Meet Our Faculty and Staff
The role of the Montessori teacher
is to help match each child with the work appropriate for them, adjusting as needed for every individual as they master concepts and look for challenges. The Montessori teacher is a role model, an educational resource, an observer and environmental engineer. Hilltop teachers are truly caretakers of the educational and emotional growth of their students, while bringing their own individual flavor to their classic Montessori classrooms. As an accredited, authentic Montessori program, all of our lead teachers meet the high standards of AMS Montessori certification, which is internationally recognized.
At HMS, the average years of teaching experience for our faculty is 12. The average teacher-student ratio is 1:10. Our retention rate over the last five years averages 90%. The average age of our faculty is 45 and the average years spent teaching at HMS is 8.
73% of our faculty have advanced degrees beyond a college degree. Two have Orton-Gillingham Associate level certification.
“The training of the teacher is something far more than learning ideas. It includes the training of character. It is a preparation of the spirit.”
Toddler Program (ages 18 mos – 3 yrs)
Cindy “C” Richmond
c@hilltopmontessori.com

- Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
- Masters in Deaf Education
- AMS (American Montessori Society) Toddler and Preschool certification
- Educating students since 1988, Employed at HMS since 2000
Brittany Lamb
brittany@hilltopmontessori.com

- Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
- American Montessori Society Certified For Infant and Toddler
- Educating children since 2007, Employed at HMS since 2017
Stacia Stewart
stacia@hilltopmontessori.com

- Bachelor of Science in Education, AMS Montessori certified 3-6
- Educating children since 1998, Employed at HMS since 2016
Mary Knoechel
mary@hilltopmontessori.com

- Kennesaw State University- Early Childhood Education, Montessori assistant trained
- Educating children since 2012, Employed at HMS since 2013
Primary Program (ages 3 - 6)
Cindi Stehr

- Bachelor of Arts in Biology
- AMS (American Montessori Society) certification for ages 3-6 students
- Educating children since 1991, Employed at HMS since 1996
Teresa Barnett Lindsay
teresa@hilltopmontessori.com

- Bachelor of Science in Education
- American Montessori Society certification, 3-6
- Educating children since 2011, Employed at HMS since 2014
Christi Franks
christi@hilltopmontessori.com

- Associate’s degree/education
- Montessori assistant trained
- Educating children since 2011, Employed at Hilltop since 2010
Roopa Iyer
roopa@hilltopmontessori.com

- Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education
- AMS (American Montessori Society) certification, 3-6 students
- CMTE/NY Center for Montessori Education graduate
- Educating children since 2011, Employed at HMS since 2012
Melissa Smith
melissa@hilltopmontessori.com

- Masters in Education
- Montessori assistant trained, significant preschool and toddler experience
- Educating students since 1997, Employed at HMS since 2015
Mary Jo White
maryjo@hilltopmontessori.com

- Masters in Education
- AMS certified in Montessori 3-6, primary
- Educating children since 2003, Employed at HMS since 2005
Michelle Scott
michelle@hilltopmontessori.com

- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Orton-Gillingham Associate level certification
- AMS (American Montessori Society) certification for ages 3-6 students
- Educating children since 2004, Employed at HMS since 2007
Lower Elementary Program (ages 6 - 9)
Dama Nichols Thornton

- Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
- Masters in Education
- AMS (American Montessori Society) certification for ages 6-9
- Educating children since 1998, Employed at HMS since 1999
Stephanie Kirkpatrick
stephanie@hilltopmontessori.com

- Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
- Educating children since 2011, Employed at HMS since 2014
- American Montessori Society 6-9 certified
Chelsea Calhoun
chelsea@hilltopmontessori.com

- Bachelor of Arts in English
- Orton-Gillingham Associate level certification
- AMS (American Montessori Society) certification for ages 6-9
- Educating children since 2003, Employed at HMS since 2006
Ona Adams
ona@hilltopmontessori.com

- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
- Montessori alumni student
- Montessori assistant trained
- Educating children since 2009, Employed at HMS since 2010
Upper Elementary Program (ages 9 - 12)
Janet Lewis
janet@hilltopmontessori.com

- Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
- CMTE/NY (Center for Montessori Teacher Education, New York) graduate
- AMS (American Montessori Society) certification for ages 9-12
- Educating children since 2004, Employed at HMS since 2009
Jodi Hunt
jodi@hilltopmontessori.com

- Bachelor of Science in Special Education
- Educating children since 2009, Employed at HMS since 2014
- Montessori assistant trained
Middle School Program (grades 7 - 8)
Specials
Kitchen
Daisy Moon
daisy@hilltopmontessori.com

- Working at HMS since 2016
- Food service experience since 2015
Administration
Shiela Jones
shiela@hilltopmontessori.com

- Working in office administration since 2000
- Employed at Hilltop since 2002
Theresa Fox
tfox@hilltopmontessori.com

- Bachelor of Business Administration and Finance
- Working in Financial, Business, and Management since 2003
- Employed at HMS since 2003
Cindi Stehr

- Bachelor of Arts in Biology
- AMS (American Montessori Society) certification for ages 3-6 students
- Educating children since 1991, Employed at HMS since 1996
Dama Nichols Thornton

- Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
- Masters in Education
- AMS (American Montessori Society) certification for ages 6-9
- Educating children since 1998, Employed at HMS since 1999