Kat Love is the EMTA program director and was a lead guide at Montessori Academy Parkcenter for 16 years working with children 2 ½ – 6 years old. She was also the curriculum coordinator, Kindergarten music teacher, mentor for many interns, and a coach to her peers. During the height of school closures due to Covid-19 in 2020, she worked with the school’s administrators and education team to develop a Distance Learning Plan that served as a framework for all classrooms in the school. She is an active member of the American Montessori Society and the Idaho Stars Professional Development Program.

Kat holds an AMS Early Childhood credential from Montana Montessori Teacher Education Institute, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from Boise State University. She also has a passion for music and has played the flute for over 30 years.

In her spare time, Kat is an avid scuba diver and recently became a divemaster. She also enjoys going on adventures with her life partner Michael, their four children, and their three dogs.

Stephanie has served the greater Montessori community for over 30 years. After receiving her training through NCME/AMS under the mentoring of Maria Montessori colleague Mrs. Tidoni, Mrs. McReynolds began her career as a preschool teacher in La Canada-Flintridge, California.

She founded her own Montessori school two years later that began with 59 students and expanded to over 285 children and a faculty of 30, serving students from preschool through 6th grade. The school was commonly utilized by local college students as a model Montessori environment for visiting as they completed their early childhood courses.

Stephanie holds an Associate of Science degree in Early Childhood Education with honors from Glendale Community College, and an Associate of Science – Child Development Teacher degree with honors from Glendale Community College. She graduated summa cum laude from California State University at East Bay with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development/Child Development Concentration, and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership from the same university.

When not immersing herself in everything Montessori, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband Chris, her five children, and seven wonderful grandchildren.

Jody has over 30 years’ experience in education. She has owned three accredited Montessori schools in Idaho for 17 years and enjoyed serving families as a teacher and administrator. She holds a Master’s degree from St. Catherine University in Montessori Education. Jody has worked for Montessori training centers in Utah, Indiana, Tennessee and China and frequently consults for Montessori schools. Additionally, she enjoys presenting at Montessori and other professional conferences.

Jody regularly offers Positive Discipline workshops and consultations for parents, teachers, and professional leaders, and she coaches parents one on one. She holds a certificate in Adlerian Studies through the Idaho Society of Individual Psychology. Recently she served as a Board Co-Chair for the Positive Discipline Association and currently as a Co-Chair of the Educators Section of North American Adlerian Society of Adlerian Psychologists (NASAP).

Ana is an educational entrepreneur, homeschooling parent, and lifelong learner. Her experience working with children dates back to her teenage years when she took an opportunity to assist in a home daycare. From that moment, she was inspired to guide young children–particularly toddlers. Her determination for understanding psychology and behavior led her to fill positions such as Director of Curriculum, Assistant Director, Montessori Specialist, “Parent and Child” Instructor, and Head Teacher in various educational settings. Ana has experience coaching teachers at schools on the east and west coast and has served as an advisor and guest lecturer for training centers and schools in China and the Philippines, furthering the impact of Montessori education worldwide. Ana received a Montessori Assistants to Infancy Diploma from the Montessori Institute of San Diego and has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Hartford. When she’s not immersed in Montessori, Ana enjoys spending time with her family, exploring nature, and creating art.

Lisa graduated from California State University, Long Beach in 2013 with her Bachelors in Child Development and Family Studies. In 2016, she went on to complete her Assistants to Infancy training at The Montessori Institute in Denver, Colorado and her Masters of Education in Montessori Education in 2018 from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland. Lisa began her LePort Montessori journey as an Assistant Teacher in 2013 shortly after graduating from California State University, Long Beach. She went on to open her own classroom in 2014 before transferring to Leport Montessori’s Spectrum South campus in 2018. Over the years, Lisa has worked collaboratively with parents and her colleagues to create an optimal learning environment for young children both at school and at home. She views bridging the gap between home and school as a pivotal step in a child’s growth and enjoys parent education just as much as guiding young children. In her free time, Lisa enjoys spending time with her two young children and husband, going to the beach, and working out.

