The Board of Directors at Rochester Montessori School is an elected body made up of staff members, current parents, alumni parents and community members. Board meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month and are open to staff and current parents to attend.
Faculty Bios
2011-2012 School Year
 Paul Epstein, PhD, Executive DirectorPaul has published extensively on Montessori education, has co-authored the book The Montessori Way - a definitive work on the Montessori experience, and was recently a keynote speaker at the 13th Annual Montessori Foundation and International Montessori Council Conference. Paul’s extensive experience in Montessori education and particularly his recent research into developing curriculum and best practices for middle and high school programs make him an ideal partner with Rochester Montessori School’s talented and dedicated educators. Together they will continue both Rochester Montessori School’s tradition of excellence and its journey to becoming a regional center of excellence for Montessori education. Paul has worked in Montessori education as an administrator, teacher, researcher, consultant, speaker, and author. His administrative experiences include working as a head of schools, executive director of a school consulting agency, director of teacher education programs, and coordinator of a public school magnet program. As a teacher educator, Paul has worked as a director of Montessori teacher education programs for both the early childhood and secondary programs. He has been a Montessori classroom teacher in Montessori early childhood, middle and high school programs. He holds Montessori teacher certification in early childhood and secondary levels one and two from the American Montessori Society and was an associate professor at Transylvania University and an adjunct professor at Northwestern University. paul@rmschool.org |
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Toddlers (Ages 18 months to 3 years) |
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Juliane Dennis, Acorns' Guide,
has been a Montessori Toddler Guide since 1979. She earned an AMS Infant and Toddler Montessori Credential from the Center for Contemporary Montessori Programs at the College of St. Catherine's. juliane@rmschool.org |
Melissa Martinez-Miland, Pinecones' Guide,  has been with Rochester Montessori School since 1999 and a Guide since 2003. Melissa received her AMS Infant and Toddler Montessori training at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Boulder, Colorado. She also completed a Sign Language Interpreter Program at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. melissam@rmschool.org |
Sally Johnson, Acorns' Assistant,  sally@rmschool.org |
Sarah Dennis, Pinecones' Assistant,  has been with Rochester Montessori School since 2005 serving both as an assistant and for two years, a guide. Previous to her experience with this school Sarah conducted childcare programs out of her home. sarah@rmschool.org |
Children's House (Ages 3 – 5) |
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Birches |
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Mark Seifert, Birches' Co-Guide,
has been a Montessori Guide since 2008. He maintains a Minnesota Teaching license and completed his AMS primary teacher's certification from the Center for Contemporary Montessori Programs at the College of St. Catherine's. He also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University, and an Elementary Education Mathematics Endorsement. mark@rmschool.org |
Clarisse Colin-Hoagg, Birches' Co-Guide,  has been a Montessori Assistant since 1999. She earned an Undergraduate Degree in Architecture and Design and has ESL Teacher Training. Clarisse is completing her Montessori primary teacher certification at the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. clarisse@rmschool.org |
Annette Hickey, Birches' Assistant  |
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Oaks |
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Nikki Brown, Oaks' Guide,  is in her 12th year at RMS. She received her training from The Center for Contemporary Montessori Programs at the University of St. Catherine. Nikki also has an Associates Degree in Human Services from the Rochester Community and Techical College in Rochester, Minnesota. nikki@rmschool.org |
Judy Jacobs, Birches' Assistant,  has been a Montessori Assistant since 1982. She earned a Montessori Assistant credential from the Montessori Training Center of MN, has training in Child Development from Rochester Community and Technical College, attended training at The Reading Center Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota, and earned credits from the University of MN. judy@rmschool.org |
LuAnn Nicholson Oaks' Assistant /Physical Education/E.A. Lead,  has been a child educator since 1975 and the RMS Physical Education Teacher since 1990 and a Montessori Toddler Assistant since 2000. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education and Health from the University of Northern Iowa and an AA degree from Marshalltown Community College, IA.pe@rmschool.org |
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Ginkgos |
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Michelle Ebnet, Ginkgos' Guide,
