Kelsey Miller (Miss Kelsey)
As the director of Michele's Montessori School, Kelsey's journey in childcare began as a co-op student at the West Midland Family Center, where she worked in their childcare and after-school programs. With a lifelong passion of working with children, she has accumulated 9 years of experience with age ranges from infancy to 18 years old.
During her time at West Midland Family Center, Kelsey progressed from a Lead in the after-school program to the Assistant Director of the Dow College Opportunity program, where she helped high school students achieve their secondary education goals. She was honored with the "Heart of Center" award, which is given annually to a staff member who goes above and beyond for the community.
Kelsey recently graduated from Delta College and plans to continue her education in the near future. She is passionate about helping people, especially children, reach their highest potential.
Kelsey has a two-year-old daughter who attends Michele's Montessori, and she inspires her on a daily basis to be a better mother, teacher, and person. Outside of work, she enjoys spending much of her time with her family, taking advantage of all of Michigan's seasons, with summer and fall being their favorites.
At Michele's Montessori School, Kelsey is committed to going above and beyond for the students and families we serve, as well as supporting and leading our dedicated staff.
During her time at West Midland Family Center, Kelsey progressed from a Lead in the after-school program to the Assistant Director of the Dow College Opportunity program, where she helped high school students achieve their secondary education goals. She was honored with the "Heart of Center" award, which is given annually to a staff member who goes above and beyond for the community.
Kelsey recently graduated from Delta College and plans to continue her education in the near future. She is passionate about helping people, especially children, reach their highest potential.
Kelsey has a two-year-old daughter who attends Michele's Montessori, and she inspires her on a daily basis to be a better mother, teacher, and person. Outside of work, she enjoys spending much of her time with her family, taking advantage of all of Michigan's seasons, with summer and fall being their favorites.
At Michele's Montessori School, Kelsey is committed to going above and beyond for the students and families we serve, as well as supporting and leading our dedicated staff.
Caitlyn McPhillips (Miss Caitlyn)

Miss Caitlyn is the Assistant Director of Michele's Montessori School and the Lead Teacher in one of the Preschool Classrooms. She attended Central Michigan University, taking classes in Family Studies and Early Childhood Development. She has her International Montessori Diploma, as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Childhood Psychology from 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.
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.
Jillian Worsley (Miss Jillian)
Miss Jillian earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Music from Central Michigan University. Before joining Michele’s Montessori in 2024 as an Assistant Teacher in the Preschool Classrooms, she gained valuable experience working with The Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy, as well as J.D. Power. Inspired by her own family’s positive experience at the school, Jillian brings her passion for education and creativity to the classroom. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with daughter, freelancing in database management, sewing and making music with her husband and their cover band in Midland.
Richa Sharma (Miss Richa)
Miss Richa is the Assistant Teacher of Michele's Montessori School started in the summer of 2023 and is currently teaching in the Maple Room (Preschool Program). She earned the 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 14 years and is a proud mother of 2 kids (11-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son). Miss Richa loves travelling, doing adventures things, and spending time with her family. She is very passionate about teaching.
Miss Richa has been married for 14 years and is a proud mother of 2 kids (11-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son). Miss Richa loves travelling, doing adventures things, and spending time with her family. She is very passionate about teaching.
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.
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.
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 the Lead Teacher in one of the Preschool Classrooms. 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.
Raven Eaton (Miss Raven)
Miss Raven is an Assistant Teacher in the Preschool Program! She loves playing a part in the growth, development, and happiness of the children!
Elizabeth Steffke (Miss Elizabeth)
Miss Elizabeth started working at Michele's Montessori School in April of 2024 and is an Assistant Teacher in the Preschool Program. She loves watching the children learn and grow!
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! |
Maddy Teall (Miss Maddy)
Miss Maddy is a senior at Midland High school, and started working at Michele's Montessori School in the Fall of 2024. She is an Assistant Teacher in the Get Ready for Kindergarten program. She enjoys the outdoors, working out, being creative, and her faith is very important to her. She is an animal lover, and finds peace and pleasure in the farm setting, helping with chores. Miss Maddy has many little cousins that she gets to help out with, and is often babysitting. She feels that it is so rewarding to see children learn and grow, and she loves to ba a part of that process.
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.
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.
Jenna Facundo Rytlewski (Miss Jenna)
Miss Jenna is a senior attending Bay City Western High School and bay Arenac ISD Career Center. Through the opportunities provided to her from the Career Center, she is doing an open internship at Michele's Montessori School, studying children from infancy to 17 years old.
Miss Jenna has been at Michele's Montessori School for one year. She has worked with all ages but especially loves her time with the infants and toddlers. She loves to watch each child grow, and their faces make her day! She also enjoys the excitement the children portray when they learn something new. She is currently working in the infant and toddler rooms, working toward achieving her Childhood Development Associates through the ISD Career Center.
In her free time, Miss Jenna loves to be outside and spend time with her family and friends. She also enjoys reading, playing tennis, and shopping!
Miss Jenna has been at Michele's Montessori School for one year. She has worked with all ages but especially loves her time with the infants and toddlers. She loves to watch each child grow, and their faces make her day! She also enjoys the excitement the children portray when they learn something new. She is currently working in the infant and toddler rooms, working toward achieving her Childhood Development Associates through the ISD Career Center.
In her free time, Miss Jenna loves to be outside and spend time with her family and friends. She also enjoys reading, playing tennis, and shopping!
Karina Mitchell (Miss Karina)
Miss Karina is the Lead Teacher in the Toddler Room and is in the progress of attaining her Montessori Certification! She loves playing a part in the growth, development, and happiness of the children!
Taylor McCann (Miss Taylor)
Miss Taylor is an Assistant Teacher in the Toddler Room! She loves playing a part in the growth, development, and happiness of the children!
Hannah Admire (Miss Hannah)
Miss Hannah is an Assistant Teacher in the Toddler Room! She loves playing a part in the growth, development, and happiness of the children!
Abby Wicker (Miss Abby)
Miss Abby has been working at Michele's Montessori since October of 2023, and is the Lead Teacher in the Infant Room! She loves working with children and enjoys seeing them grow and learn! When she's not working, she is usually hanging out with friends and family, and enjoys sports, reading, and movies!
Faith Drossart (Miss Faith)
Miss Faith grew up in Oakland County, and graduated from Walled Lake Central in 1995, where she got her CNA certification and was a Teacher's Aid for Oakly Park Elementary in her senior year. Although she considered going into nursing, she ultimately decided to take over her mother's daycare, which she owned for 30 years. During Covid, Miss Faith was a nanny, worked overnight in a grocery store, and helped out at a retirement home. In July of 2023, she decided she wanted a quieter lifestyle, and purchased a farm in Midland.
Miss Faith started working at Michele's Montessori School in October of 2023. She is an Assistant Teacher in the Infant Room, and loves getting to know all of the babies! She feels as though they are kindred spirits, and enjoys connecting with them and getting to know their unique personalities. In her free time, Miss Faith likes to spend time on her farm, tending to her 150 chickens, guinea-hens, geese, ducks, turkeys, goats, horses, turtles, tortoise, and pig. She has three sons, ages 14, 20, and 23, who she adores. She also is a fish hobbyist, and loves crafting and learning how to use new tools.
Miss Faith started working at Michele's Montessori School in October of 2023. She is an Assistant Teacher in the Infant Room, and loves getting to know all of the babies! She feels as though they are kindred spirits, and enjoys connecting with them and getting to know their unique personalities. In her free time, Miss Faith likes to spend time on her farm, tending to her 150 chickens, guinea-hens, geese, ducks, turkeys, goats, horses, turtles, tortoise, and pig. She has three sons, ages 14, 20, and 23, who she adores. She also is a fish hobbyist, and loves crafting and learning how to use new tools.
Lilly Broderick (Miss Lilly)
Miss Lilly is an Assistant teacher in the infant room! She loves playing a part in the growth, development, and happiness of the children!
Sam Duenas (Miss Sam)
Miss Sam is an Assistant teacher in the infant room! She loves playing a part in the growth, development, and happiness of the children!
Abigail Brooks (Miss Abigail)
Miss Abigail is an intern in the infant room! She loves playing a part in the growth, development, and happiness of the children!
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.
Madison Stockton (Miss Madison)
Miss Madison attends Midland High School, and has been working at Michele's Montessori School since December of 2023. Her previous babysitting experience inspired her start in the childcare field, and she has been immensely enjoying her time with the children. In her free time, Miss Madison enjoys playing sports, and spending time with friends and family.
Josie Cripe (Miss Josie)
Miss Josie is a senior at Midland High School and plans on attending Michigan State to study Elementary Education. She serves as the Student Body President at Midland High. Miss Josie primarily works in the Preschool Classrooms. She loves watching the children learn new things and grow! In her free time, she loves to read and spend time with her family and friends. She loves to watch the kiddos learn and grow!
Josie Conant-Goulet (Miss Josie)
Miss Josie is a seasonal employee at Michele's Montessori School, where she works during the summers. She started in the summer of 2023, and loves the time she gets to spend with the children!
Staff Photos supplied by Schaffert Studios (989) 687-6884