The faculty and Staff at MCS are a diverse and wonderful group who bring their love and
respect to the children, the parents and each other each and everyday.   

Patty  Christensen, Director

Patty has been involved in Montessori education since 1970.  She began her teaching career at one of the oldest Montessori schools in the Seattle area after graduating with distinction from the Montessori Institute of Los Angeles an Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) training center.  She received a BA in Sociology from the University of Washington.  After teaching for 15 years, became the Director of Montessori Country School in 1986. She draws great joy from her work and feels honored to support children and families during these important years. 

Patty knew from the time she was in middle school that she would be working with young children.  She was drawn to the Montessori approach by Dr. Montessori's deep respect for and trust in the child.  Patty shares her love for music with the children and drops in on the classes often to play the guitar and sing with the children.

Some of Patty's interests outside of her passion for Montessori Country School include:  hiking, kayaking, gardening, camping, music (she plays the piano and guitar) and spending time with her family and friends

Karla Piecuch, Associate Director

Karla first became acquainted with the work of Maria Montessori while studying Philosophy and Comparative Religion at the University of California at Santa Cruz, where she graduated with Honors. Karla came to MCS in 1987 to work as Patty's classroom assistant; she loved how the philosophy of Montessori translated into the actual classroom experience and received her Montessori certification in 1990, co-teaching with Patty and eventually working as Associate Director. Before coming to MCS, Karla worked as the Executive Director of the American Cetacean Society in San Pedro, CA, and continues to be active in several wildlife conservation organizations. Karla is found at least a few times each year visiting the classrooms with some of her unusual pets.

Most of Karla's time outside of school is spent with her husband, dogs, and horses, hiking, climbing, indulging her passion for books and music, and (when finances and time allow) trekking in Nepal.

She is the US coordinator for Each One Teach One, a project which provides education for children who have been orphaned by the political insurgency in Nepal.

Meghan Kane Skotheim, Primary Teacher

Meghan has been a member of the Country School community since 1993 when her oldest son joined the toddler class. she has served as a room representative, French teacher, substitute
teacher, and head teacher. Meghan received her undergraduate degree in Art History from the University of Colorado in 1984, her Montessori training from the Rocky Mountain Training Center in 1985, and her Master's in Education with an emphasis on early childhood from Seattle University in 2006. Her years of teaching and parenting have strengthened her belief that the first six years of
life are profound. She considers it an honor to spend time in the presence of young children,
following their lead. In addition to teaching a morning class, Meghan is facilitating parent education, assists in staff development and the leadership of MCS.

When she is not in the classroom, Meghan spends most of her time with her children, Benjamin, Maxwell, and Rebecca, and her husband Kris. She loves to knit, garden, bake, and read big, thick, novels.

Lydia DeRuyter, Preprimary and Primary Class Assistant

Lydia was born and raised in Europe.  She came to the United States when she was 6 years old.  She attended college at Ball State University in Indiana and majored in Physical Education and Special Education.

Lydia moved to Washington State in 1989 and began working as an assistant at Woodinville Montessori School.  She is the mother of six wonderful sons.  When the youngest graduated from Woodinville Montessori School’s kindergarten program she pursued her Master Gardener Certification. She worked for Molbaks Nursery with plants and in garden design for 11 years. 

After her work at Molbaks Nursery she returned to Woodinville Montessori School and was the Assistant to 3 different elementary level classes.   With her sons grown and out of the house she decided it was time for a change and her search for a new home led her to Poulsbo and Montessori County School.  She began working as a Teacher Assistant in a Primary classroom in the spring of 2007.  Her enthusiasm for life, sense of humor and love for the children are appreciated by all who are a part of the school.  As she says, “I couldn’t be happier.”

When not at work Lydia enjoys: gardening, staying in touch with her boys, walking her golden retriever, Sophie, kayaking and being outdoors.

Kimberly Lobherr, Primary Class Assistant

A Coast Guard veteran and now also a Coast Guard wife, Kimberly has lived a little bit of everywhere in the United States, but now considers herself a permanent transplant to the Great Northwest.  She first realized that she wanted to be involved in education while earning her Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy at Purdue University.  “Philosophy has helped me to ‘learn how to learn’ independently, which may sound a bit strange to some people; I love the Montessori method because it brings forth this capacity in the children at that age when they are most capable of developing real independence in learning.”  Kimberly has also been an assistant trainer for the children at Steele’s Karate Academy in Delaware, and is very excited to be working with the wonderful children at MCS.

Kimberly spends most of her off time with her husband and their dogs and cats. Her interests/causes include: environmental welfare, solving world hunger and the lack of clean water, animal welfare. 

Cheryl Dauber, Primary Teacher

Cheryl earned her Bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California.  She was introduced to Montessori education in 1997 when she began her work as an Assistant at Montessori Country School. She earned her AMS Primary Teaching Certification through the Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest. Cheryl took a sabbatical from MCS when her daughter was born; she taught part time for a local preschool.  During this time she earned a Master’s in Teaching and K-8 Teaching Certificate.  Cheryl went on to teach third grade at a Montessori inspired elementary program in Kitsap County. Cheryl’s teaching background includes working with children from ages 3 to 16 as a paraprofessional. We are thrilled to have her back as a Head teacher in our Primary Program!

Cheryl says, “I love to encourage the excitement children have about learning. It is an honor to witness the moment at which a child makes a new discovery and finds a new level of independence.”  Cheryl is known for her caring and fairness and for her ability to connect with people of all ages.  Her openness and love of life and nature are infectious.

Cheryl grew up in Santa Cruz and Paso Robles, California. Outside of teaching, Cheryl enjoys knitting, reading, hiking and camping, traveling, and swimming in Puget Sound with her family. Her daughter is a 2007 graduate of Montessori Country School.

Melissa, Primary Teacher

Melissa began working in a Montessori classroom in 2002 while studying for her BS in Foundations of Education at the University of Oregon.  She has worked with the primary age group since 1999.  After graduating she moved to Seattle for the Montessori teacher education opportunities in the area.  Melissa earned her American Montessori Society certification through Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest in Woodinville.  In 2007, Melissa began teaching at MCS as a Head Teacher in one of our Primary Classrooms.  She seeks to foster in the children a healthy spirit, strong character, and a clear and curious intellect.  She enjoys sharing with her students her passion for books, the natural world and music.  When Melissa is not at school she prefers to be either on the water or in the forest.  She takes pleasure in kayaking, hiking, gardening, reading, baking, music and dogs.

Amy Parkhurst, Preprimary Teacher

Amy joined MCS in 2008. Originally a Kitsap County native she moved to Seattle in 1994 where she attended the Art Institute of Seattle. She spent 10 wonderful years home with her two daughters. She volunteered in both of her children's preschools and elementary schools and led a fabulous group of Campfire girls for 6 years. Amy fell in love with Montessori when she came to observe at MCS.

Amy assisted in Melissa's classroom for three years. Early in her career here, she expressed an interest in working with our Toddlers. Amy began the AMS Montessori Infant/Toddler Training during the summer of 2011 and is now the Head Teacher for the Preprimary students. She is thrilled to be working with our youngest students. "Being a part of the children's learning, watching their independence and confidence grow, is such a honor for me. This part of their lives is so short, and so precious. I just love coming to work every day."

Amy enjoys sewing, knitting and all things crafty. She lives in Poulsbo with her husband, kids, and three sweet dogs.