Meet Our Faculty
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. Three have Orton-Gillingham Associate level certification. Our Head of School has been employed at HMS since 1998 and has been the head for 16 years.
“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.”Maria Montessori
Toddler Program (ages 18 mos – 3 yrs)
Cindy ‘C’ Richmond
Toddlers
- Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
- Masters in Deaf Education
- Orton-Gillingham Associate level certification
- AMS (American Montessori Society) Toddler and Preschool certification
- Educating students since 1988, Employed at HMS since 2000
Stacia Stewart
Toddlers
- Bachelor of Science in Education, AMS Montessori certified 3-6
- Educating children since 1998, Employed at HMS since 2016
Susan Desmond
Toddlers
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and English
- AMS (American Montessori Society) Infant and Toddler certification
- Educating students since 2011, Employed at HMS since 2011
Amy Dibble
Toddlers
- Bachelors in Music Education
- Montessori assistant experience
- Educating children since 2011, Employed at HMS since 2015
Primary Program (ages 3-6 yrs)
Cindi Stehr
Director of Early Childhood Programming & Founder
- Bachelor of Arts in Biology
- AMS (American Montessori Society) certification for ages 3-6 students
- Educating children since 1991, Employed at HMS since 1996
Brittany Lamb
Primary
- Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
- American Montessori Society Certified For Infant and Toddler
- Educating children since 2007, Employed at HMS since 2017
Mary Jo White
Primary/After School Care
- Masters in Education
- AMS certified in Montessori 3-6, primary
- Educating children since 2003, Employed at HMS since 2005
Christi Franks
Primary
- Associate's degree/education
- Educating children since 2011, Employed at Hilltop since 2010
- Montessori assistant trained
Shellie Scott
Primary
- 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
Mary Knoechel
Primary
- Kennesaw State University- Early Childhood Education, Montessori assistant trained
- Educating children since 2012, Employed at HMS since 2013
Roopa Nash
Primary Teacher
- Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education
- AMS (American Montessori Society) certification, 3-6 students
- Educating children since 2011, Employed at HMS since 2012
- CMTE/NY Center for Montessori Education graduate
Melissa Smith
Primary
- Masters in Education
- Educating children since 1997, Employed at HMS since 2015
- Montessori assistant trained
Teresa Barnett
Primary
- Bachelor of Science in Education
- American Montessori Society certification, 3-6
- Teaching since 2011, Employed at HMS since 2014
Jamie Lewis
Primary
- Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts
- UAB Masters Coursework
- Educating children since 1992, at Hilltop on/off since 1998
Lower Elementary Program (ages 6-9)
Dama Nichols
Director of Elementary and Middle School
- Masters in Education
- Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
- AMS (American Montessori Society) certification for ages 6-9
- Educating children since 1998, Employed at HMS since 1999
Ona Adams
Lower Elementary
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
- Montessori assistant trained
- Montessori alumni student
- Educating children since 2009, Employed at HMS since 2010
Chelsea Calhoun
Lower Elementary
- 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
Donna Swalley
Lower Elementary
- Certified Teacher and Past HMS Parent/Substitute
- Teaching Experience in private and elementary settings
- Employed at HMS on/off since 2010
Stephanie Kirkpatrick
Lower Elementary
- Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
- Educating children since 2011, Employed at HMS since 2014
- American Montessori Society 6-9 certified
Upper Elementary Program (ages 9-12)
Janet Lewis
Upper Elementary
- 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
Upper Elementary
- Bachelor of Science in Special Education
- Educating children since 2009, Employed at HMS since 2014
- Montessori assistant trained
April Stehr
Upper Elementary
- Bachelor of Science in Music Education
- American Montessori Society certified
- Orff Certified
- Educating children since 2009, Employed at HMS since 2017
Middle School Program (grades 7-8)
Sherry Cook
Middle School Adolescent Program
- Bachelor of Science in Education
- Educating children since 1977, Employed at HMS since 2004
Spanish Program
Graciela Rodriguez
Elementary and Middle School Spanish
- Native Speaker
- Bachelor's Degree
- Elementary/Middle school Spanish immersion teacher
- Educating children since 2010, Employed at HMS since 2014
Ana Diaz
Preschool, Kindergarten and Toddler Spanish
- Masters in Early Childhood Education
- Native speaker
- Early childhood/Kindergarten Spanish immersion teacher
- Educating children since 2001, Employed at HMS since 2011
Music, Fine Arts and Physical Wellness
Derek Kluz
Director of Music Education, Primary-Middle School
- Bachelor of Music Education and Music Arts
- Masters coursework in Conducting
- AMS training
- Employed at HMS since 1999
Anna Clare Culp
Director of Art Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts
- UAB Masters Coursework
- Employed at HMS since 2016
Rik Aloia
Physical Education and Wellness
- Certified in Coaching
- Over 25 years experience in coaching
- Employed at HMS since 2019
Kitchen
Ashley Pigford
Community Kitchen Manager
- Bachelor of Arts in Business/International Trade and Foreign Language
- Hilltop Farm to Fork Kitchen Manager and Founder, Employed at HMS since 2015
Daisy Moon
Community Kitchen Support
- Working at HMS since 2016
- Food service experience since 2015
Diane Beasley
Community Kitchen and After School Programs
Administration
Michele Scott Wilensky
Head of School/Admissions
- Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Education
- Masters in Education
- AMS (American Montessori Society) certification for ages 6-9 students
- Employed at Hilltop since 1998
- Head of School since 2004
Shiela Jones
Office Manager
- 16 years experience in office management
- Employed at Hilltop since 2002
Theresa Fox
Director of Finance and Operations
- Bachelor of Finance
- Employed at Hilltop since 2003
- 15 years accounting experience