Jodie was born and raised in Southern California. Her love for children and education set her on the path of Early Childhood Education. After two years of being an assistant teacher in the infant program, Jodie knew that her passion lies with Montessori and made the decision to take the training at the Montessori Institute of San Diego. There, she earned her AMI Diploma in 2021. Before joining LePort Montessori, Jodie spent time volunteering at the UCI Medical Center in their Child Life Volunteer program where she provided support services for children and their families to ease their feelings of discomfort and fear brought on by hospitalizations. In her spare time, Ms. Jodie enjoys spending time with family and friends and learning new skills.

Ivette was raised in South Orange County, CA. She attended Saddleback College where she completed her A.A. in Liberal Studies and earned a Certificate in Early Childhood Development. She worked as a nanny for several years and during this time she was exposed to the Montessori method through the children for whom she cared. She started working at LePort Spectrum North as an Assistant Teacher in February of 2013 and began her training at the Montessori Institute of San Diego the following year. She earned her Montessori Diploma in August of 2015 and began working at LePort Spectrum South as a Head Teacher in the Infant Community and became the Head Teacher of the Spanish Immersion Toddler Class in January of 2018. Ivette’s greatest joy is watching the children explore their environment and learn to speak and understand Spanish fluently during their time in her class. In her free time, Ivette enjoys spending time with her family and her two dogs.

Kayley has been working with infants and toddlers in the Montessori Method for nearly a decade, after a chance encounter led her to student teaching and completing her AMS 0-3 training at West Side Montessori School in New York City. She received her B.A. in Art History from Marymount Manhattan College and has taken graduate level courses in Early Childhood Education with emphasis on Montessori education, along with completing her CDA and Newborn Care Specialist training. She currently serves as Assistant Director and Art Curriculum Coordinator of Spectrum Montessori at Woodbury in sunny Irvine, California, where her one year old son is cared for by the fabulous infant team.Having her son and utilizing Montessori at home since birth, has given her a renewed appreciation for the Method, and has energized her spirit to continue sharing and practicing it. She loves creating inspiring spaces to serve the needs of infants and toddlers, as well as continuing to learn how their little minds work and develop into a complete Self. Kayley considers herself a lifelong learner and enjoys taking continuing education courses and language classes (Spanish and Italian), going for long walks, and exploring Europe. She values spending time with her son, husband, and their two dogs, as well as visiting family back East as often as possible. She is incredibly grateful to be a small part of any new Montessorians journey!

Kristi Mondry began her Montessori career over 35 years ago. She began as an assistant but knew immediately that she wanted to learn more about Montessori education. She obtained her AMS Early Childhood Credential at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is passionate about the philosophy of Maria Montessori and believes it gives children the confidence, independence, and social skills they need to get a jump start on life. She will begin her 37th year of teaching in a primary classroom in 2022 and can’t imagine doing anything else.

She has two grown children who had the benefit of attending Montessori school in their preschool years. Her family began in Minnesota but moved to Idaho in 1998 as a result of her late husband who worked for J.R. Simplot for many years. They fell in love with Idaho’s mild winters, lack of mosquitos, and the beautiful greenbelt that are perfect for long bike rides. Her now husband is an engineer here in the valley she loves to call home.

Rachelle Wilkins is a Lead Montessori Teacher, Parent Educator, and mother of 3 wonderful Montessori children. She holds a B.A. in English from Northwest Nazarene College with an emphasis in education, an early childhood credential from the American Montessori Society and a certification in Professional studies in Adlerian Psychology.

She has been teaching Montessori for 13 years. Before becoming a Montessori Teacher, Rachelle spent 15 years working in the corporate world negotiating and purchasing software, hardware and services for a fortune 500 company. Rachelle’s greatest passion is working with children and parents to cultivate loving, caring and successful human beings.

