Leelanau Montessori Elementary Guides

DiAnn Service, Elementary Guide

MEd Education Loyola University - Baltimore, MD
AMS Certification 6-9 Michigan Montessori Training Center- Rochester Hills, MI
AMI Certification 6-12 Montessori Training Center of Minnesota – Saint Paul, MN
BS - Elementary Teaching Certificate Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

DiAnn brings a depth and breadth of Montessori experience to Leelanau Montessori. After obtaining a BS in Elementary Education, and AMS and AMI 6-12 Montessori certifications, DiAnn served as elementary guide at The Children’s House in Traverse City, Michigan for nine years.  DiAnn and her husband Matt moved to Cedarville, Michigan where they worked at Intervarsity’s Cedar Campus.  DiAnn and Matt have a daughter Amelia (2), and are looking forward to the birth of their second daughter in October. 

Seraphina Vajda, Elementary Guide
Vajdas@leelanaumontessori.org
MS Candidate Early Childhood Education Grand Valley State University – Allendale, MI
AMS Certification 3-6 Michigan Montessori Training Center – Rochester Hills, MI
BS – Elementary Teaching Certification Eastern Michigan University – Ypsilanti, MI

After obtaining a BS in Elementary Education, Seraphina taught third grade at the Golden Valley School; an English Immersion/Montessori school in Heredia, Costa Rica; where she learned about the respect and independence inherent in the Montessori pedagogy.  On return to the United States, she obtained Primary Montessori Certification and taught at the American Montessori Academy in Livonia, Michigan, and The Dearborn Heights Montessori Center in Dearborn, Michigan.  Seraphina and husband Neil returned to northern Michigan, where she taught Kindergarten at Willow Hill Elementary in Traverse City.  Seraphina is currently pursuing elementary Montessori Certification and a master’s degree in early childhood education with a ZA Endorsement.

Reni Dengel, Elementary Special Education Guide
maplewingers@gmail.com

MA Special Education Michigan State University – East Lansing, MI
ZA Early Childhood Endorsement Michigan State University – East Lansing, MI
BA Education Wayne State University – Wayne State University – Detroit,

Reni Dengel brings more than thirty years of professional experience in Special Education to the Leelanau Montessori elementary classroom.  He has worked with the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District for twenty two years, the Traverse City Area Public Schools for eight years, and the Suttons Bay Public Schools for one year.  Reni holds a Masters of Arts in Special Education with ZA Early Childhood Endorsement from Michigan State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Wayne State University.  Reni and his wife Mary, who is also a retired educator, enjoy teaching Yoga and outdoor activities including bicycling and gardening.  Their son, Reni JR (31) is a Water Quality Manager in Northern California.  

Melissa Walton, Elementary Aid
waltonm@leelanaumontessori.org
Michigan Montessori Teacher Education Center – Rochester Hills, MI
Melissa began her academic career as a pre-law student, at Fairmont State College in Fairmont, Virginia, but fell in love with teaching while home schooling her children Hannah (20) and Reece (17) while her husband Pete served as a merchant marine on the Great Lakes.  Melissa attended the Michigan Montessori Teacher Education Training Center in Rochester Hills, Michigan.  She has worked in the Suttons Bay Public Schools Kids Club and Kindergarten After School Programs, the Migrant Head Start Program, and has served as a Montessori Guide at Leelanau Montessori. She is currently working toward Elementary Certification with ZA Endorsement through Central Michigan University.