Faculty & Staff

Administrative Staff

	Melissa Norton Admissions and Programming Coordinator Melissa obtained a B.A. in Theatre Studies and in Political Science from Guilford College, AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN, and M.Ed. in Education from Loyola College. Before joining WBMS, Melissa taught or assisted in other Montessori schools and served as the Children's Program Stage Manager for an outdoor theatre company. Melissa was a Children's House Guide for 11 years before assuming her current role. Melissa enjoys reading, solving crossword puzzles, walking, hiking, practicing yoga, and being with her dog. Email Melissa
	Amanda Evans Bookkeeper Amanda earned her BFA in Illustration in 2005. She worked in Accounts Payable/Receivable for 3 and a half years for a company in Roseville. In her free time Amana loves spending time with her husband Dan and their two little girls. The family enjoys many activities together such as gardening, going for walks and going to museums. Amanda loves working in her studio, often accompanied by her 4 year daughter, where she can draw, paint, sew and create things. Amanda has been designing, making, and selling greeting cards for several years. Email Amanda
	Becky Brenner Office Support/Support Staff Becky holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of MN. She previously worked as a Teaching Assistant with the Roseville school district. Becky has two children, and she enjoys singing in the church choir, playing guitar, scrapbooking, and painting in her White Bear Lake studio.

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Parent/Infant Program

Emily Shubitz Parent/Infant Guide Emily obtained her B.S. in Sociology from Portland State University, M.S. in Education from Loyola College, AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN, and AMI Assistant to Infancy Diploma from the Montessori Institute of Denver. She has served as Guide or Assistant at schools in MN and in Prague. Emily enjoys snowboarding and camping. Email Emily

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Toddler Program

Laurie Pittman Toddler Guide Laurie obtained her AMI Assistant to Infancy Diploma from the Montessori Institute of Denver and her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN. Laurie served as Assistant in CH2 from 1995-1998 and became the T2 Guide in 1998. Laurie enjoys reading, dancing, and playing tennis. Email Laurie

Emily Shubitz Toddler Assistant Emily obtained her B.S. in Sociology from Portland State University, M.S. in Education from Loyola College, AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN, and AMI Assistant to Infancy Diploma from the Montessori Institute of Denver. She has served as Guide or Assistant at schools in MN and in Prague. Emily enjoys snowboarding and camping. Email Emily

Katie Rice Toddler Assistant Katie attended St. Paul Technical College where she studied Child Development. She has worked with young children in a variety of capacities at three child care centers. She loves working with children and hopes to further her education in this field in the future. Katie enjoys watching many sporting events, including baseball, football and hockey and tries to attend live games when she has the opportunity. Katie also loves camping, fishing and boating. Katie’s most favorite thing to do is spend time with her son and fiancé. Whether it’s going to the zoo, a park or just sitting at home relaxing and watching movies, family time is a priority.

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Children's House Program

	Lucy Finch Children's House 1 Guide Lucy earned both her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Studies from Metropolitan State University and her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN in 2008. She has previously worked as an Aide at Way of the Shepherd Montessori School and as both an Aide and an Assistant at Sunshine Montessori School. Lucy enjoys reading, being outdoors, and spending time with her family. Email Lucy
	Brenda Sussna Children's House 1 Assistant Brenda has a BFA in Design from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and an AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota. Brenda is also working on her Masters of Education through Loyola College in Baltimore Maryland and anticipates graduation in December of 2011. Brenda has experience substitute teaching in local Montessori schools. She is also the parent of a 14 year old who attends a Montessori School. Brenda enjoys gardening, reading, drawing, being active outdoors, spending time in nature with her family, watching foreign films with her husband and traveling.
	Amanda Puchreiter Children's House 2 Guide Amanda Puchreiter attended Des Moines Community College for Business Management from 1997-1999. She received her Primary Montessori Training Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota in 2002. In addition Amanda has taken courses at Metropolitan State University in Psychology from 2003-2005. Amanda has been a member of the WBMS staff since 2002. She has worked in several capacities: as classroom Aide, Summer Camp Guide, Enrichment Center Guide and as a Children’s House Assistant. In her free time Amanda enjoys reading, scrapbooking, playing with her 3 girls: Ava, Eden and Aria and spending time with friends and family. Amanda's children also all attend WBMS. Email Amanda
	Na Goodman Children's House 2 Assistant Na graduated from Xi’an Fanyi University in Shannxi, China and has earned her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN.  Na has worked in a traditional daycare setting and has volunteered her time at Cherokee Heights Elementary mentoring 2nd and 5th grade children. In her spare time Na likes to read, watch movies, listen to music, shop and to cook.
	Kari Zavadsky Children's House 3 Guide Kari earned a two year Associates Degree from Madison Area Technical College and her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN. She is also working on her Bacherlor's degree in Child Psychology at Metropolitan State University.  Kare enjoys spending time with her two children and her husband.  She also loves to bake and be outdoors. Email Kari
	Humera Akmal Children's House 3 Assistant Humera has a Masters Degree in Biological Science from the Quaid-i-Azam Universtiy in Islamabad, Pakistan. She earned her AMI Primary Diploma through the Montessori Training Center of MN in 2008. Before joining WBMS she volunteered time with the Roseville and Woodbury public school system and spent a year working as lead teacher at a preschool where she was able to introduce Montessori philosophies. In her spare time she enjoys reading fiction, especially short stories. She also loves to work with arts and crafts materials with children.

