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

Ranjita Kaur - Primary Coordinator

​​Ranjita has a BA in Business from Anna Ardarsh College in India. She received a certification in Teaching Methodology in Montessori and Kindergarten Education in 2002. In 2019, she earned her Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials. Finally, in 2022 she received her AMS Montessori certification! She has been passionate about childcare and education, beginning her career as a Primary School Lead teacher and Montessori teacher in Bangalore, India. Prior to working at The Montessori School in Kalamazoo, Ranjita worked as a lead teacher at Gilden Woods Early Care and Preschool for a year and worked as an assistant teacher at KRESA. She started her journey at The Montessori School in late 2019 as an assistant teacher. She currently lives in Portage, Michigan with her husband and two children. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music and cooking.

Megan Johnston - Cedar Room Lead Guide

​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 Montessori 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 KRESA as a paraprofessional working with Autism and worked alongside WMU on behavioral studies.  Megan also loves to dance and has been a lead instructor at Center Stage Dance Studio for the past 4 years.  In her free time, Megan enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling the world, yoga, and dancing!

Lauren Mogdis - Juniper 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.

Amy Hirt - Acting Oak 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 practicum this school year, working with Lead Guide Megan Johnston and Primary Coordinator Ranjita Kaur. This summer she led the Primary camp program and loved leading the team and creating a quality experience for the children each week! 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, traveling.

Gabriel Kerley - Oak Classroom Assistant

Gabriel has attended one year of school at Adrian College and is also currently finishing his AMS Certification from the Adrian Dominican Montessori Teacher Education Institute. Gabe has recently moved to Kalamazoo from Allegan with his partner Alexis and their 3 cats. After completing his internship with TMS, Gabe plans to return and finish college with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Music Performance.  Gabe has worked in Montessori for 2 years and  eventually plans to become a Lead Montessori Teacher/Guide in the future. In his free time, Gabriel enjoys playing classical piano and the trumpet. He also enjoys painting, storytelling and playing board games with friends. ​

Tylor Ray- Oak Classroom Assistant

Tylor is currently attending Davenport University for her BBA in International Business. She will be graduating in the Spring of 2023. This will be her first year with The Montessori School and she couldn’t be more thrilled! In her free time she loves going on all types of adventures with her husband (Ben) and dog (Miggy). One of their latest adventure was driving from California to Michigan!

Emily Lawing - Oak Classroom Assistant

Emily is coming back home to Kalamazoo after growing up here. She has been working for the past six years at a Montessori school in South Carolina and she is so happy to be part of the TMS team! In her spare time, Emily enjoys bird watching and doing crafts.

Desiree Jirtle - Juniper Classroom Assistant

Desiree's bio is coming soon!

Hailey Callahan - Juniper Classroom Assistant

Hailey loves working with young children and watching their skills develop as a little human. She has a huge love and appreciation for any activity outside (hiking, camping, or just sitting). Yet somehow as a life-long Michigander she has not found an outdoor winter activity that she enjoys. Recently she has been gathering some gardening and plant knowledge and helping take care of her partner's small flock of female chickens. She enjoys trying new foods and cuisines, visiting new cities, creating and building things (like a computer or a tree swing), and reading a good short story! She is looking forward to furthering her higher education with a degree in Social Work soon, as she loves learning about how our brains develop and work. Here at TMS she is excited to help build the better world that she believes in.

Sean Wilson - Floating Classroom Assistant

​Sean Wilson graduated from Western Michigan University with a B.A in theatre performance. He then moved to Chicago where he lived the life of a working actor: auditioning for theatre and television as well as performing in original sketch and improv productions. Creating music for these productions lead Sean down a music technology rabbit hole. His current passion is helping others explore the exciting world of electronic music. Sean is thrilled to be a part of The Montessori School and looks forward to helping everyone have their best day!

Angela Haaf - Cedar Classroom Assistant

Angela recently changed majors from Secondary Education to Social Work, and is currently completing a BSW at Western Michigan University, with a focus on school social work. She spent nine years prior to this role working for the State of Michigan as a paraprofessional in Special Education and directed a year-round art program for adult and special education students. Additionally, she worked in the after school program at Edison Elementary for first grade students, and completed a Secondary Education internship at Gull Lake High School. Angela is beyond excited to be part of The Montessori School. She is a proud Mom to a toddler, a teenager and a Mini Schnauzer. She enjoys art, writing, travel and everything to do with astronomy.

