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.
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.
Cindi Ashley, Preprimary Teacher
Cindi joined the Montessori Country School staff in 2005 as a preprimary assistant. She completed her AMS infant/Toddler training and became head teacher in September 2006. She received her undergraduate degree in 1982 and received her registered nursing license. Cindi worked as a nurse for 7 years and then became the devoted mother of 2 children. As her children grew older, she became interested in working with children in a school setting. She worked as a special education paraeducator in the public schools for
4 years. Cindi has always had a special love and connection with young children. At Montessori Country School, she is happy to be part of a wonderful environment set up for the exploring toddler.
Some of Cindi's interests are horseback riding, music, sewing, hiking, camping, gardening, and eating chocolate.
Lydia DeRuyter, Preprimary Teacher
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.
Ali Budge, Primary Teacher
Ali is a native of the UK and moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2000. Her passion for teaching was awakened while working for the Forestry Commission (at Westonbirt Arboretum) in the UK where she delivered environmental education to primary ages and above. Ali subsequently went on to train as a teacher of geography at the University of Bristol and taught in England and Scotland. More recently Ali lived and worked in the Middle East for three years, where she taught Kindergarten to mainly Arabic children. On returning to the USA, Ali worked as a Middle School humanities teacher at West Sound Academy and is now delighted to be a part of the team at the Montessori Country School. Apart from being busy, as the mother of two energetic redheads, Ali can also be frequently found in Kitsap ‘treading the boards’ as her other passion is acting.
Ali began working at MCS as an assistant in the Primary Program in the fall of 2007. Her experience in the classroom has peaked her interest in learning more about Montessori philosophy; she is pursuing the American Montessori Society certification through Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest and expects to receive her certification in June, 2010.
Julie Mills, Primary Teacher
Julie grew up in Connecticut. She graduated in 1980 from the University of Connecticut with a degree in political science and economics. She moved to Seattle that year and began a career in international trade and banking.
Julie and her husband, Chris, founded Island Art Center in 2002. Julie is the Creative Director of their Art and Motion program and can be found at the Art Center when she is not at MCS. Julie began her work in early childhood education fourteen years ago. She has been with Country School since 2002 and over the years has worked as an assistant in both the Preprimary and Primary classes.
Julie has two daughters – one in high school and one in college. She has written three children’s books (yet to be published), and is working on a book about raising teenage daughters.
Outside of her work, Julie loves playing her guitar, live music, Celtic sea salt chocolates, coffee and good movies.
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.
Liisa Peterson, Primary Teacher
Liisa is a Northwest native from Tacoma. Through the years she and her family have lived here and there but opted for HERE a few years ago when it was time for her husband to retire. 1n 1999 Liisa received a BS in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education from Texas A&M University. She has taught early elementary grades and pre kindergarten. She has also had training and worked extensively with children who have autism.
Liisa first fell in love with Montessori as a parent when her oldest child attended the Little Flower School in South Bend, Indiana. She continued her study and work with the method over the last two decades in a spiritual formation program called The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. During the summer of 2009, Liisa began a Montessori teacher certification program through the Association Montessori International in Portland. This has been a long-time dream and she is thrilled to have begun the process. She began her work at MCS in 2006 as a primary class assistant and is currently working as a support person in all the Primary classrooms.
Liisa and her husband are the very proud parents of four young adults who are all out on their own. Liisa and Garret enjoy goofing around, playing and listening to music, cooking and eating, reading, gardening and travel.
Hilary Benson, Science Specialist M. Ed.
Hilary joined MCS in 2005 and has held the role of primary assistant, head teacher, and is currently working as a science specialist. Hilary completed her Montessori training at the Montgomery Montessori Institute in Rockville, Maryland in 2004 while teaching in McLean, Virginia. Upon completion of her Montessori training, she moved to Bainbridge to begin her graduate work at IslandWood and the University of Washington. In 2005, Hilary received her Master’s in Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on environmental education. As a science specialist, Hilary uses traditional Montessori practices to convey topics related to Northwest ecology, physical and natural science. She visits the primary classrooms a few times each month. Hilary lives in Seattle with her husband and son. She enjoys cooking, working in the garden, hiking and exploring family-friendly activities in Seattle.