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Elementary Program

Patty Shade Elementary Guide Patty received her undergraduate degree in Office Administration from Miami University (OH), M.S. in Education from Loyola College, AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN, and AMI Elementary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of Milwaukee, WI. Patty also has extensive music and theatre/dance experience (both community and professional) and has also been certified by the American Council on Exercise as a Personal Fitness Trainer. Before becoming an Elementary Guide, Patty was a CH Guide at WBMS for four years and was also a Guide at Highland Park Montessori in St. Paul. Patty enjoys tap dancing, singing, playing harp and piano, drawing, reading, and having fun with her husband, John, and her daughter, Abby. Email Patty

Amanda Flores Spanish Guide Amanda Flores has a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology. Amanda is bilingual, her native language is Spanish. She obtained her AMI Primary Montessori Training at the Montessori Training Center of MN in 2010. Amanda has worked for the Federal Government in Mexico and for a Fortune 500 International company. Amanda has also worked as an interpreter and translator for eight years and as a Spanish Teacher for Adults for four Years.  In her free time Amanda enjoys arts & crafts, gardening, oil painting, and being in nature. Amanda loves to be with her own young children, who also attend Montessori School. Email Amanda Flores

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Enrichment Center and Club Programs

Traci Glaser Enrichment Center Lead Traci obtained her Bachelor's degree in secondary education (with a concentration in communicative disorders) from the University of WI, River Falls, in May, 2008. She worked with two- and three-year-olds in a traditional center from September 2007 to May 2008. Traci enjoys scrapbooking, reading (especially books by Nicholas Sparks), and spending time with her many nieces and nephews. Email Traci

Vee Her Enrichment Center Assistant Vee brings many years of experience to her position as Enrichment Center Assistant. She took Child Development Courses at St. Paul Technical College, has worked as a Lead Toddler teacher, a Lead Preschool and has over ten years of working with young children in an educational setting. In addition Vee worked as the Assistant Director in a preschool. In her free time Vee enjoys scrapbooking and spending time with her husband and four children.

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Support Staff

	Gloria Semmelink Gloria holds a B.A. in Computer Science from Aurora College in IL and an AMS diploma from MECA Montessori Training of Hinsdale, IL. Gloria has served as a Montessori teacher in Illinois, in an after-school program, and as an assistant. Gloria's hobbies are camping with her sons and going to her sons' many sports, band, and other events.
	Sandy Powers Sandy Powers has a Bachelors Degree in Music from the Eastman School of Music and a Masters Degree in Clarinet Performance from Northwestern University. Sandy was a Minnesota Opera principal clarinetist for 20 years. She has also been a member of the MacPhail Clarinet Faculty since 1995. Sandy has experience working with children is various settings, including music education. She has also taught clarinet lessons to students from 3 – 80 years old. She has worked as a children’s figure skating teacher, at a group home for adults with autism, as a Regions Hospital volunteer providing bedside music for patients, and as a Hospice Volunteer. In her free time Sandy enjoys rock climbing, music, reading, movies, travelling, spending time with family, friends, and hiking with her dog.
	Heidi Thulin Heidi completed her B.S degree in English-Writing from Northwestern College. She has been a nanny and a near-full-time sub for WBMS. Heidi has a passion for writing short stories and poetry.  Newly married, Heidi and her husband enjoy tent camping, hiking, geocaching and archery together in their spare time.

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