Her greatest accomplishments are her three children, Lauren, Kael and Drew. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, sewing, crafting, and spending time with family and friends.

Tiffani Peppersack is the Sensorial instructor and is currently a local lead guide at Montessori Academy Parkcenter. She has been working at Montessori Academy for 9 years working with children 2 ½ – 6 years old and has a total of 13 years working in a Montessori environment. She is an active member of the American Montessori Society and Idaho Stars Professional Development Program.
Tiffani holds an AMS Early Childhood credential from the Institute of Montessori Innovation in Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as a degree in Applied Science, Business Management, and Accounting.
In her spare time, Tiffani spends the majority of her time with her four children, husband, and two dogs doing extracurricular activities and vacations. Outside of her family, she enjoys the gym, playing softball, quality time with friends, and drawing.

Erin Lehman started her Montessori journey as an assistant teacher and childcare teacher at Milwaukee Montessori School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When her husband’s job moved them to Boise, Idaho in 2007 she continued as an assistant teacher at Parkcenter Montessori (now Montessori Academy Boise). Erin completed her Montessori training in 2010 and moved over to Montessori Academy Eagle as a lead teacher. She continues to work there today and loves to create new materials and curriculum ideas.

Erin holds an AMS Early Childhood credential from Montana Montessori Teacher Education Institute and a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is also an active member of the American Montessori Society and the Idaho Stars Professional Development Program.

Erin is an avid gardener and enjoys taking care of her many gardens and plants. In her spare time, she loves to go camping, boating, and traveling with her husband.

Peter Mali is the Regional Director for the LePort Montessori Schools in Southern California. His background is in business, but seeking a more fulfilling career, he joined LePort Montessori 11 years ago as an Operations Coordinator. As he has grown within the organization, he has gained a deep appreciation for Montessori and seen the benefits firsthand with his twins being enrolled within the program since infancy.

Peter is experienced in operations, training, communications, and has a passion for equality. He is a council member of Spring Educations Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee and holds an Anti-Bias, Anti Racist (ABAR) Certificate through the American Montessori Society.

In his free time, Peter enjoys spending time with his family, staying active, playing sports, and exploring the outdoors.

Ms. Neda Farabi was born in Iran and received a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from BIHE. She then became a professor in the Psychology Department there, teaching several courses in preschool education. In addition, Ms. Neda worked for five years in a child development center in Tehran, serving as an educational director and counselor for children with learning disorders before she and her family relocated to the United States in 2013. Ms. Neda started working at the LePort Spectrum North campus in 2014, and from that time set her sights on completing the Montessori Primary training. She obtained her Association Montessori Internationale Primary 3- to 6-year diploma through the Montessori Institute of San Diego in May 2017. Ms. Neda has two wonderful children and a loving husband who have all been very supportive of her. Her personal interests include hiking, reading and memorizing poems, reading books, playing guitar, watching movies, and various social activities.

Ms. Donna Koontz brings 40 years of experience in the field of education, with a primary focus in the field of Montessori. From sharing music in infant classrooms to integrating the philosophy in memory care with elders, her love of Montessori education knows no bounds.

While pursuing a degree in Elementary Ed./Learning and Behavioral Disorders, a chance encounter at a Montessori school led to a summer job as an assistant, and the rest is history. Ms. Koontz completed her AMI training in London, England, and went on to teach at the primary and lower elementary levels and honed her leadership skills while directing several Montessori Schools in Los Angeles and Orange County. Ms. Koontz completed her MA in Montessori Education and Leadership at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN., and is currently completing a Montessori Birth – 3 training. Ms. Koontz brings over 20 years of parent education and staff development experience to the community and a deep joy of building community within a school.

Ms. Koontz spends much of her free time playing guitar and singing with her husband, continuing to seek adventure locally and abroad, and spending time with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren!