Faculty & Staff

Head of School & Administrative | Parent/Infant | Toddler | Children's House
Elementary | Enrichment Center & the Club | Support Staff

Head of School

Heather Peterson Head of School Heather earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Metropolitan State University and her AMI Primary Diploma from Montessori Training Center of MN. She worked as a Children's House Assistant and Guide and as a Curriculum Coordinator before becoming Head of School in 2003. Heather enjoys reading, cooking, and visiting with friends and family. Email Heather

Administrative Staff

	Nancy Schulte Admissions Coordinator/Office Manager Nancy studied office administration at Northeast Metro Technical School. She has been employed with WBMS since 2001. Prior to that, Nancy was a stay-at-home mom for several years and also worked in customer service, home business sales, and the restaurant industry. Nancy enjoys reading, walking, knitting, and skiing, and being a mother to her four beautiful children. Email Nancy
	Kathy Beigle Bookkeeper Kathy has been working as a bookkeeper since 1980 and has been self-employed since 1990. Kathy's hobbies are gardening, reading, fishing, and caring for her three sons. Email Kathy
	Kim Lovrich Resource Manager Kim holds a B.S. in English Education and is currently pursuing her Master's in Public Health. She has served as Executive Director of Spare Key (a local non-profit organization) for three years, and she taught high school English for five years. Kim's hobbies include walking, gardening, and reading. Email Kim

Back to Top

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

Back to Top

Toddler Program

	Anne Thayer Toddler 1 and Toddler After-Care Guide Anne holds a B.S. in Psychology as well as an AMI Assistant to Infancy Diploma and an AMS Primary Diploma. Anne was employed with Sunshine Montessori for five years and has been at WBMS since 1999. Anne enjoys knitting, traveling, reading, walking, and yoga. Email Anne
	Corrine France Toddler 1 Assistant Corrine studied Child Development and Psychology at Century College. Before joining WBMS, Corrine worked as a Paraprofessional at a local high school. Corrine has been at WBMS since 2001, working as a CH Assistant, a Summer Camp Assistant, and now as a Toddler Program Assistant. Corrine has three children and one granddaughter. She enjoys motorcycle riding, rollerblading, walking, biking, and playing Chuck E. Cheese skeetball.
	Laurie Pittman Toddler 2 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. She is also a certified doula through Doulas of North America International and volunteers as a birth doula at Woodwinds Health Campus. 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
	Traci Glaser Toddler 2 Assistant 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.

Back to Top

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
	Amanda Puchreiter Children's House 1 Assistant Amanda attended Des Moines Area Community College from 1997 to 1999 and earned her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN in 2003. She was an Aide at WBMS from 2002 to 2003 and was the Enrichment Center Guide from 2003 to 2005. After a few years away while starting a family, Amanda has returned to WBMS. Amanda enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, reading, spending time with her family and friends, and playing with her daughters, Ava and Eden.
	Angie Perlinger Children's House 2 Guide Angie obtained her B.A. from the University of Arkansas and her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN. She served as Aftercare Supervisor for a Montessori school in Arkansas, and she was a Montessori Elementary Assistant in Owatanna. She also was employed at Oak Hill Montessori as a Summer Camp Guide. Angie enjoys reading, hiking, photography, and camping. Email Angie
	Sarah Pelto Children's House 2 Assistant Sarah earned her B.S. in Psychology at the College of Saint Scholastica and her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN. Sarah is currently completing her M.S. in Education from Loyola College, Maryland. She was previously employed as an assistant at the Montessori School of Duluth, MN. Sarah enjoys reading, hiking, gardening, and scrapbooking.
	Sarah Weisbecker Children's House 3 Guide Sarah earned her undergraduate degree in Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas in 2006 and her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN in 2008. Sarah has worked in four different Montessori schools as an Aide or Assistant in Toddler, CH, and Elementary programs. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys reading, listening to music, baking, hiking, and spending time with her friends and family, especially her husband, Andy. Email Sarah
	Rachel Ivascu Children's House 3 Assistant Rachel joined WBMS in 2004 and worked in a support staff role while earning her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN. She has experience as both a CH Assistant and Guide and as an Elementary Assistant. Rachel's hobbies include cooking, spending time outdoors, taking her black lab, Ida, to the dog park, and being with family and friends.
	Jennifer Bremer Children's House 4 Guide Jennifer obtained her B.S. in Psychology from the University of MN and her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN. Before becoming the CH4 Guide, Jennifer worked as an Assistant for 6 years. Jennifer enjoys reading, camping, spending time with family, and playing with her son, Alex. Email Jennifer
	Gloria Hartman Children's House 4 Assistant 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.