Cheyenne Rodriguez- Cedar Classroom Assistant

Cheyenne moved to Kalamazoo in 2015 to raise their family consisting of; one adult, one child, one cat, and one lizard. In 2016, Cheyenne began their professional career with children as a volunteer at a nonprofit preschool and facilitator of a Lego robotics program. A passion for child advocacy and development bloomed and Cheyenne has continued to work with children whenever the opportunity presents itself. In their free time, Cheyenne enjoys spending time with family and friends, yoga, quad skating, live music, community events, making and consuming art, and exploring nature.

Jane Fisher Laing- Cedar Classroom Assistant

Jane first worked at The Montessori School while studying to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant back in 1999. She decided to return after enjoying a career serving the special education population in Calhoun County for two decades. She holds degrees in fine art, machine tool technology, philosophy, and occupational therapy. She loves art and nature, and especially enjoys birdwatching and photography outings with her husband Mark.

Charlotte Phillips - Cedar Classroom Assistant

Charlotte is new to The Montessori School as of 2022 and has been enjoying supporting the children in the Oak room. Charlotte discovered her passion for early childhood education while taking a year of Teacher Education at her high school career center in Allegan. She completed one semester of early childhood education courses at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and plans to return to pursue this career pathway as she continues to work at The Montessori School. In her spare time she enjoys bowling and spending time outdoors.

Hanna Tuchenhagen- Substitute Classroom Assistant

Hanna is new to The Montessori School as of summer 2022 and currently attends Kalamazoo College. 

Elementary Staff

Jessica Hagen - Elementary Coordinator & Outdoor Educator

Jessica has an A.A.S. in Early Childhood Education from Kellogg Community College and a B.S. in Child and Family Development from Western Michigan University. She is a certified Outdoor Educator passionate about place-based, experiential learning. Jessica completed her Montessori training program for Lower Elementary through AMS certification. Since joining TMS in 2016, she has shared her love of wetlands with students through local watershed study, focusing on Axtell Creek which flows near our schoolyard. She has also led the students in planting several native wildflower gardens and established food gardens at our elementary campus. She has formed community partnerships with the Kalamazoo Wild Ones, Kalamazoo River Watershed Council, and Inland Seas. Jessica enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, biking, gardening, stargazing, and camping.

Anne Wester - Willow Lead Guide (Lower Elementary)

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. In fact, Anne just completed her 8th bike ride across the state of Iowa!

Jocelyn Clark - Maple Lead Guide (Upper Elementary)

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 here so much 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.

Karen Bildner - 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 - Classroom Assistant

Wyatt has been with The Montessori School since 2018, working in both the elementary and primary programs as a Classroom Assistant. Most recently he has taken over as the Childcare Lead in Elementary! In his spare time, Wyatt enjoys cooking, watching baseball, and spending time outdoors.

Stacy Smith - Classroom Assistant

Stacy was born and raised in a small town in Montana. Growing up, she attended 4-H from the age of 6 to age 18, raising her own animals, and becoming a state ambassador. After graduating HS, she moved to Bozeman, Montana. While there, she operated an in-home childcare facility while raising her two daughters. She studied at Montana State University, majoring in microbiology. In her spare time, she enjoys tending to her chickens, spending time with her family of 5 kids, and running her radio station. She loves spending time with children and loves putting together engaging afterschool activities! ​

Rachel Gero - Classroom Assistant

A new Michigander, Rachel joins TMS as an Elementary classroom assistant. Rachel has previous experience as a Special Education Paraprofessional and brings a great love of learning into the classroom. In addition to loving any outdoor activity Rachel has a passion for Yoga. She currently holds a 200hr Yoga Teacher Certificate, specializing in trauma informed practice. Rachel is loving Kalamazoo and is so excited to join the amazing community at TMS. ​

School-Wide Classroom Staff

Hal Hobson - Music Specialist

Originally from Lansing, Hal graduated from WMU in 2000 with a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance and joined our staff as the music specialist in 2001. He has completed levels one through three certifications in Orff-Schulwerk, and has been a session presenter at local and regional Orff conferences. Hal is very involved in Kalamazoo’s vibrant music scene, including directing community choirs, playing piano and recorder in ensembles, and teaching piano and voice. He composes original transition music for All Ears Theatre, a local radio drama troupe, and participates in theatre productions as an actor, director, and music director at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, Farmer’s Alley Theatre, and other local stages. When not teaching or in rehearsal, Hal enjoys kayaking, gardening, and visiting Lake Michigan.

