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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
Toddler Teacher
- 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
Ceci Vaughn
Toddler Assistant
- Educating children in Montessori since 2019
- Employed at HMS since 2022
Brittany Lamb
Toddler Teacher
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
Toddler Assistant
- Bachelor of Science in Education, AMS Montessori certified 3-6
- Educating children since 1998, Employed at HMS since 2016
Primary Program (ages 3 - 6)
Cindi Stehr
Primary Teacher,
Toddler & Primary Program Director/ Founder
Toddler & Primary Program Director/ 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
Mary Jo White
Primary Teacher
- Masters in Education
- AMS certified in Montessori 3-6, primary
- Educating children since 2003, Employed at HMS since 2005
Teresa Barnett Lindsay
Primary Teacher
- Bachelor of Science in Education
- American Montessori Society certification, 3-6
- Educating children since 2011, Employed at HMS since 2014
Christi Franks
Primary Assistant
- Associate’s degree/education
- Montessori assistant trained
- Educating children since 2011, Employed at Hilltop since 2010
Roopa Iyer
Primary Teacher
- 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
Primary Assistant
- Masters in Education
- Montessori assistant trained, significant preschool and toddler experience
- Educating students since 1997, Employed at HMS since 2015
Michelle Scott
Primary Teacher
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
Mary Knoechel
Primary Assistant
- Kennesaw State University- Early Childhood Education, Montessori assistant trained
- Educating children since 2012, Employed at HMS since 2013
Lower Elementary Program (ages 6 - 9)
Dama Nichols Thornton
Lower Elementary Teacher,
Elementary & Middle School Program Director
Elementary & Middle School Program Director
- 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
Lower Elementary Teacher
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
Lower Elementary Teacher
- 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
Lower Elementary Teacher
- 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
Upper Elementary Teacher
- 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 Teacher
- Bachelor of Science in Special Education
- Educating children since 2009, Employed at HMS since 2014
- Montessori assistant trained
Megan Spokes
Upper Elementary Teacher,
Music Teacher
Music Teacher
- Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance
- Private Music Instructor since 2000
- Educating children since 2011, Employed at HMS since 2021
Middle School Program (grades 7 - 8)
Michele Camp
Middle School Teacher
michelecamp@hilltopmontessori.com
- Masters of Education
- Working with Children since 1994
- Employed at HMS since 2021
Specials
Jamie Lewis
Art Teacher
- Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts
- Employed at HMS since 1998
Megan Spokes
Upper Elementary Teacher,
Music Teacher
Music Teacher
- Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance
- Private Music Instructor since 2000
- Educating children since 2011, Employed at HMS since 2021
Patricia Sanely
Elementary & Middle School Spanish Teacher
patricia@hilltopmontessori.com
- Native Speaker
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Elementary/Middle school Spanish immersion teacher
- Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education Certification 3-6
- Employed at HMS since 2021
Kitchen
Nich Arvin
Kitchen Manager
- Diploma in Culinary Arts
- Working in food service since 2009
- Employed at Hilltop since 2022
Daisy Moon
Kitchen Employee
- Working at HMS since 2016
- Food service experience since 2015
Dianne Beasley
Kitchen Employee
Administration
Dave DeHarde
Head of School
- Master of School Administration
- AMS Montessori Certification, Primary
- 20 years plus experience in Montessori education and administration
Dorothy Ewing
Admissions Director
- CGMS Montessori Certification, School Leadership
- Working in Management and Leadership since 2000
- Employed at HMS since 2022
Shiela Jones
Office Manager
- Working in office administration since 2000
- Employed at Hilltop since 2002
Theresa Fox
Director of Finance
- Bachelor of Business Administration and Finance
- Working in Financial, Business, and Management since 2003
- Employed at HMS since 2003
Cindi Stehr
Primary Teacher,
Toddler & Primary Program Director/ Founder
Toddler & Primary Program Director/ 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
Dama Nichols Thornton
Lower Elementary Teacher,
Elementary & Middle School Program Director
Elementary & Middle School Program Director
- 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