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
2012-2013 School Year
Paul Epstein, PhD, Head of School Paul has worked in Montessori education since 1976 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 earned his doctorate in Cultural Anthropology and Montessori teacher certifications in early childhood and secondary levels one and two from the American Montessori Society. He was an associate professor of education at Transylvania University and an adjunct professor of education at Northwestern University.Paul co-authored the book The Montessori Way – a definitive work on the Montessori experience. He is also the author of An Observer’s Notebook: Learning from Children with the Observation C.O.R.E. 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 has completed her Montessori primary teacher certification at the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. clarisse@rmschool.org |
Tina Xie, Birches' Assistant, (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. |
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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, Oaks' 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 |
 Rachel Burt, Ginkgo's Assistant, has worked in Children's House since February 2010 when she moved to Rochester in December of 2009. Originally from near Hutchinson, Minnesota, she worked as a special education paraprofessional 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 |
Sharri Greseth-Juhnke, Art / Willows' 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 |
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. She graduated from the Rochester Community and Technical College receiving 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 West 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 |
Courtney Gill, E1 East Guide, courtney@rmschool.org |
Anne Moberg, E1 West 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 |
Sarah Brevik, E1 East Assistant, sarahbrevik@rmschool.org |
Elementary 2 (Grades 4-6) |
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 Laura Rasmussen, E2 Guide, 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. Laura is currently enrolled in a Montessori-STEM graduate certificate program through St.Catherine University. This program incorporates information surrounding science, technology, engineering and mathematics into the Montessori curriculum.laurar@rmschool.org |
Sarah Yoho, E2 Guide, began teaching in 1998. She has been a Montessori Guide since 2002. Sarah attended the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and received a degree in Elementary and Middle School education. She holds certification as a teacher of English as a second language. Sarah took her AMS Elementary II training through the center for Montessori Teacher Education-New York. She also completed a Masters degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. sarahyoho@rmschool.org |
Middle School |
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| Greg Anderson, Middle School Guide, a native of Minnesota, has taught both middle and high school during the past twelve years. Greg holds two public school certifictions, one in general science and one in earth and space science. In addition, Greg is a certified Montessori middle school teacher. He is also a naturalist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Greg will teach middle school math and science. greg@rmschool.org |
Bre Scheer, Middle School Guide,
a native of Minnesota, and she taught middle and high school English and Social Studies in Alaska during the past five years. She holds public school certification, and she now becomes our middle school English and social studies guide. bre@rmschool.org |
Additional Services / Specialists / Other |
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| Amy Ashbaugh, Spanish, is a certified K-12 language teacher. During her more than ten years of teaching children, Amy has also been a university professor of Spanish instruction. As a teacher of children, Amy has been a dean and faculty member at Concordia Language Village since 2008. She has traveled, studied, and taught in Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Spain. amy@rmschool.org |
Maria Grazia Gulandi, Spanish,  |
| 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 / Willows' 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 |
Diane Betzolt, Resource Specialist  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 |
Laura Elliott, Additional Services,  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 |
Matt Streyle, Additional Services, |
Office Staff/Administration |
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 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.Vicki will work with the Elementary 1 program during the 2012-2013 school year. Please address admissions inquiries to Paul. paul@rmschool.org |
Joan Lowery, Operations Manager, 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. Joan will coordinate the office and is director of additional services and summer programs.joan@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