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Association Montessori Internationale

Faculty & Staff

"I have changed her name from the teacher to that of 'directress' because she is a teacher who gives direction to intelligent beings. Guidance is the responsibility of the teacher and individual exercise is the work of the child." –Dr. Maria Montessori

The Role of the Teacher

Montessori teachers are called 'directresses' or 'guides' because they direct the child to the appropriate materials; the child teaches himself through repetition of the exercises. Every teacher at Campbell Montessori School holds an AMI diploma and is qualified to guide children using the Montessori Method to the standards of the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). The AMI training is the most rigorous and holds to all of the principles and practices developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. The primary directresses are qualified to teach children ages 3-6 plus; the elementary guide may teach children from 6-12 years.

Campbell Montessori School has three Primary classes (ages 2 1/2 - 6)  and one Elementary class (ages 6 - 12).

Faculty

Holly Oldendorph — Toddler Program

Ms. Oldendorph worked in various capacities at the school as a volunteer and an office employee before becoming our Toddler Directress. Ms. Oldendorph, who came to Campbell as a parent, began Toddler teacher training in 2006.

Tamara Jordan — Primary Program
Mrs. Jordan has an AA degree from Stephens College as well as AMI certification to teach at the Primary level.  Mrs. Jordan has been a primary Montessori teacher for 15 years.  Tamara is educated in the arts and music and shares these skills with the children. She has been teaching at Campbell Montessori since 1998.

Lakshmi Shekhar — Primary Program
Mrs. Shekhar received her master's degree in English Literature at Delhi University, New Delhi, India. She took her Montessori training in St. Louis while her children were attending Montessori school. Prior to coming to Campbell in 2002, she worked as an assistant in a Montessori class at an AMI school in St. Louis.

Tess Weber — Primary Program  
Ms. Weber worked as an assistant in Mrs. Shekhar's class while training for her A.M.I. Primary Diploma. She has been associated with Campbell as a parent and a before and after school caregiver since 2003.

Jessica Wright — Elementary Program

Having served as a primary and elementary assistant in the past at Campbell, Ms. Wright holds an A.M.I. Elementary Diploma, she now holds the position of head elementary directress. Her undergraduate degree is from U. M. St. Louis.

Karen Skonning — Flex Care
Before coming to Campbell, Ms. Skonning worked eight years with elementary children in Montessori Schools in Ft. Collins, Colorado and Green Bay, Wisconsin. She has been an assistant in the Campbell elementary program and now heads the Flex Care and elementary summer programs.

Specialty Teachers

Jeff Vetter — Music Instructor

Mr. Vetter received his BA in music from Southeast Missouri State in 1986. Though Mr. Vetter does not teach all the children, he is available for private music lessons for the children of our school two days a week. Mr. Vetter’s students have the option of participating in a music festival every year in the summer.

Assistants

Kelly Fitzgerald — Toddler Program
Kelly holds an Associates Degree in Child Development, and joined Campbell’s staff after four years of working with children as a nanny and an assistant teacher. She assists Ms Oldendorph.

Molly LeMasters — Primary Program
Since 2005, Molly has held position of assistant in Ms. Minor’s classroom. She comes to Campbell after two years of experience at previous child care facilities.

Linda Mabry — Primary Program  
Linda, who assists Mrs. Jordan,  came to Campbell in 2006 after working in a public school setting as an assistant teacher.

Asiya Peerzade — Primary Program  
Asiya, Mrs. Shekhar’s new assistant, recently moved to the St. Charles area from Phoenix, Arizona. Originally from Bangalore, India, Asiya holds a B.S. diploma from Govind Ram Seksaria Science College in India as well as a Montessori Primary diploma from the India Montessori Center in Bangalore. Asiya has worked in two Indian Montessori schools in Bangalore, and has taught mathematics at the 8th and 9th grade levels.

Brigid Gutting — Elementary Program
Brigid has worn several hats at Campbell over the years. She has worked in the primary class and the toddler class as an assistant, and in 2007, expands her abilities to the elementary assistantship. Brigid’s undergraduate degree in psychology is from Truman State University, while her Master’s Degree is from U.M. St. Louis. 

Rachel Miller — Flex Care
Rachel is a student at Lindenwood University. She joined our staff in 2006, and continues to work with our Flex Care students.

Staff

Miriam Gutting — Executive Director
Mrs. Gutting holds AMI diplomas in both primary and special education, in addition to a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri –St. Louis. She has more than 30 years experience in Montessori classrooms and has been director of Campbell Montessori School since its inception in 1989. She has extensive experience in counseling parents on difficulties they may encounter with raising their children.

Sandra Johnson — Director of Development
Mrs. Johnson is Campbell's Co-Administrator. She has AMI Diplomas at both primary and elementary levels and a B.S. in Education from U.M.S.L. along with a lifetime Missouri teaching certificate. She functions as head of fundraising and public relations liaison.

Michelle Maninger — Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Maninger first joined Campbell in 1993 and has worn many different "hats" since that time. She is currently our office administrator. She holds a degree in broadcast communications.

Julie Orr — Development Administrator
Mrs. Orr is also Campbell’s Librarian.  She is in charge of school fundraisers, and as such, works with a number of parent volunteers. Julie’s background includes 15 years of facilities management, project management, and special event planning at Edward Jones.

LeaAnn Herring — Accountant
Mrs. Herring has been at Campbell since 2006 following six years of being a full-time mom to her four daughters. She holds a double major in business administration and home economics.