Teachers & Staff

Michele Parker (Miss Michele)

Michele is the Owner/Director of our school. She graduated from Sienna Heights University with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Science. She then attended the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center in Boston for her Preprimary Montessori Certification and did a year internship under Sister Anthonita Porta in Adrian, MI.

After graduation she moved to Midland and has taught Montessori for over 35 years including 15 years at a local Montessori before opening her own school in 1999. During this tenure she has also trained and monitored dozens of Montessori interns as they worked toward becoming Montessori teachers. In addition to her work with interns, she has also been a Montessori consultant helping some Mid-Michigan Montessori area schools as they prepared to open their doors.

She continues to attend conferences, meetings and seminars to keep current in the Montessori method and Early Childhood Education.

Kelly Peck (Miss Kelly)

Kelly is starting her 8th year at Michele's Montessori. She is currently the Assistant Director and has 11 years of experience working with children, one year which was spent in Shanghai, China teaching English at an international preschool. Kelly graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelors of Science, majoring in Child Development with an Early Childhood concentration. She is energetic and enjoys encouraging children to try new things and be creative!

Roxana Stevens (Miss Rox)

Roxana has been teaching at Michele's Montessori for 18 years. She routinely pursues educational research by attending conferences and lectures. Roxana adds a special flare to the School. She has a love for cooking as well as reading to the children

Nancy Grubich (Miss Nancy)

Nancy joined our staff 8 years ago and works in the office here at the school. Educated in Child Development at Montana State University, she has teaching and administrative background in Preschool, Childcare and Montessori School settings. Nancy has been involved in the education and care of young children for 39 years. She enjoys helping the families of Michele's Montessori within her position.

Pam Wolfgang (Miss Pam)

Before starting at Michele's Montessori Pam worked in the Merrill School District in the preschool and summer programs. She was also a Nanny for 18 years working with two different families during that time frame. Pam looks forward to sharing each day with the children as she starts her 8th year adventure here at Michele's Montessori.

Kerri Graham (Miss Kerri)

   Miss Kerri has been involved in Montessori education for over 20 years. She started as a high school sophomore working in Miss Michele's class for a high school assignment. She then continued as an assistant for the next 12 years in Midland and Indianapolis. Kerri received her 3-6 Primary Montessori Certification from the MMTEC in Rochester Hills in 2006, and has been leading her own classroom in a Montessori school in Southgate, MI.
     One of our Lead Teachers, Kerri is both a member of the American Montessori Society and the Michigan Montessori Society. She is currently continuing her education taking classes at CMU and continues her passion for the Montessori philosophy by attending workshops and conferences.

Caitlyn McPhillips (Miss Caitlyn)

                                                          Caitlyn joined Michele's Montessori this past summer as an Assistant Teacher. She has a younger brother and sister who are now 10 and 11 years old, and started her Childcare experience at the age of 12 by caring for them.
      She is a licensed Behavior Technician which has given her the opportunity to work with a multitude of amazing children who have various special needs and behavioral challenges.
    She has attended Central Michigan University, taking classes in Family Studies and Early Childhood Development. She has dedicated her life to helping children. It is one of her biggest passions and sources of happiness. In her position at Michele's Montessori she looks forward to meeting new children and being their teacher, friend and playmate.

Connie Jasman (Miss Connie)

    With a passion in life to help children learn Connie has worked with children for over 30 years. After living in Georgia she recently moved back to Michigan, where she was born and raised, joining our staff this past summer.
     Connie previously worked in a Montessori School for 2 years and is currently working towards a C.D.A. Certificate. After that is complete she plans on continuing her studies to become a Certified Montessori teacher.
     Not only has Connie cared for other people's children over the years, she herself is a mother of two biological children, one adopted daughter, six grandchildren and 3 step-grandchildren.
     She looks forward to learning more and more everyday as she works here at Michele's Montessori.

Heather Hoppenjan (Miss Heather)

      Miss Heather came to Michele's Montessori this Fall after working in the Midland Public School system within the ESA Department for one year and then as a paraprofessional in Special Education at Chestnut Hill for three years.
     Heather came to Midland from Wisconsin where she had her own In-Home Daycare business and cared for her own children.
     She has a passion for working with children and feels very fortunate to have the opportunity to work here at Michele's Montessori.

Staff Professional Development

Miss Michele along with Miss Rox, Miss Pam, Miss Bev, Miss Kelly and Miss Nancy attended a Montessori Seminar in Howell, MI

Staff Photos supplied by Schaffert Studios (989) 687-6884