has worked as a child educator since 1997 and a Montessori Children's House Guide since 2003. She maintains a Minnesota Teaching license, earned an AMS Children's House Montessori Credential from the Center for Contemporary Montessori Programs at the college of St. Catherine's, and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and a Minor in Middle School Science and Social Studies from Winona State University and an Early Childhood Certification from Mid-State Technical College, WI. michelle@rmschool.org |
Travis Prinzing, Ginkgos' Assistant, has been a part of the Gingkos' team since 2009. Travis took his Montessori training from the Montessori Training Center Minnesota in Saint Paul. Before he received his training Travis was a production potter for Redwing Stoneware company, Stockholm, Frog Creek and Linda Day Pottery. travis@rmschool.org |
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has worked in children's house
since February 2010 when she moved to Rochester late last December. Originally from near Hutchinson, Minnesota, she worked as a special education paraprofesional at the preschool, elementary, and middle school levels. Rachel has a two year Associates Degree as an Educational Assistant from Ridgewater College in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Her main area of experience is with special needs. |
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Willows |
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Kate Faruolo, Willows' Guide,
has worked as a Montessori educator since 1972 and a Montessori Children's House Guide since 1996. She earned an AMS Children's House Credential from the Twin Cities Montessori Training Center, an Orton-Gillingham Certification from The Reading Center Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota and a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Human Development. kate@rmschool.org |
Laura Elliott, Willows' Assistant, 
has been a Montessori Assistant since 2003. She has an endorsement in TMA/NA and was a Resident Counselor at Hiawatha Homes for 5 years and a Special Ed. PARA for 2 years. laura@rmschool.org |
Niniek Pranoto, Willows' Assistant,  was a subtitute in 2003 with the Rochester Montessori School before attending training to becoming an offical assistant. She earned a bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Trisakti University in Jakarta Indonesia. Currently she is studying at Rochester Community and Technical College to receive her Associate Degree and certification in Child Development. niniek@rmschool.org |
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Elementary 1 (Grades 1-3) |
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Andrew Saunders, E1 Guide,  has been a child educator since 2001 and a Montessori Guide since 2006. He maintains a Minnesota Teaching license and earned an AMS Elementary 1 Montessori Teaching Credential from the Center for Contemporary Montessori Programs at St. Catherine University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Gustavus Adolphus College. andy@rmschool.org |
Melissa Hagberg, E1 Guide,  has been a child educator since 2007. She attended St. Catherine University, where she received her E1 Montessori certification and has continued her studies in order to receive her master’s degree in Montessori education. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education (K-8), with a specialization in Language Arts; as well as a State of Minnesota Department of Education License with certifications in Elementary Education (K-6) and Communication Arts/Literature (5-8). mhagberg@rmschool.org |
Anne Moberg, E1 Assistant,  joined RMS in 2010 but previously worked as a First Grade Teacher in the Rochester school district. She earned her Elementary Education degree at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls in 2002, and she maintains a Minnesota Teaching License. In college, Anne worked with the Technology Leadership Cadre at UWRF to learn technology and to instruct teachers to use technology and implement technology into their classrooms. anne@rmschool.org |
Kim Lovrich, E1 Assistant, is new to RMS this year. She comes here from White Bear Montessori School where she primarily coordinated the fundraising and volunteer efforts of the WBMS community as Assistant Head of School. Kim has a B.A. in English Education from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire and is currently completing a Masters in Public Health from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. kim@rmschool.org |
Elementary 2 (Grades 4-6) |
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Christine Bredemus, E2 Guide,  has been a child educator since 2006 and a Montessori Guide since 2007. She maintains a Minnesota Teaching license and attended an AMS Elementary 2 Teacher Credential program at CMTE-NY. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University, and an endorsement in Math and completed training at Sonday System Reading. christine@rmschool.org |
Laura Rasmussen, E2 Guide,  Laura Rasmussen has been a Montessori Guide since 2006. She attended Luther College and received a degree in Elementary Education, with an emphasis in reading. She maintains a Minnesota teaching license and attended AMS Elementary II training through the Center for Montessori Teacher Education-New York to gain Montessori credentials. She also holds a Masters degree in Montessori Education from St.Catherine University. laurar@rmschool.org |
