Working well with young children requires training, talent, mature judgment, and practice. Our staff is the most important aspect of your child's environment. We furnish the Children's House with wonderful activities and attractive surroundings because children are naturally drawn to things that are esthetically pleasing, comfortable to use, and well designed to achieve their purpose. Nevertheless, it is in selecting our adult staff that the school ultimately distinguishes itself, as any experienced Montessori parent will tell those who inquire. We bring together individuals with the right qualities and background and then enable them to practice their profession in the way they know best serves the children and their families.
 |
David Cannon, Administrator
After teaching in the Montessori Elementary program (ages 6-12), David spent 20 years as the administrator of two local Montessori schools. He started several new programs. He is active in local and national Montessori communities. Recently, as a volunteer board member of the Oregon Montessori Association, David helped the OMA achieve a substantial increase in its services and its administrative capacity. David also serves on the boards of several other nonprofit organizations and volunteers with the City Club of Portland and other civic and educational activities.
David has a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and did graduate work at the University of Illinois. He earned an AMI Montessori diploma in Washington, DC before moving to Portland. His son and daughter attended Montessori schools, live in Portland, and are now engaged in teaching, public service, and the arts. David and his wife Jo live in SW Portland and enjoy hiking, travel, music, and being with their first grandchild. |
|
 |
Amelia Combes, Toddler Assistant
Amelia has worked with toddlers and their parents for eight years and with young children even longer. Originally from Kansas, she has lived and worked in the Beaverton area since moving to Portland in 2002. She has her A.A. degree from Portland Community College.
Amelia has been a big part of our Heron Cove community since spring of 2012.
|
|
 |
Alaa Elogbi – Toddler Assistant
Alaa is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Portland State University. As she plans to use her degree in her work with children, she is gaining valuable skills and experience during her time working at Montessori Children's House.
Alaa has volunteered extensively in and around the Portland area helping families, children, and the homeless. Alaa and her husband live in the South Waterfront neighborhood.
|
|
|
Erica Garcia — Primary Assistant (afternoon)
Erica and her husband have two children ages 2 and 3. Before joining our staff, Erica volunteered with an early childhood Head Start program and is now studying for a master’s degree in early childhood education. She has also worked in the business world. Erica and her family live in NW Portland. |
|
 |
Jay Gerwe – Primary Assistant (Chickadee Grove)
Jay is an experienced Montessori guide who works at MCH part-time while completing a degree in Environmental Science at Portland State University. He has a bachelor's degree in Education from Indiana University and a masters degree in Education from Loyola University (Maryland).
After completing his AMI Montessori training in 2007, Jay taught at Child's View Montessori School and Childpeace Montessori School in Portland. He directed a class of full-day children at Childpeace from noon to 6PM.
Jay is an avid outdoorsman and he's en enthusiastic supporter of the Portland Timbers. He is training their future stars out in Carruthers Park!
|
|
 |
Rochelle Holmberg, Primary Guide (Tanager Meadow)
Rochelle is in her seventh year leading a Montessori primary class, and before that she was a classroom assistant. She has been with MCH since we began in 2010. A native of Eugene, Rochelle has a B.A. in music from the University of Puget Sound and a master of education degree from Loyola College in Maryland. Her AMI Montessori training is from the Montessori Institute Northwest.
Rochelle enjoys creating materials for her own classroom, especially those that employ her sewing and knitting skills, which she shares with her students. She is also a violinist and plays in a community orchestra. She loves books and reading and has worked at Portland's legendary Powell's Bookstore. Rochelle and her husband live in Southeast Portland. |
|
 |
Heather Kessler, Primary Assistant (Tanager Meadow)
Heather works with Rochelle as the assistant in Tanager Meadow primary classroom. She earned her Montessori teacher's certificate from the Montessori Institute NW in 2012. Heather is originally from Brookings, Or. and is a graduate Southern Oregon University.
Heather lived and worked in Japan for six years, where she taught English and hired, trained and supervised other teachers. She has also traveled in other areas of the world and enjoys foreign languages.
|
|
 |
Julia Mendelson – Toddler Assistant
Julia is one of our original MCH staff who began in fall of 2010. Julia attended a Montessori school from ages 3-12 on the East Coast. At the age of 20 she began working with toddlers at the Fraser-Woods School in Connecticut. Since then she has worked in several schools with children of various ages. In the summer of 2012 Julia began her AMI Montessori teacher-training for the 0-3 years age level.
Julia has done a great deal of volunteer work in fundraising for cancer research and political campaigns. |
|
 |
Julia Norman, Full Day Guide
Julia Norman is a native of Florida and a graduate of the University of Georgia. She also has a master’s degree in education. Before moving to Portland last spring she taught at Northwoods Montessori School in Atlanta, Ga. She has directed our primary summer class and currently is the lead guide for the late day portion of the primary program, working closely with the other primary staff. Julia also assists with administrative work for 5-10 hours a week.
Julia is an accomplished photographer and enjoys other arts and crafts as well. She has traveled extensively abroad and enjoys sharing her experiences and adventures with children in stories, photos, cooking, and more. Like many of our staff, Julia attended Montessori schools herself as a child. |
|
 |
Andrea Roberts – Toddler assistant
Andrea joined the Montessori Children's House staff at the beginning in 2011 as assistant and with the challenging role of late-day teacher. She has more than ten years of experience working in Portland-area Montessori schools, including Childpeace Montessori and Montessori of Alameda. In the summer of 2012 Andrea was the lead teacher in our toddler community. One of her many strengths is that she speaks Spanish.
Andrea majored in Early Childhood Education (with a minor in art) at Grambling State University in Louisiana. She lives in Beaverton and enjoys cooking, baking, and painting in her home art studio. |
|
 |
Kate Weltner, Toddler Guide
Before joining us a year ago, Kate had previously taught for several years at West Hills Montessori School in Portland and served as a family child care provider and consultant. She has AMI Montessori teaching certificates at both the 0-3 and 3-6 age levels. A native of the New York City area, Kate has a B.A. in psychology from Skidmore College and a master of education degree from Loyola College in Maryland. Her Montessori training was at the Montessori Institute Northwest.
Kate enjoys travel, the outdoor life, children’s arts and crafts, and writing. She has worked in Australia and Argentina and speaks Spanish.
|
|
 |
Courtney White, Primary Guide (Chickadee Grove)
Courtney has extensive experience working with young children in both the classroom and the home. Before joining our staff when we opened in 2010, she worked in the Primary (3-6) classrooms at West Hills Montessori in Lake Oswego for three years, where she also supervised during extended hours. She has served a couple of families as their regular nanny and childcare provider for a period of years.
Courtney studied at the Montessori Institute Northwest to earn her AMI Primary Diploma. She has a B. A. in Psychology from Portland State University and holds her Masters of Education from Loyola University of Maryland. A native of Washington, Courtney now lives in (and commutes to work by bicycle from) Northeast Portland. She is a pianist and an avid outdoors enthusiast. |
|
|
