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(from L to R; Dianne Wallis, Kathy Berger)
Kathy Berger — Primary Directress Kathy has been a Primary Directress at MDS since 1997. A life long Connecticut
resident, Kathy began her involvement in Montessori education in 1984. As her
two sons attended Mount Hope Montessori School, Kathy became involved in
fundraising and assisting in the classroom. She became an assistant teacher at
Mount Hope in 1987. She served on the Board of Directors at the school from
1986-1992. In 1989 Kathy attended
Northeast Montessori Institute and began her self-directed internship as head
directress at the 3-6 level. She received her AMS Montessori primary
certification in 1994. Kathy also taught at Kidderbrook Montessori School for
two years prior to joining Montessori Discovery School. Prior to teaching, Kathy
attended Silvermine Art School, studying watercolor, acrylic and oil painting
as well as pastels and charcoal drawing with the late Robert Franco. She also
studied with Freda Delaney, a well-known portrait artist in Stamford,
Connecticut. Dianne Wallis — Primary Assistant Dianne began working in a montessori program in the 3-6 class at Oakgrove Montessori School in
Mansfield in 1992. Subbing in the 3 - 6 classroom led to her employment as the 3 - 6 afternoon
assitant teacher. She was also the head teacher of the before and aftercare program at Oakgrove.
Dianne also attended the Rising Stars Assistant Teacher Training in Massachusetts. Dianne has a nursing background with a current LPN license. She did geriatric nursing and some
private duty work. For a number of years she was at home raising her two daughters. Her oldest
daughter is a Primary Directress at Paintbranch Montessori School in Maryland. Her youngest daughter
is a registered nurse at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. Dianne loves art, cooking and hopes to increase her skills in knitting and is pleased to be a
part of Montessori Discovery School.
Debra Petrowski — Primary Directress After the birth of her daughter, Deb decided to be a full time mom and opened a home day care. After
five successful years and having completed a number of college courses, Deb
began working at MDS in 1999 as a primary assistant with Kathy Berger in Room
1. She also led the summer fun program for 3 - 6 year olds since 2000. Deb earned her Associates degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Three Rivers Community College
in 2004. She also received her AMS Primary certification from the Montessori
Teachers Institute at Three Rivers Community College in 2004. She and Julie
Davis co-direct in Room 2. Deb plans to continue working toward her Bachelor of
Arts degree in Childhood Education. She enjoys teaching the children yoga
and sign language. Shirley Karkow — Primary Assistant Shirley came to MDS as a student making observations for a class. She was excited about
the school's philosophy and curriculum and requested an opportunity to be involved
as a volunteer. She soon began working as a substitute last year. She now works in room 2 in the mornings. Originally from Wisconsin, Shirley moved to CT
in 1991 when her husband was assigned to the Groton Subase. She worked in the Child
Development Center on base for four years before opening her own home child care program. In
2000 she started the High School Volleyball program at Montville where she coached for seven seasons. Shirley has a bachelors degree in Art from the University of Wisconsin Parkside and has completed
her classes for an associates in early education and a Montessori Credential. She is completing
her final step of training, working as an intern, student teaching at MDS. Shirley has two grown children and enjoys painting and playing volleyball. Karen Grisel — Afternoon Assistant, Room 2; Extended Hours Lead Karen has been a primary assistant at MDS since 2000. She has an Associate Degree in
Horticulture and Business Management from the University of Connecticut and an Associate
Degree in Science from Three Rivers Community College. Karen has 15 years of
child care experience including running her own home day care. She has
completed 3 Montessori assistant training courses. Her interests are early
childhood education, yoga, crafts, and gardening which she delights in sharing
with the children. In her spare time Karen is a church school director and
coordinator and choir member. Jennifer Johnson — Elementary Assistant Jennifer has been at MDS since 1995 and has been elementary assistant since 1996. Jennifer
graduated from Radford University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Music Education and previously worked for Girl Scouts USA. She enjoys sewing,
singing and fine arts. Marna Chaplin — Elementary Assistant Marna became
familiar and fascinated with Montessori philosophy in 1991 while searching for
the best education for her daughter. After moving from Texas to New England in
1999 and feeling the loss of a Montessori community, she discovered MDS. Marna joined MDS in the fall of 2002 as an all around substitute. In 2003, after completing a training
workshop offered by Rising Stars, Marna became a primary assistant in Room 2.
