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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 with Montessori education in 1984 when her two sons
attended Mount Hope Montessori School in Mansfield, CT. Kathy served as a classroom assistant at
Mount Hope for nine years. For two of those years, she worked with Lorna McGrath, who inspired
her to begin training as a head directress. In 1988 Kathy attended Northeast Montessori Institute and then served as primary
head directress at Mount Hope through 1995. Kathy received her Montessori 3-6 certification from
Northeast Montessori Institute in 1994. She served as head directress at Kidderbrook Montessori
School for two years prior to coming to MDS. Kathy attended Silvermine Art School, studying watercolor, acrylic and oil painting with the
late Robert Franco. She also studied with Freda Delaney, a well-known portrait artist in Springdale,
CT. Kathy has also studied pottery making and photography. She is a member of the Mount Hope
Montessori School Board of Directors and is studying music with Paul Recker, a certified
teacher of the Alexander technique. Dianne Wallis — Primary Assistant Dianne began working as a substitute in the 3-6 class at Oakgrove Montessori School in
Mansfield, CT in 1992. This led to her employment as the 3 - 6 afternoon assistant teacher. She
was also the head teacher of the before and after school program at Oakgrove for many years.
Dianne attended the Rising Stars Assistant Teacher Training in Massachusetts. Dianne joined MDS
as an assistant in our summer program in 1999. We were pleased to welcome her as a primary
assistant in Room 1 in 2007. Dianne has a nursing background with a current LPN license. She has done geriatric nursing and 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 and 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 has been the lead teacher for the summer fun program
for 3 - 6 year olds since 2000. Deb earned an AA in Early Childhood Special Education from Three Rivers Community College in
2004. She also received her AMS 3-6 certification from the Montessori Teachers Institute at
Three Rivers Community College in 2004. Deb became a head directress in Room 2 in 2004. Deb
plans to continue working toward her BA in Early Childhood Education. She enjoys teaching
the children yoga and sign language. Shirley Karkow — Primary Assistant Shirley came to MDS as a student observing for a class. She was excited about the school's
philosophy and curriculum and offered to volunteer. She soon began working as a substitute
at the primary and elementary levels. She joined MDS as a morning primary assistant in Room 2 in 2007.
Originally from Wisconsin, Shirley moved to CT in 1991 when her husband was assigned to
the Groton Sub Base. She worked in the Child Development Center on the Base for
four years before opening her own home child care program. In 2000 she started
the High School Volleyball program in Montville where she coached for seven
seasons. Shirley has a BA in Art from the University of Wisconsin, Parkside and has completed classes for an AA in Early Childhood Education
from Three Rivers Community College and a Montessori 3-6 Credential from
Montessori Teachers Institute at Three Rivers Community College. Shirley has two grown children and enjoys painting and
playing volleyball. Karen Grisel — Afternoon Assistant, Room 2; Extended Hours Lead
Teacher Karen has been a primary assistant at MDS
since 2000. She has an AA in Horticulture and Business Management from the
University of Connecticut, an AS from Three Rivers Community College and has
received her 3-6 Montessori certification from Montessori Teachers Institute at
Three Rivers Community College. Karen has many years of child care experience
including operating her own home day care. Her interests are early childhood
education, sewing, cooking, 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 an elementary assistant since 1996. Jennifer graduated from Radford
University in 1991 with a BS in Music Education and previously worked for Girl
Scouts USA. She lives with her husband, tortoise and three golden retrievers on
the Norwichtown Green. Jennifer is involved in a multitude of creative
activities which include sewing, fiber arts, gardening, papercrafting and singing
in a bluegrass group. Marna Chaplin — Elementary Assistant Marna became familiar and fascinated with
Montessori philosophy in 1991 while searching for the best education for her oldest
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 a floating 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 since 2006 has been a full-time assistant in the elementary classroom. Avery Lenhart — Elementary Directress Elementary Directress (Focus 9-12 year olds) 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 in 1998. 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 also attended a Wilson Language workshop. In 2007 she attended NAMTA's Adolescent
Orientation in Ohio and received a certificate of completion. 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, weaving and other fiber arts into the 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 began working as an assistant in our
extended hours program in 2004. Rachel attended Montessori schools through the
fifth grade and is currently working towards her BachelorŐs Degree in
psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. 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 1many years of child care experience
including running her own home day care. She has completed various Montessori
assistant training courses and is currently taking classes at the Montessori
Teachers Institute towards her Montessori credential. 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 MDSŐs head of school since 1986. She first visited the school in 1983
while 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. Patrice enjoys reading, knitting, 18th
century architecture and spending time with grandson, Henry. 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. Office cats: Ruddy, Smudge, Rusty, Smudge
(from L to R; Andrea Rankowitz, Patrice Champagne )
