Meet Our Team

Our carefully prepared classrooms are staffed with highly qualified and specially trained staff. Each of our Lead Guides are certified Montessori Lead Guides either through the American Montessori Society (AMS)or Association Montessori International (AMI) in addition to their bachelor’s or master’s degrees. All of our Lead Guides also maintain active memberships with the AMS, AMI, and the Michigan Montessori Society (MMS).

Primary Staff

Lauren Mogdis - Cedar Classroom Lead Guide

Lauren is a WMU graduate with a bachelor’s in Social Work and minors in Holistic Health and Interdisciplinary Health Services. She began at TMS in August 2019. Prior to joining TMS, Lauren was a lead preschool teacher at another center in the Kalamazoo area for six years. Lauren finished Lead Guide Montessori Training through Seton Montessori in 2021. In her free time she has to travel whenever possible and loves spending time with my family and friends. She loves going running and for walks. If you ever see her around, feel free to come and say hello; she would love to chat with you!

Amy Hirt - Oak Classroom Lead Guide

Amy began working at the Montessori School in 2015. In 2021, she began the American Montessori Institute training to become a certified Lead Guide. She is finalizing her certification this year. This is her second year of teaching and is excited to be returning. She also has an Associates of Arts degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is looking to finish her Bachelors from Western Michigan University. She has always enjoyed working with children, and in the years she has been working here, the Montessori way of teaching really called to her! In her spare time she enjoys running, cooking, and traveling.

Helen Keusch - Oak Classroom Assistant

Helen is a University of Michigan alumn with a bachelor's in English Language and Literature and a minor in Political Science. She graduated from U of M's School of Education with in 2013 with teaching certification in secondary ed. After graduating, she taught English abroad and traveled throughout Asia and Europe. She loves teaching and connecting to young students through storytelling, imaginative play, and nature. As a voracious reader and life-long learner, she finds joy in writing, art, research, gardening, volunteering, hiking, kayaking, and spending time with her husband Sam and their big German Shepherd, Huck Finn.

MaKenna Bell - Oak Classroom Assistant and Primary Childcare Lead

MaKenna began at TMS during our 2023/24 school year. She has a Bachelor's of Arts degree in English (completed in 2021) and has a "Teaching English as a Foreign Language" Certification. She worked as a site supervisor at an elementary school's childcare program for about 4 years and has experience working with children 3 - 12 years old. MaKenna enjoys spending time with her siblings (which usually involves trying new restaurants) as well as cooking and baking. She has a love of reading and writing.

Katie Greiner - Oak Classroom Assistant

Katie has a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and a Master’s in Human-Computer Interaction. In her former career, Katie was a user researcher and studied how people used technology to make products and systems more user-friendly. She helped toy and game companies better understand how kids play and explore new concepts. While observing kids in studies, she was drawn to their joyful and curious spirits. Katie knew it would only be a matter of time until she worked more closely with kids in another capacity. Katie joined The Montessori School in the Fall of 2023. She’s excited to be a part of helping students thrive socially, emotionally and academically. Outside of school, Katie loves her mindful moments in nature. You can usually find her doing yard work, learning bushcraft skills or exploring nearby trails. She’s lucky to have her partner and dog by her side in all adventures.

Alaine Miller - Cedar Classroom Assistant

Alanie recently joined The Montessori School in summer 2024. She is currently in school to get her associates degree in Early Childhood Education. She has worked as a lead guide in a Montessori integrated environment with 3-5 year old children. She is looking forward to expanding her knowledge of the Montessori method and outdoor education. In her free time she likes to kayak and spend time with her cat Bo, who she fully toilet trained.

Olivia Lanphear - Oak Classroom Assistant

Olivia has joined the Montessori school in 2023. Prior to joining TMS, Olivia had experience working in family homes as a nanny for the last four years. Over the years she has worked with children and learned to love watching children develop into their own little person. Olivia is excited to continue her education and future with The Montessori School!

Maribel Ramos - Cedar Classroom Assistant

Maribel began working at The Montessori School in January of 2024. She graduated from Kellogg Community College in May of 2020 with an associates in Early Childhood Education. This is her sixth year working in childcare. She has always enjoyed working with children, helping them reach milestones, and encouraging everyday learning. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, as well as friends and family. She loves doing nails, baking, and traveling.

