I began my journey at Small World twenty years ago as a parent. From the moment I came into Small World I loved the peaceful, academically enriched environment. As I watched my son flourish in his first classroom experience, I wanted to become more involved. The next year I joined parent board. Years later, when my daughter joined the Small World family, I decided to pursue my Montessori certification and become the lead teacher in the Willow classroom. After nearly 10 years of teaching, I became the administrator of Small World. I feel that I now am able to utilize all of my experience as a parent, board member, and teacher. This latest opportunity allows me to continue my work in making Small World Montessori the best it can be for the children of our community.
After graduating from the UW – Madison, my career path led me to managing in Toys 'R' Us stores for six years. It is there my love for children began. After having my first child, I embraced my new role as a stay at home mom. When my child turned three, I visited numerous preschools and the academic, peaceful, and busy Montessori classroom was the best fit for my daughter. Soon after joining the Small World community, the teachers that were there for 26 years had decided to retire. I, along with my sister-in-law, Lori Geisler, applied for the jobs and have now been teaching for well over a decade. Along with being a mother and wife, this has been one of the most rewarding experiences.
I come to Small World Montessori School with over 20 years of early childhood experience. I found out about Maria Montessori late in my education at UW-Parkside and began reading more about her methods and observing in Montessori schools early in my career. I believe in the power of the Montessori method to help a child reach their full potential. Over the years I have tried to incorporate as much of those methods as I could in other child care settings so I am thrilled to be working in a true Montessori school. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter. We especially enjoy biking, kayaking and camping.
When I was a child, I went to Small World for preschool. I have amazing memories of my experiences at this school that have stuck with me and shaped me into who I am today. So I can personally attest to the effectiveness of the Montessori method, and I believe these experiences have pushed me to have a passion for education. I am now on track to graduate with my associate's degree in early childhood education from Gateway, and then I will be moving on to get my bachelor's at UW Parkside. My main goal for the children I work with is to help them develop a love of learning. The thing I value most about preschool-aged children is their curiosity; they want to know about everything. So I plan to do everything I can to encourage them to continue to explore the world around them with enthusiasm throughout their lives.
In 2012, I started teaching in early childhood education. I initially began teaching in a traditional school setting, later I became interested to learn more about the Montessori way. A few of my grandchildren attend a Montessori school and their independence, self-confidence and abilities to use critical thinking have intrigued me. I admire the way the Montessori method presents lessons rather than teaching them as it allows the children to truly discover their own skills and develop at their own pace. It is my passion to guide my students through their experiences and influence their growth by modeling compassion, patience, and respect. I’ve recently started my journey at Small World Montessori where I will provide a safe, inviting, and enjoyable atmosphere for my students that fosters their self-sufficiency and creativity.
I’ve been working in Early Childhood Education since 2003 starting as an assistant and worked my way up to becoming a lead teacher. In 2018 while taking a few classes at Gateway I learned about Maria Montessori and the science behind her method and I was completely inspired. Now I also get to watch my own children building their confidence and learning at Small World too! I am so excited to be apart of this community, getting to know all these wonderful families and encouraging every child’s passion for learning. When I’m not teaching I enjoy spending time with my husband and two beautiful kids, embroidery, diy crafts and listening to podcasts.
While searching for an at-home curriculum, I came across Maria Montessori's theories, which truly resonated with our families lifestyle. In 2019, we happily introduced "work" aligning with our values and found that with the help of socializing part-time at Small World Montessori School, our child was quickly thriving and enjoying the community. Fast-forward to today, my soul has led our family back to SWM with a desire to help children be the best version of themselves. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and I am happy to contribute my experiences as a stay-at-home-mom, a professional in the business sector, as well as lots of love for children, to the classrooms. "Speak to your children as if they are the Wisest, Kindest, most Beautiful and Magical humans on earth, for what they believe is what they'll become." - Brooke Hampton
I have always wanted to work with children. While in high school I began my path towards teaching by taking classes in early childhood education. As an adult, the experience I have gained working with my own daughter and family continues to help me at Small World. While the Montessori approach was new to me when I began at Small World, I am already able to see its benefits. I love how the children are given so much choice in what they do each day. In my spare time I like to spend time with my daughter, go camping, bike, and craft.
I have always had a passion for working with young children and have 20+ years of experience in the early education field, primarily with preschool aged children. I've worked as a classroom assistant, lead teacher, assistant director, director, ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapist, and business owner. I am a certified yoga teacher and certified SEL (Social Emotional Learning) and Wellness facilitator. I am in love with the Montessori method of learning and take joy in guiding young children along in their education experience. When I'm not busy teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband and five children. As animal lovers, we also have a dog, a cat, and five chickens to care for!
I have been working with children for over 14 years. I have always loved watching children grow and seeing their individual personalities develop. I feel that it is essential to build relationships with the families as much as the students. I have met so many wonderful people throughout my career! I am enjoying my experience working with the Montessori method at Small World and look forward to continuing to grow in my knowledge and experience. I have been so impressed with the independence of our Montessori students. In my spare time I love to make diamond paintings, taking walks, and playing video games with my family.
I was first introduced to working with children with babysitting. I officially began at a childcare center in 2021. I give credit to my love of children to the fact that I am the oldest of 8 siblings! I heard about the Montessori Method through social media and was fascinated that this teaching method existed. When a friend told me about the substitute position at Small World, I was excited to join the team. Working with children has always brought me a sense of fulfillment, and specifically in this setting. I am overjoyed to watch the children learn empathy, compassion, community, respect, and seeing how they interact with the world. I love that I can be a part of their development and foster a supportive environment. In addition to being an assistant teacher and receptionist, I also own a business as an artist who specializes in charcoal and acrylic work.