Back to Top

Elementary Program

	Patty Shade Elementary Co-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
	Melissa Norton Level Coordinator and Basic Skills Tutor 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.S. 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 family and her dog. Email Melissa
	Judith Erickson Art Specialist and Elementary Assistant Judith earned her Bachelor's degrees in Painting and Art History from Northwestern University in Evanstown, IL. She also attended graduate school to study business administration (museum administration) at the University of Kansas. Before coming to WBMS, Judith was Staff Lecturer in the Museum Education Department at the Art Institute of Chicago. She has also served as Creative Arts Therapist at the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas, and has helped develop workshops in exploring the creative potential in clinical, business, and community settings. Judith enjoys biking, hiking, camping, painting, and pottery as well as antiques and collectibles.

Back to Top

Enrichment Center and Club Programs

Bryan Emery Enrichment Center/Club Guide Bryan has been employed with WBMS since 2007. He earned his B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Child Psychology and Philosophy from the College of Saint Scholastica. He also earned his AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN in 2006. Bryan's hobbies include being outdoors, spending time with friends and family, taking photographs, and working on his Mac. Email Bryan

Jean Jenson-Shields Assistant, Enrichment Center/Club Guide Jean has been employed at WBMS since 1995. Before joining WBMS, she worked as Head Teacher for nine years in a childcare center at a psychiatric hospital in Vermont. Jean's hobbies include gardening, reading, walking her two rescued labs (Coda and Brutus), learning about herbal and homeopathic medicine, and spending time with her grandson, John.

Back to Top

Support Staff

	Becky Brenner 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.
	Suzanne Coffman aka "Grandma Suzy" Grandma Suzy earned a B.S. in Elementary Education (with a minor in Social Studies) from Ohio State University. She is a retired elementary school teacher. Grandma Suzy has three children. Her hobbies are reading and spending time with her six grandchildren.
	Kia Hammill Kia earned her Bachelor's Degree in Theatre from Milikin University in Decatur, IL. She obtained her AMI Assistants course from the Montessori Training Center of MN last summer and is currently working toward her Primary certification at MTCM and her Master's in Education from Loyola College in MD. Kia has worked as a professional actress and singer around the region for the past several years. She worked with children in many different capacities and especially enjoyed her time in educational children's theatre and working as a personal care assistant to a three year-old boy with special needs. In her spare time (which is non-existent this year), Kia loves needle felting with wool, bellydancing, playing outside, watching movies, and working on film projects with her husband, Zach, for their company, Cratchit Films.
	CarrieAnn Jonas CarrieAnn has four children and is too busy taking care of her family to have hobbies! She does enjoy reading during her few moments of spare time.
	Stephanie Roots Stephanie earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in social work. She worked for two years as a preschool teacher. She has served as a school social worker, a program director for foster care children, and a case manager and clinical case manager for the mentally ill. Stephanie enjoys scrapbooking in her spare time.
	Kristin Stelck Kristin earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of MN, Duluth, and she obtained her Elementary Education certificate from Hamline University. From 1999 to 2001, she worked as a Peace Corps volunteer at a residential school in Guatemala, where she taught English, Natural Resources, and Organic Farming Techniques. From 2001 to 2008, she was the Lead Educator for the wilderness crew at the Tongass National Forest (Admiralty Island National Monument), Alaska, where she created lesson plans and brought the children outdoors. Her outdoor hobbies include hiking, biking, canoeing, wind-surfing, skiing, snowshoeing, and strolling, and her indoor hobbies include reading, knitting, papermaking, baking, creating pottery, and playing (or trying to play) guitar.

Back to Top