. She received her Primary level Montessori certification from Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training School and AMS. She has worked in Montessori Education for seven years in Georgia and Omaha. This is Karen’s third year at MCR.
	Benita Habib Benita is the new teacher in Elementary I. She holds an Early Childhood degree from the University of West Indies. She was a Primary Montessori teacher in Trinidad and completed her certification at St. Nicholas Montessori, London. Over the past ten years, she has worked in Montessori schools in Omaha; two of those in Elementary classrooms. Benita is currently obtaining her Elementary I (six to nine year olds) Montessori teaching certification from Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training School and AMS.			Jeanne Jarecke Jeanne teaches in Classroom A. She received her Primary level Montessori teaching certification from the Washington Montessori Institute and American Montessori International (AMI) in Washington D.C. Jeanne studied early childhood education at Wayne State College and Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She has worked in Montessori education for sixteen years in Massachusetts and Omaha. This is Jeanne’s seventh year at MCR.
	Andrea Madera Andrea teaches in Classroom D. She received her Primary level Montessori certification from the Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training School and AMS, along with attending UNO where she majored in child psychology and development. This is her third year working in a Montessori classroom and her tenth year working with children. This is Andrea’s second year at MCR.			Betsy Nelson Betsy teaches in Classroom C. She received her Primary level Montessori certification from the Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training School and AMS and has worked in Montessori classrooms for over 20 years. This is Betsy’s fourth year at MCR.
	Leslee O’Bradovich Leslee is our school garden coordinator. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Iowa. Leslee started as a parent volunteer in the garden sixteen years ago and has been our garden coordinator for eleven years.			Jocelyn Paris Jocelyn is our new Elementary II teacher. She holds a Master of Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. Jocelyn has written "Idioms" and is currently working on a Cliff Notes study guide for the PRAXIS (national teacher prep test). Jocelyn is in the process of obtaining her Elementary I (six to nine year olds) teaching certification from Montessori Education Center of the Rockies and AMS.
	Chantal Samuel Chantal is our French specialist who works with the children on a weekly basis. She holds a Primary level Montessori teaching certificate from the Great Plains Montessori Teacher Training Institute and AMS. Chantal also holds a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature from the University of Haifa in Israel. This is Chantal’s ninth year with the school.			Kendra Sullivan Kendra is the Science Lab teacher for the Kindergarten and Elementary students. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from UNO and an active Nebraska teaching certificate. She has eight years of classroom teaching experience and currently works as a private tutor. This is Kendra’s fifth year at MCR.
	Carrie Tolman Carrie teaches in Classroom C. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and English from the University of Arizona, and holds a Primary level Montessori certification from Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training School and AMS. This is Carrie’s sixth year working in a Montessori environment and her third year at MCR.			Kris Walkley Kris teaches in the Elementary Classroom. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from UNO and holds an active Nebraska Teaching Certificate. Kris also obtained her Elementary level (six to nine year olds) Montessori teaching certification from Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training School and AMS. She taught Kindergarten for Omaha Public Schools and at the Montessori Downtown Preschool Coop. This is her tenth year at MCR.
	Theresa Wiggs Theresa teaches in Classroom B. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and a Primary level teaching certificate from the College of St. Mary and AMS. Theresa has owned and operated her own Montessori schools in Nebraska and Kansas. This is Theresa’s fifth year at MCR.

7302 Burt Street | Omaha, Nebraska 68114 | (402) 551-1440