One of the greatest strengths of our school is the trained and qualified teachers who take a personal interest in their students and parents. They care about the whole person and see education as much more than simply the training of fine minds. These dedicated teachers form the foundation of a caring community in which children develop and learn to become responsible, loving human beings.
 

Our Elementary Teachers:

Mrs. Laurie A. Roth is our Upper Elementary teacher, our school director, and she also conducts Montessori Teacher Training classes for adults. She founded our school, and her incredible vision continues to fuel and shape it. Although her experience and training are impressive, it's her extraordinary love of children, and her desire that they have a chance to learn in a way that promotes a lifelong love of learning, that really sets her apart and lights our school. She feels that the biggest impact in a child's life, other than their own family, is their school environment. She wants children to have a place to learn where they are nurtured and can develop their full potential; where they feel success, love, acceptance and freedom to speak. She has a deep desire to make a positive difference in children's lives and that is why she devotes herself to our school.

Mrs. Roth has taught in the classroom for 29 years and has been involved in school administration for 27 years. She has a degree in early childhood education from Vancouver University, received her American Montessori Society 3-6 level certificate from Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center in Chicago, Illinois. She continued her education at the 6-9 level in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and completed her 9-12 training in San Diego, California.

Mrs. Roth has six children, four of whom attended Montessori schools, three having attended from age 3 until 6th grade. Her children are now grown and she is a grandma.

Mrs. Caisa Call is our Lower Elementary teacher. She has a teaching degree from Idaho State University, has an Idaho State Teaching Certificate for K-8, and additional Montessori training in level 3-6 and level 6-9. Mrs. Call has been teaching for 12 years, and loves Montessori education! While pursuing her elementary education degree, there were things she was learning about traditional methods of education that she didn't feel represented the best way for children to learn. When she began learning about Montessori education, it felt "right" to her and fit exactly with all that she felt about what really works for children for the very best learning experience.

Mrs. Call's very favorite thing (and not just because she's a teacher) is to watch the light in a child's eyes as they "get it" and begin to really make connections and understand a concept.

She has six children of her own (grade school to college age) and loves horses, reading and jigsaw puzzles. She grew up on a small family farm and was always happier out digging ditches or mending fences than she was inside cooking or cleaning. She can still be seen (upon occasion) riding dirt bikes with the kids at recess or running races with them and they absolutely love it!

Our Toddler Program Teachers:

Mrs. Margaret Meacham, our lead Toddler teacher, is an amazing educator and we are thrilled to have her at our school. She has a Masters degree in education from ISU, a B.S. in Child Development and Elementary Education from Utah State University, and Montessori training from St. Nicholas Montessori Training Centre (Birth-6 years). She has an Idaho State Teaching Certificate for K-8 and Early Childhood Special Education. She has 14 years experience as a private preschool teacher, 17 years experience in the public school system as a preschool teacher of mixed typically developing children and developmentally delayed children, and then as an early childhood special educator in District 91.

Working with 3-5 year old children with delays, caused Margaret to be curious about what could be done during the infant to toddler ages to avoid these delays. She has developed an incredible toddler program for our school, using Montessori philosophy and developmentally appropriate activities especially suited to toddlers. It is apparent to anyone observing "Miss Margaret's" class that it's a great program, but what they may not recognize is that included in the toddler's activities are those that are especially designed to help with optimal development in all areas. She says she's a researcher at heart and loves working with 2 year olds; figuring out what makes them tick and then accommodating that. Miss Margaret is a mother to 5 boys and grandmother to 8.

Mrs. Ashley Goodrich holds a Bachelor Degree in Child Development from BYU Idaho. She was an Intern in the toddler class last spring and we learned that she has a gift for working with children so we are excited to have her working in a regular staff teaching position this year with Margaret in the toddler classroom.

Ashley has a very calm, quiet manner and loves working with children. She says she loves their innocence and intriguing desire to explore and know about the world around them. She likes learning why children do what they do and what works for them. She looks forward to raising a family in the future and would like to run an in home preschool.

Ashley grew up in Sugar City and met her husband through girl friends at work. In her free time she likes to sew, scrapbook, do any type of craft, take pictures, look at crafting blogs, spend time with her husband and family, watch movies, and go 4 wheeling and camping. She loves the beauty of Idaho; especially the mountains, lakes and snow.

We are excited to have Ashley as part of our staff and feel that she and Margaret together make a truly outstanding teaching team for our toddler classes!

Our Early Childhood Teachers:

Mrs. Emily Imberi first came in contact with Montessori education when she put her son Thomas into Mrs. Roth's Montessori preschool. She was later asked to volunteer in the classroom and was amazed by the capabilities of children in the 3-5 year age group. She did her Montessori Teacher Training with Mrs. Roth through the Lighthouse Montessori Teacher Education Center, and has been teaching in the Early Childhood classroom for 4 years.

Mrs. Imberi has a gift for running a peaceful classroom with happily working children.

Mrs. Imberi loves to teach and is very social by nature. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, gardening, being outside (when it's warm) and she loves chocolate. She says that the Montessori Method has been a wonderful thing for her son, and for their family.

Mrs. Tarina Stephens grew up right here in Ammon, and has lived in Parker, Idaho for the last 20 years. She has 4 children ages 7-21 and one sweet grandson.

Mrs. Stephens did her Montessori Training with Mrs. Roth through the Lighthouse Montessori Teacher Education Center. She and another Montessori trained teacher opened A Child's Garden preschool and she taught there for two and a half years.

Tarina became interested in Montessori education because she wanted to know what she could do to help her children love to learn. She found much that helped her as a mother within the Montessori Method and wished she would have had it to use in her home, as a foundation, from the very beginning. She says it's so hard for kids to just sit as they are trying to learn. She loves that Montessori education has so much movement and hands on learning. She believes it leads to curiosity and interest to learn more.

When she is not teaching or busy as a mom and grandma, Mrs. Stephens loves to do family history, and to try many different crafts. Her favorite things about Idaho are the rolling hills and beautiful sunsets.

Mrs. Stephens has a very calm manner and an understanding heart when it comes to children. We think she is a wonderful addition to our early childhood classroom!