Elementary Staff

Jessica Hagen - Outdoor Educator

Jessica has a degree in Early Childhood Education and Child and Family Development from Western Michigan University (WMU). She is an American Montessori Society (AMS) certified Montessori elementary teacher. She is a multi-site program director with the State of Michigan and is currently the Licensee Designee for TMS. Jessica is a certified Outdoor Educator (EEC-P) through the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE). She is passionate about place-based, experiential learning and has a special interest in connecting students with the greater community by developing service-based partnerships. Jessica serves on the Stewards of Kleinstuck board, the Kalamazoo Wild Ones executive committee, and is the Kalamazoo County Coordinator for the Michigan Green Schools Program. She can often be found outdoors exploring, biking, gardening, cloud/star gazing, and camping.

Anne Wester - Black Walnut Lead Guide

A Kalamazoo native, Anne graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She earned her masters in education from St. Catherine University (née- College of St. Catherine-Center for Contemporary Montessori Programs), and has an Elementary I and II certificate from the American Montessori Society. Anne taught at Northglade Montessori Magnet School from 1999-2010. She joined The Montessori School in 2016. Anne and her husband, Steve, have a daughter, Jane, who is a TMS alumna. The three of them enjoy an active lifestyle — camping, paddling, skiing, and biking. Anne continues to practice and learn more about the Leave No Trace principles.

Jocelyn Clark - Black Walnut Lead Guide

Jocelyn has a Bachelor of Liberal Arts with a concentration in Sociology from Kalamazoo College. She started at the Montessori School in 1991 in a childcare position as a way to earn money while working on a Master’s degree in Criminology at Western Michigan University. She loved her work there so much that she changed directions educationally and earned a Michigan Teaching Certificate after re-entering Kalamazoo College. She attended the Washington Montessori Institute to earn her AMI Montessori Certification and Loyola University in Baltimore for her Master’s in Education. During her time at The Montessori School, she has had two children, volunteered for over 10 years with Girls on the Run and Annie’s Big Nature Lesson, begun ABAR education, been Montessori STEM certified, and continues to grow as a guide. She enjoys camping, reading, and, not so quiet trips, to the dog park.

Karen Bildner - Black Walnut Lead Guide & Literacy Specialist

Karen completed her B.S. in Special Education at WMU. She began her teaching career in Niles Community Schools in 2000 and proceeded to teach at Northeastern Elementary in Kalamazoo from 2001-2007. Karen began tutoring with SLD Read and was trained extensively in Orton-Gilingham methods during her time there from 2007-2018. While tutoring, she also completed her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Reading and Literacy Emphasis. Karen has fallen in love with the Montessori method of education with its focus on the whole child as its emphasis on peace. Karen is blessed with her husband Josiah and two children Caleb and Johannah. She enjoys spending time with her family, sewing, cooking, photography, and drawing.

Wyatt Gettys - Black Walnut Classroom Assistant & Outdoor Wellness Educator

Wyatt has been with The Montessori School since 2018, working in both the elementary and primary programs as a Classroom Assistant. In his spare time, Wyatt enjoys cooking, watching baseball, and spending time outdoors.

Natalie Rorick - Classroom Substitute

Natalie joined TMS in the Fall of 2023. They are a former theater kid who found a love for English! Being an English major, they are planning to return to school and finish their English degree. Natalie enjoys spending time outdoors foraging or identifying plants and fungi, playing with their two cats, writing, and cooking for friends and family!

Carter Leslie - Black Walnut Classroom Assistant

Carter started working at TMS in the fall of 2023. He came to our campus with four previous years of childcare experience ranging from ages 3 to 11 years old. Prior to TMS, Carter worked a lot with the elderly through music; he loves to play instruments and it was a great way to share this hobby. In his free time, he enjoys being outside, collecting rocks, cooking and learning about new things.

Mehran Nayeem - Elementary Childcare Assistant

Mehran is currently a student at Western Michigan University, where he is majoring in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies and a minor in Psychology. A voracious reader with an unyielding desire to learn more, Mehran loves studying and learning about all aspects of the world, especially history and philosophy. When he isn't studying, he's spending time being active through cycling, running, and playing basketball. He's lucky to have a fantastic family and group of best friends, all of whom he manages to find quality time to spend with no matter how pressed for time he might be. He's looking forward to giving his best at The Montessori School and forming positive connections!

