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). All of our Lead Guides also maintain active memberships with the AMS, AMI, and the Michigan Montessori Society (MMS).

Thank you for your patience while we work on updating our 2025/26 staff page with new pictures and updated bio's.

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.

Primary Staff

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 Guide

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.

Olivia Lanphear - Oak Classroom Assistant Guide

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!

Ryan Slusser - Oak Classroom Assistant Guide/Childcare Assistant

Ryan joined the Montessori school in 2025. He graduated from WMU with a major in English: Creative Writing and a double minor in Psychology and Japanese in 2024 and is currently pursuing a Masters in Child/Adolescent Psychology through SNHU. Before joining TMS, he gained 3 years' experience as an early learning support staff member through the YMCA. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys writing and playing music, reading, going on walks, and cuddling with his three cats (Doflamingo, Princess Carolyn, and Winry).

Alaine Miller - Cedar Lead Guide in Training

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.

Ashley Dean Parenti - Cedar Classroom Assistant Guide

Originally from Chicagoland Area, Ashley graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a BBA in Marketing. After moving to Columbus, OH she pursued her passion of working with children as a nanny in family homes. She loves to help children get more involved in nature and to care for all things in the environment. Ashley is excited for her seventh year in childcare and the second year at The Montessori School. In her spare time, she LOVES gardening and hopes to start a hobby farm in the near future.

Dennis Trump - Cedar Classroom Assistant Guide

Dennis (he/him) graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Early Childhood Education and has worked in early childhood care for about five years. Originally from Warsaw, Indiana, where he grew up with four siblings, he later moved to Kalamazoo for its welcoming and supportive community. Dennis enjoys Dungeons & Dragons, writing, illustrating, and reading, and he often spends weekends volunteering or practicing Korean and Spanish. With a strong focus on growth and creativity, Dennis is excited to connect with others and contribute to the community.

Gabe Kerley - Juniper Lead Guide/Music Specialist/Piano Lessons

Gabe lives in Kalamazoo where he values time with his fiancée Alexis and their four cats. In his free time, he enjoys telling stories in the form of tabletop role-playing games, building and painting dioramas and miniatures, reading, and spending time in nature. Gabe is passionate about music and has also played piano for 17 years and trumpet symphonically and in jazz groups for 13 years, both of which he has given private lessons for in the past. Gabe is currently finalizing his Primary Lead Guide credential with the Adrian Dominican Montessori Teacher Education Institute and plans to continue his college education at KVCC for a Bachelors in Music Education. He is excited to start as a Lead Guide in the Juniper Classroom and continuing his second year as a Music Specialist.

Elementary Staff

Anne Wester - Lower 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 - Upper 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.

Wyatt Gettys - Elementary Classroom Assistant Guide & 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.

Carter Leslie - Elementary Classroom Assistant Guide

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.

Lucas Miller - Elementary Classroom Assistant Guide/Childcare Lead

Lucas Miller is a student at Kalamazoo Valley studying early elementary education, and plans to transfer and continue his education at Western Michigan 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 helping him decide he 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!

Fey O'Donovan - Elementary Childcare Assistant Guide/Childcare Assistant

Born in the suburbs of Chicago, Fey moved to Kalamazoo in 2020 after getting their Bachelor's of Science in Web Development at the University of Wisconsin. They have a passion for education, and they were a paraprofessional before joining Montessori in June. They are looking into Master's programs to obtain their teaching license and become a special education teacher. When not educating, Fey lives in Comstock with their fiancée and four cats. They spend their free time crocheting, playing music, and playing video games.

School-Wide Specialist & Support Staff

Karen Bildner - Intervention Support 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 Kalamazoo Public Schools from 2001-2007. Karen worked for SLD Read and was trained extensively in Orton-Gilingham methods during her time there from 2007-2018. Karen completed her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Reading and Literacy Emphasis in 2008. Most recently, she has earned her Montessori Lead Guide Certification in Lower Elementary. Karen is blessed with her husband Josiah and children Caleb and Johannah. She enjoys spending time with her family, sewing, cooking, photography, and drawing.

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.

Sierra O’Connell-Koon - Art Specialist & Floating School Support

Sierra is a long time member of the TMS staff! 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, and 56 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!

Administrative Staff

Katie Greiner - Program Coordinator

Katie has a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and a Master’s in Human-Computer Interaction. She joined The Montessori School in Fall 2023 and has spent the past two years as an Assistant Guide. This year, she's excited to step into her new role as Program Coordinator, supporting the school community so it can continue to thrive. Outside of school, Katie enjoys spending time in nature—whether working in the yard, practicing bushcraft skills, or exploring nearby trails. She's thankful to have her partner and dog with her in all of life's adventures.

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 22 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.

2025/26 Board Members:
Josh Fitzgibbon - Board President
Katherine White - Board Vice Co-Chair
Carrie Yellin - Board Vice Co-Chair
Doug Forbes - Past Chair
Holly Crump - Treasurer
Sarah Avink - Secretary
Emily McDonald
Jada Joswick
Aiyana Godsil
Mariana Levin
Jessica Slagter-Enaohwo

Contact the Board