Teachers & Staff

Michele's Montessori School
1025 E. Wheeler Street
989-835-3999

Kailia Gibson (Miss Kailia)

Kailia is the Director of Michele's Montessori School. She graduated from Grand Rapids Community College where she got a degree in Early Childhood Development. Kailia did her internship at Grand Rapids Community College where she worked with children from infancy to Pre-K. After Graduation, Kailia accepted a Lead Teaching position in a Young Preschool Classroom of 2.5 – 3.5-year-olds before moving to Midland. She then accepted the position as the Lead Teacher in the Toddler Room at Michele's Montessori School, before accepting the position for Director.
Kailia loves watching and helping children grow. She continues to advance her knowledge and keep current in Early Childhood Education and Montessori Curriculum. She does this by attending trainings in the field every year to make sure that children receive a quality education with best practice. She acquired her International Montessori Diploma in April of 2023.

Caitlyn McPhillips (Miss Caitlyn)

Miss Caitlyn is the Assistant Director of Michele's Montessori School and the Lead Teacher in the Maple Room (3.5-4.5-year-olds classroom). She attended Central Michigan University, taking classes in Family Studies and Early Childhood Development. She has her International Montessori Diploma, and is currently studying Childhood Psychology at Southern New Hampshire University. Before working at Michele's Montessori, she worked as a Licensed Behavior Technician which gave her the opportunity to work with a multitude of children with various special needs and behavioral challenges.
Miss Caitlyn started at Michele’s Montessori in 2018 as an Assistant Teacher. She got the opportunity to be the Lead Teacher in the Toddler Room before moving to the Preschool Program to be Lead Teacher. Miss Caitlyn loves to cook, paint, and dive into a good book. However, teaching children is Caitlyn’s biggest passion and source of happiness. She looks forward to meeting your children and being their teacher, friend, and playmate.

Pam Wolfgang (Miss Pam)

Miss Pam has worked at Michele's Montessori School for 12 years, and is currently teaching in the Maple Room (3.5-4.5-year-olds classroom). Before that she worked in the Merrill School District and as a Nanny for 18 years. She's been married for 40 years, has two wonderful sons, six beautiful and wonderful grandchildren, and beautiful daughter-in-laws.
Miss Pam loves the outdoors (in the summer) and also likes to scrapbook. But most of all she loves to teach!

Richa Sharma (Miss Richa)

Miss Richa started at Michele's Montessori School in the summer of 2023 and is currently an Assistant Teacher in the Maple Room (3.5-4.5-year-olds classroom). She earned a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from India and worked as an Assistant Professor in College before moving to the United States in 2015. Miss Richa has been married for 13 years and a proud mother to a 10-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son.
In her free time, she loves to travel, do adventurous things, and spend time with her family. She is very much passionate about teaching.

Hannah Kruskamp (Miss Hannah)

Miss Hannah is the Lead Teacher in the Elm Room (2.5-3.5-year-olds classroom) at Michele's Montessori School. She started working at the school as an Assistant Teacher in the fall of 2021. She grew up around the area and has always loved working with children. She got her CPR and First Aid certification at the age of 13 and started babysitting for families in the neighborhood. As soon as she was able she started working at Preschools and Childcare Centers. She worked at a preschool in Clare from ages 18 to 20. She recently moved to Midland this past fall and started at Michele's Montessori. Miss Hannah acquired her International Montessori Diploma in October of 2022.

Katie Kole (Miss Katie)

Miss Katie earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Studies and Education and her Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Michigan State University. Katie previously worked at the Firm Foundations Early Learning Center and started working at Michele’s Montessori in June of 2023. She is currently an Assistant Teacher in the Elm Room (2.5-3.5-year-olds classroom) In her spare time, she enjoys crafting, reading, gardening, and spending time with family. Katie lives in Midland with her husband Andrew, daughter Amelia, and their small army of wiener dogs.

Tyler DeBardelaben (Mr. Tyler)

Mr. Tyler was a Certified Nursing Assistant for two years, before starting to work with children in 2019. He started working at Michele's Montessori in September of 2023 as an Assistant Teacher in the Elm Room (2.5-to-3.5-year-old classroom). In his free time, he loves to play sports and listen to music.

Fina M. (Miss Fina)

Miss Fina has been working for Michele's Montessori School since February of 2021, and is the Lead Teacher of the Get Ready for Kindergarten Program. She graduated from Baker College with an Associate's Degree in Business Management. She enjoyed the years she worked for the private non-profit organizations, Arenac County Council on Aging and NEMCSA as an Administrative Assistant. After many years of volunteering and then applying for a position at Midland Public Schools, she developed a love for working with children. She worked for MPS for 5 years as a Special Education Paraprofessional with Tracheostomy and G-tube training.
Miss Fina has been married for 23 years and is the mother of two teenagers. She is a voracious reader and loves to spend time with her family, especially at the beach or rustic camping.
Miss Fina loves children and watching them learn and grow. The best part of her day is seeing them have fun!

