The Staff at Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy

​Administration and Student Support 

Arden Wilson
Head of School
wilsona@leelanaumontessori.org

• BA Geology-Denison University
• BA Social Studies and Elementary Education - Grand Valley State University
• Montessori Primary Certification​ ​- Michigan Montessori Teacher Education Center

​After graduating from Denison University with a BA in Geology, Arden moved to northern Michigan to raise a family with her husband, Colby.  She started as an assistant at the Suttons Bay Montessori Children’s House in 1995 and earned her Montessori Primary credential in 1997 from the Michigan Montessori Teacher Education Center.  She helped integrate Leelanau Montessori into the public sector in 2000 and has served as a guide, director and mentor teacher. She recently earned a BA in Social Studies and Elementary Education from Grand Valley State University.  She enjoys hiking, gardening, yoga and her family life with her growing kids. 
​ ​

Beth Bassett
Office Manager
bassettb@leelanaumontessori.org
​

Beth began her Montessori career back in 1998 with the Montessori Children's House.  She started out as an assistant in the classroom and in 2000 when they moved to the Suttons Bay campus she began working part time in the office.  Eventually she became full time in the office and is now the office manager. Beth attended Northwestern Michigan College and helped run the family automotive assembly plant.  After her children were born, Beth ran in-home childcare before she started working in Montessori.  Beth and her husband Bill have three children, Paige, Nicolette, and Garrett and three grandchildren, Everett James, Norah Mae, and Clara Beth.  Beth enjoys gardening, walking, cooking, swimming, traveling and spreading the word about Leelanau Montessori!  
​

Nora Goodell
 Communications Coordinator
goodelln@leelanaumontessori.org

• BA Political Science - University of Iowa
• JD- University of Wisconsin Law School

​Since 2018, Nora has been a parent and volunteer in our school community. While focused on the start up of a new family and vineyard for the past 5 years, she was a practicing attorney in her former life. Nora, her husband Matt, and son Magnus (Aspen) love living in Leelanau County as well as exploring other regions. Nora is a dedicated furniture re-arranger, pursuer of creativity in crafts and interior decorating, adventurer, and connector of people.  She is excited to meet everyone and support the school in a new way!

​Ann Lightbourn 
After School Care Director

Jessica Vitale
Support Specialist
vitalej@leelanaumontessori.org

• BA K-12 Art Education and 6-12 Spanish Education - Northern Michigan University​

Jessica is originally from Detroit, Michigan, but spent 9 years in the Upper Peninsula both in Marquette and Manistique. She and her husband, Tom, have 2 boys, Ethan (18) and Arlon (7). They also have a sweet dog named LB and two cats, Maize and Jag. She lives in Leelanau County, where she enjoys gardening, yoga, creating art and pottery, playing music, and singing. Her favorite ways to stay active are hiking, biking, running and playing soccer. She has been teaching Spanish, Art and Media Publications for the past 6 ½ years and prior to that she spent a few years teaching pottery and art classes at a non-profit art organization in Traverse City. ​

Sprouts - Toddler Environment

Carrie Mosqueda
Lead Toddler Guide
mosquedac@leelanaumontessori.org

• Fluent in Spanish
• Musically inclined
• Pre-nursing Northwestern Michigan College
• Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies 
• AMI 0-6 Guide (Completion date May 27th, 2023)

Carrie has spent the last 7 years mostly working from home as a STHM and wellness coach.  Her daughters Karina (age 7), Alba (age 4), Thalia (age 3), and Eliana (age 1) are her joy and passion.  Through her mothering journey Carrie has “self taught” much of the Montessori theory and was naturally drawn to the philosophy. As her children started their Montessori journeys in 2021 at LMPSA, it was clear that Carrie was meant to be more than a parent here. Carrie is excited to begin her career as a Guide in the Sprout classroom, and is motivated and passionate to bring a truly peaceful Montessori environment to the toddler class.
​

Hope Rahn
Toddler Assistant
rahnh@leelanaumontessori.org

---

Hello! My name is Hope, I have lived in Leelanau County since I was seven years old. I've loved growing up in this beautiful county; it aided in my deep love and appreciation for the natural world that surrounds us. I try to spend all my free time outside, whether that be taking my two "fur-babies" for hikes, wake surfing on Glen Lake, rock picking along Lake Michigan's shoreline, or star/moon gazing late into the night. I have a deep fascination with the night sky, I spend a good chunk of time learning about both Astronomy and Astrology. I'm an avid reader and writer, but focus mostly on poetry. My love for children started when my little brother was born, I was eight years old, and as I grew older I spent many summers babysitting friends, family, and neighborhood children. In 2021, I started my Early Childhood Education career. I started in a daycare setting then jumped at the opportunity to join this Montessori community. I finished an assistant Montessori certificate course this fall but in the coming years plan to take a lead Montessori guide program. ​