Lucas Miller - Black Walnut Classroom Assistant & Elementary Childcare Lead

Lucas Miller is a student at Kalamazoo Valley studying early elementary education, and plans to transfer and continue my education at Western Michigan this next year. Some of his passions include swimming, hiking, and exploring nature. He spent last summer as a camp counselor for the Kalamazoo Nature Center Camp working with fourth/fifth-graders and seeing the joy he could provide students with each week helped me decide I wanted to teach. Lucas hopes to learn from those around him to provide each student with the best learning experience possible while inspiring those around him!

School-Wide Classroom Staff

Sierra O’Connell-Koon - Art Specialist & Administrative Assistant

This is Sierra's 9th school year with TMS! She is from Grand Rapids and attended Kendall College of Art and Design, she graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography with a focus in Art History and a Minor in Graphic Design. She has two bonus children (Austin and Ainsley) and her son Brantley who attends the Primary Program. Sierra is very into photography, camping, fishing, gardening, kayaking, exploring, canning, foraging, and spending time with their animals: 2 dogs, 7 cats, and56 chickens. In the summer you can find them at the lake enjoying the water and kayaking while ending the day with a family picnic. Growing up, nature was always the most important part of life and that doesn’t differ now. With a family background in conservation and countless hours of volunteer work with the Sierra Club, being at the Montessori and advocating for the environment is a perfect fit. She loves spending the day outdoors and helping children make a connection to the world they live in on a deeper level.

Jason Byler - Outdoor and Technical Educator

Jason grew up on an educational farm in Pennsylvania where he developed his love of the outdoors and his curiosity about the world around him. He holds a degree in Biology from Goshen College and has worked as a naturalist, farmer, outdoor educator, preschool teacher, park ranger, and home maintenance educator. He's married, has 3 amazing kids and a cool dog named Rooster. Jason loves working with curious children and is excited to be part of the TMS family!

Stella Main - Primary Childcare Assistant

Stella joined TMS in October of 2023! She is from Kalamazoo originally but has also lived in Madison, Wisconsin for the past 11 years. Stella moved back to Kalamazoo for college and is really looking forward to studying Early Childhood Eevelopment. She previously completed a year of college while in Madison majoring in Human Resources. In her free time, Stella enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Administrative Staff

Megan Johnston - Head of School

Megan received her Bachelor of Arts at Marymount Manhattan College studying Dance: Body, Science, and Motion and minoring in Biology. She received her AMS Montessori certification in 2019 from the Adrian Dominican Montessori Teacher Education Institute. She started her journey in 2017 at The Montessori School and completed her internship in the Oak room during the 2018-19 school year. Prior to her start in Montessori, Megan worked at the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) as a paraprofessional working with individuals with autism and worked alongside WMU personnel on behavioral studies. She continually participates in training surrounding behavior intervention strategies, trauma support, and mentorship in Montessori settings. Megan has also continued her passion for dance over the last nine years as a lead instructor at Center Stage Dance Studio for both recreational and competitive dancing. In her free time, Megan enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling the world, camping, and dancing.

Barbara Conboy - Office Manager

Barb was a stay-at-home parent for many years and loved working in her daughter's school as a volunteer in the PTO and school office. Eventually, she became the school secretary at a small private school in Paw Paw for almost four school years. Barb has over 25 years of business & accounting experience and has worked for large corporations and non-profit organizations. She loves working with preschool and elementary-age children and their parents and is so excited to be here at The Montessori School. She proudly began working at The Montessori School in February 2022. She has one college-age daughter and has been married to her spouse for over 21 years.

Board of Directors

As a Michigan 501c3 non-profit organization, The Montessori School is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is charged with the ultimate responsibility for financial, legal, and policy decisions for The Montessori School, as outlined in the bylaws. Furthermore, the Board ensures the integrity of Montessori philosophy within the school. Board members serve three-year terms and are appointed at the Annual Meeting in June.

2024/25 Board Members:
Doug Forbes - Board President
Katherine White - Board Vice Chair
Josh Fitzgibbon - Past Chair
David Disser - Treasurer
Sarah Avink - Secretary
Julie Walker
Erin Itawi
Emily McDonald
Amy Geib
Jada Joswick
Carrie Yellin

Contact the Board