Carina Griese (Miss Carina)

Miss Carina has worked in childcare for around 4 years now, and is currently the Lead Teacher in the Toddler Room. She is currently working towards attaining her Childhood Development Associate Credential She absolutely loves working with kids, especially toddlers, and considers it to be one of her favorite things!

Cassandra Hyer (Miss Cassie)

Miss Cassandra graduated from Michigan Career and Technical Institute as a Certified Nursing Assistant, but quickly found out that her passion was working with children after working at the Coleman Community Center. She started working at Michele's Montessori school in October of 2021 and is currently an Assistant Teacher in the Toddler Room. She is currently working towards attaining her Childhood Development Associate credential to become a Lead Teacher. She has a beautiful 15 month old daughter who she adores. Miss Cassie loves working with children and watching their mind and abilities grow.

Mackenzi Provow (Miss Kenzi)

Miss Kenzie started at Michele's Montessori School in 2022 as an Assistant Teacher in the Preschool Room, and is now the Lead Teacher in the Infant Room. She attained her International Montessori Diploma in July of 2023, and has plans to attend school to study Childhood Psychology. Miss Kenzi loves being able to teach and watch children (especially infants and toddlers) learn and grow.

Kelsey Miller (Miss Kelsey)

Miss Kelsey started her working career as a co-op student at West Midland Family Center in their childcare and after school program. She had always known she wanted to work with children. She has worked with children for 8 years now, with ages ranging from 0-17 years old. She truly blossomed at West Midland Family Center as a lead in the after-school program to becoming the Assistant Director of the Dow College Opportunity Program where she worked with high school students to achieve a secondary education. Miss Kelsey earned the "Heart of the Center" award, an award that is given out once a year that honors an employee who goes above and beyond for their staff and community that West Midland serves. She has been attending Delta College to achieve her Associates Degree, and has plans to transfer to Saginaw Valley to achieve her Bachelor's in Social Work. She has a 20-month-old daughter who attends Michele's Montessori, and she inspires her every day to become a better mother, teacher, and version of herself.
Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her little family. They enjoy being together and enjoying all of the Michigan seasons, their favorites being summer and fall. She plans on going above and beyond for the students and families she works with, as well as the staff she works with at Michele's Montessori.

Jenna Facundo Rytlewski (Miss Jenna)

Miss Jenna started at Michele's Montessori School in June of 2023. She is currently a Junior at Western High School, and attends the career center, studying childcare from infancy to 17 years old. She works in the Infant and Toddler rooms, and she loves to watch them grow and reach their accomplishments.
In her free time, she loves to play tennis, listen to music, and spend time with her family and friends, including her 11-month-old niece and two-year-old nephew.

Katelynn Mcgraw (Miss Kay)

Miss Kay grew up in the metro Detroit area and comes from a large, blended family with many younger siblings. Aside from being a "second mom" to her siblings, she also spent her teenage years babysitting and teaching classes at her church. She knew from a young age that being able to make an impact on children's lives was the career path she wanted to pursue. She has previous childcare experience, and when she relocated to Midland was excited to put her experience and on-the-job training into use by joining the Michele's Montessori School family.
In her downtime, Miss Kay loves spending time with her boyfriend and three cats, watching every episode of Gilmore Girls over and over, decorating her house for every holiday, and seeing her friends and family every chance she gets!

Kyle Konechne (Mr. Kyle)

Mr. Kyle started at Michele’s Montessori School in October of 2023 as an Assistant Teacher working in the K-Ready and Before and After rooms. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Media from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He previously worked in the fields of Visual Communications, Graphic Design and eLearning Development, and for many years has considered pursuing a teaching career.
Mr. Kyle enjoys working with children and has a passion to help them learn and grow. He hopes to share his creativity with the students and other staff members. In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors and a multitude of artistic activities including drawing, digital art, 3D printing, jewelry making, sculpture, and crafts.

Molly Leet (Miss Molly)

Miss Molly is currently attending Saginaw Valley State University and is majoring in Social Work to become a school counselor. She has been babysitting since she was 12 years old and has always loved working with children. Before starting at Michele's Montessori, she worked at a tutoring center where she taught early-learners how to read, write, and count.

Michele Parker (Miss Michele)

Michele is the founder of Michele's Montessori School and has taught Montessori for over 36 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 is currently a consultant for the school after her recent retirement. She attends class time every now and then to work with the children.

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