Diane Betzolt, Resource Specialist / E2 Assistant,  began with RMS in Feburary of 2010. However, Diane has been a child educator since 1979. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in Learning Disabilities/Social and Emotional Disorders from Nothereastern Illinois University in Chicago, Illinois. She has completed graduate level work in Reading and Language Arts and maintains her teaching licenses in Illinois and Wisconsin. diane@rmschool.org |
Sharri Greseth-Juhnke, Art / E1 Assistant,  has worked as a Montessori Assistant since 1997 and an Elementary Art educator since 2006. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art from Winona State University. art@rmschool.org |
Middle School |
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Emily Hill Lewis, Middle School Guide,  began her Montessori career as a child, when she attended Montessori Children’s House in Madison, Wisconsin. Her professional background includes work in Montessori education at the elementary and children’s house levels, and as an environmental educator in both the non-formal sector and public schools arena. Emily completed her AMS early childhood certification in 2011 at the Center for Contemporary Montessori Programs at St. Catherine University. In 2008, Emily earned a Master’s of Science degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Education and Interpretation from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. In 2005, Emily earned a Bachelor of Art’s degree in Psychology and a Certificate in Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. emily@rmschool.org |
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Additional Services / Specialists / Other |
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Joan Lowery, Additional Services Coordinator,
has worked as a Montessori Educator since 1991. She has attended the AMS Children's House Montessori Credential from the Center for Contemporary Montessori Programs at the college of St. Catherine's, and has earned an Early Childhood Certification and Nursing Assistant Certification from RCTC, and completed Orton-Gillingham teacher training at The Reading Center Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota. |
Maria Grazia Gulandi, Spanish,  |
Martha Lawler, Spanish,  |
Tina Xie, Chinese / Substitute,  (whose real name is Tieying) comes to us from China where she earned an Environment Engineering degree and was a project manager and senior Engineer for 12 years. In 2000 Tina started to teach Chinese and art in the Rochester Chinese school and received a certificate from the Chinese teacher training Delegation of China at Chicago, IL in 2004. Currently, she tutors all ages from preschoolers to adults in Chinese. Tina has been with us since 2006 teaching Chinese in the afterschool studio programs as well as substituting in the classrooms. |
LuAnn Nicholson, Oaks' Assistant / Physical Education/ E.A. Lead,
has been a child educator since 1975 and the RMS Physical Education Teacher since 1990 and a Montessori Toddler Assistant since 2000. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education and Health from the University of Northern Iowa and an Associate of Arts degree from Marshalltown Community College, IA.pe@rmschool.org |
Sharri Greseth-Juhnke, Art / Elementary Assistant, has worked as a Montessori Assistant since 1997 and an Elementary Art educator since 2006. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art from Winona State University. art@rmschool.org |
Janine Yanisch, Music,  music@rmschool.org |
David Brown, Technology/Drum Circle david@rmschool.org |
Dane Lowery, Additional Services,  dane@rmschool.org |
Kelly Kirkpatrick, Outdoor Environment, oed@rmschool.org |
| Ann Jurrison, Additional Services, |
Kristin Hjerleid, |
| Shannon McRaith, Community Outreach Coordinator |
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Office Staff/Administration |
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Julie French, Office Manager,
has worked as an office specialist for several years having been an Administration Assistant for Family Service of Rochester for 3 years, a secretary for Zumbro Education District for 3 years and a Ward Secretary at Samaritan Bethany Heights for 7 years.office@rmschool.org |
Vicki Michael, Admissions Director, 
has worked as a Montessori Educator since 1992 and the RMS Admissions Director since 2000. She earned an Elementary 1 Montessori Credential from the Center for Contemporary Montessori Programs at the college of St. Catherine's, holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, and has completed training at The Reading Center Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota. admissions@rmschool.org |
| Kendra Garrison, Accountant, accountant@rmschool.org |
Kidron Flynn, Receptionist, reception@rmschool.org |
RMS Quick Links
The Teacher
"The teacher, when she begins work in our schools, must have a kind of faith that the child will reveal himself through work. She must free herself from all preconceived ideas concerning the levels at which the children may be. "
~ Maria Montessori: The Absorbent Mind