 Sierra O’Connell-Koon - Art Specialist

This is Sierra's 8th 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 also will be attending the Montessori this year in the Primary program. Sierra’s family is very into photography, camping, fishing, gardening, kayaking, exploring, canning, foraging and spending time with their Animals: 2 dogs, 3 cats, 2 ducks and 20 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 the connection to the world they live in on a deeper level.

Helen Keusch - Floating 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. ​

Administrative Staff

Sherria VanSparrentak - Head of School

Sherria graduated from Western Governors University with a B.A. in Elementary Education-K-12 Interdisciplinary Studies. She then graduated from Western Michigan University with a Masters in Educational Leadership K-12 Principalship. She has taken on various leadership roles within the schools and communities she has worked in. When not at school Sherria enjoys spending time with her husband (Kyle) and 2 children (Brooklyn & Michael). Sherria enjoys camping, being outdoors, spending time with friends/family, making t shirts/crafts, and traveling.
Kristy Brooks - Business Manager

Kristy earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Siena Heights University, and her MBA from SNHU and has spent many years working in finance in the mental health / adult foster care field, and is excited to be a part of The Montessori School. Kristy is married and has three kids, Olivia, Cooper, and Kase, as well as a Goldendoodle named Otis.  In her free time she enjoys music, reading, traveling and watching her kids’ various activities.
Erin Decker - Office Manager: Admissions & Enrollment

Erin is originally from Bay City, and moved to Kalamazoo for college. She graduated from Western Michigan University, earning a Bachelor’s studying Organizational Communication, Nonprofit Leadership, and Environmental & Sustainability Studies. Prior to joining The Montessori school in 2019, Erin worked as the Executive Director of the local youth development nonprofit Open Roads Bike Program. In addition to her role as the Office Manager here at The Montessori School, she is a photographer and runs her own portrait photography business. Erin enjoys spending time with her husband, Ryan, and daughter, Emerson. Her favorite activities include hiking, reading, and making art!
Barbara Conboy - Administrative Assistant

Barb was a stay at home parent for many years and loved working in her daughters school as a volunteer. Eventually, she became a substitute in the office at her school. With that experience she jumped at the opportunity to work part time at a small private school in Paw Paw as their school secretary for almost four school years. Barb has worked for many non-profit organizations, including two local colleges, and also some large corporations, prior to her time as a mom. She loves working with preschool and elementary age children and their parents and is so excited to be here at The Montessori School. She lives with her husband Ryan, daughter Claire, and dog Lily. Her hobbies include volunteering, reading, gardening, cooking and crafting!
Daniel Oropeza - Facilities Coordinator

Born in Pharr, Texas and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan, he did migrant farm work at a young age. Growing up he attended Kalamazoo Public Schools. Later he attended both KVCC & Western Michigan University. He Co-hosts as a DJ on WMUK 102.1 FM (Alma Latina) and on FB Live365 Mi Gente Radio (Cumbia Mas). He is a Community Organizer in Kalamazoo and surrounding areas in addition to a committee members of Southwest Michigan César E. Chávez. He has volunteered with more than 30 nonprofit organizations in the state of Michigan! He is so proud to join the Montessori team.

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 strategic planning and policy issues for The Montessori School. The board sets policy to be implemented by the administration and staff. Furthermore, the Board ensures the integrity of Montessori philosophy within the school. The Board currently consists of nine members (parents and alumni parents of the school) along with 3 ex-officio members including the Head of School and Business Manager. Board members serve three-year terms. Board terms are staggered and Board members are appointed at the Annual Meeting in May.
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The Board holds regular meetings throughout the year. Minutes are on file in the TMS office and are available to members of the parent community upon request.
22/23 Board Members:
Amy Geib - Board Chair
David Disser - Treasurer
Sarah Avink - Secretary
Drew Worgess - Past Chair
Josh Fitzgibbon
Julie Walker 
Erin Itawi
Amanda Lynn Morgan
Charles Woodruff Coates
Doug Forbes

The Montessori School

Administrative Office & Elementary Building
710 Howard St.
Kalamazoo, MI 49008

Primary Building
750 Howard St.
Kalamazoo, MI 49008

Contact Us Today!
​Phone: (269) 349-3248
Fax: (269) 349-1480
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