In 2004, she was asked to join the elementary staff as an assistant. She
completed the elementary assistant training workshop at the Center for Montessori
Teacher Education. In 2005 Marna assisted in the office and in the elementary classroom and in 2006 is back as a
full-time assistant in the elementary classroom. Avery Lenhart — Elementary Directress Avery Lenhart joined MDS as elementary directress in 2000. She graduated from Wells College where she majored in
Western European Studies and Education. She received her Montessori Elementary
I training from CMTE in North Carolina. She completed her Montessori Elementary
II training from CMTE in New Rochelle New York in 2003. She is especially
interested in using Montessori methods with children who have learning
differences and began study in this area during the summer of 2001 at the
Shelton School of Dallas and has recently attended a Wilson Language workshop. Prior to joining MDS, Avery was a primary assistant at Kidderbrook Montessori School and
pioneered their elementary program. Avery has brought her enthusiasm for knitting and weaving into the classroom. Carl Thornton — Elementary Director Carl Thornton became a member of the MDS community in 1994 when his oldest son, Cole, joined the primary program.
Carl was elected to the board of trustees in 1995 and served as president of
the board from 1997-1999. Carl holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the
University of Rhode Island and a Master of Music Degree from the University of
Hartford's Hartt School of Music. Carl brings a wealth of experience from many educational programs and professional endeavors to MDS. He
designed the early childhood classroom for the Moses Brown School's Rhode
Island summer enrichment program, teaching for 18 summers and heading the
program the last 8 of those summers. He taught music in the Hebron public
school system for ten years, offering general music classes and recorder
classes. He also directed the elementary school's band and chorus. In 1994, Carl began working at Mystic Seaport, interpreting 19th century maritime history. He sang chanties,
role played, worked in the Planetarium and facilitated college students in the
Williams-Mystic program focusing on shipboard music. In 2005, after learning of
MDS's need for a 6-9 director, Carl applied for the position and began his AMS
6-9 training at the Center for Montessori Education in New Rochelle, New York. After
completing his internship, Carl will join Avery Lenhart as co- director in the
elementary classroom. (from L to R; Rachel Chaplin, Karen Grisel) Rachel Chaplin — Extended Hours Assistant Rachel Chaplin is the youngest member of our staff. She came to us as a volunteer and is now working as an assistant in our extended hours
program. Rachel attended Montessori schools through the fifth grade. She is a
magnet for children and believes working with them is her life's work. Rachel
enjoys dance in many genres. She is currently on the Board of Directors at her dance school as a student liaison. She enjoys time at home
with her family, being with friends, shopping and reading. Karen Grisel — Afternoon Assistant, Room2; Extended Hours Lead Karen has been a primary assistant at MDS since 2000. She has an Associate Degree in
Horticulture and Business Management from the University of Connecticut and an Associate
Degree in Science from Three Rivers Community College. Karen has 15 years of
child care experience including running her own home day care. She has
completed 3 Montessori assistant training courses. Her interests are early
childhood education, yoga, crafts, and gardening which she delights in sharing
with the children. In her spare time Karen is a church school director and
coordinator and choir member. Patrice Champagne — Head of School Patrice has served as head of school at MDS since 1986. She first visited the school in 1983 when
looking for a program for her then 3-year-old son, Robert. Patrice has Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in American History from Connecticut
College and a Senior Certificate in Conflict Resolution from the University of New Haven. She attended the
first Montessori AdministratorŐs training course at CMTE in 1987-88. Andrea Rankowitz —Administrative Assistant Andrea joined MDS in 2003 as a substitute in the extended hours program. Her exposure to the Montessori approach
led her to learn more about Montessori philosophy. In 2004 she enrolled her youngest son in the primary program
and joined the staff as an extended hours assistant. She served on the board of trustees as chairperson of the
parent partnership committee in 2005. She feels building a school community is very important to children,
parents and staff. In 2006 she re-joined the staff as administrative assistant.
(from L to R;Jennifer Johnson, Marna Chaplin, Avery Lenhart, and Carl Thornton)
(from L to R; Andrea Rankowitz, Patrice Champagne )