      Anne Rodeck
        Toddler Assistant
         rodecka@leelanaumontessori.org
​

---

​Anne Rodeck has been an early childhood educator for over 20 years. She began her teaching career at The Montessori Children’s House in Traverse City in 2001 after graduating from Hope College in Holland, Michigan with a degree in Language studies. She moved to Suttons Bay soon after and accepted a job working with Parenting Communities. From 2003- 2018 Anne worked at The Leelanau Children’s Center. She received her associates degree in Child Development and her certification in toddler development. She enjoys using the outdoors as her classroom throughout the seasons. Anne is a lifelong learner and is found spending time learning about our natural resources in the area and sharing what she knows with others. She has been inspired by local courses such as Fresh Water Studies and Ecology Field Studies, where she has felt an overwhelming need to help children feel connected to their environment, (in the age of technology.) More recently, she completed a 12-month internship at The Leelanau Conservancy as a Stewardship Technician. You can find her exploring coyote dens in her own backyard, enjoying bird migrations around the county, finding Owl pellets in the woods and hiking and adventuring to new places. 

Primary Environments - Aspen and Sugar Maple​
​

​ Chelsea Boehrnsen
Primary Lead Guide - Aspen
boehrnsenc@leelanaumontessori.org

---

• BA - Elementary Education with Early Childhood Endorsement - Alma College
• Montessori Primary Certification - Michigan Montessori Teacher Education Center

Chelsea has always had a passion for working with children and knew she wanted to be a teacher at a very young age. After graduating from Alma College, she moved to Germany and taught English at a bilingual elementary school, as well as at a University. The Montessori philosophy really resonates with Chelsea and she feels blessed to be part of the wonderful community at Leelanau Montessori. She enjoys fostering independence, supporting individualized learning for every student, and teaching in a multi-age classroom!
​

Monica Korson
Primary Lead Guide - Sugar Maple
korsonm@leelanaumontessori.org​

Monica is so excited to join the Leelanau Montessori community. Monica has been working with children for many years beginning with nannying while growing up to working for an assistant at the Children's House Montessori school in Traverse City. She always knew she wanted to be a teacher someday. The first time she walked into a bustling Montessori toddler classroom she specifically remembers watching the children gracefully set up a beautiful and inspiring lunch table. It was that day, Monica fell in love with the independent whole child approach to learning. 
​

Kirsten Bakken
Primary Assistant - Sugar Maple
bakkenk@leelanaumontessori.org

• BA, French - University of Michigan
• MA, Linguistics - Michigan State University

Kirsten is delighted to be back in Michigan after nearly a decade on the East Coast. She has worked in a variety of roles in the field of education, including as an ESL instructor, assistant teacher, co-teacher, and lead teacher. Her interests include language and literacy development in early childhood education, and she enjoys reading books and  drawing pictures with students. She is looking forward to learning more about the Montessori philosophy this year at Leelanau Montessori.​

Elizabeth Channer
Primary Assistant - Aspen
channere@leelanaumontessori.org

• Bachelors of Science, Psychology- Western Illinois University
• Masters of Science, Experimental Psychology-  Western Illinois University
• Montessori Para-professional trained- Michigan Montessori Training Center​

Elizabeth is a Chicago native who was a Montessori child herself.  She has had the opportunity to explore and live in many diverse settings from Chicago to the rocky mountains of Colorado; however, she is happy to now call Leelanau her home.  Elizabeth’s background is heavy in the human services field and includes years of working at a domestic violence shelter and advocating for the survivors living there.  Elizabeth believes strongly that each individual is unique and should be treated so.  That is one of the reasons she loves the Montessori philosophy so much.  Elizabeth and her partner Matthew have two children. Filomena and Era Mae who both attend Leelanau Montessori!  When they aren't busy building their own company they like to spend time gardening, cooking, going to the beach, and playing with their animals.
​

Rose Jelinek
Primary Assistant - Aspen

​Bio Coming Soon!

   Terri Orban
    Primary Assistant - Sugar Maple
    orbant@leelanaumontessori.org 

---

• Associates Degree - Social Service/Early Childhood Education, Ferris State University
• Para Professional Training- Michigan Montessori Education Center 
• CDA  Credential - Child Development Associate, 2022 ​

​Terri has worked in early childhood education for more than three decades at the Leland Daycare & Nursery School, Suttons Bay Co-Op Preschool, and also as a home daycare provider offering a Christian-based preschool/daycare for ten years while raising her own three children. Terri was highly captivated with Montessori Education as it's philosophy encompasses a prepared environment, peace curriculum, and an individualized program designed with respect and consideration for the child's unique social, emotional, physical and cognitive development.  Terri has been a staff member at Leelanau Montessori for the past 25 years and has participated in various roles as a toddler guide, primary assistant and after school care director.  Terri and her husband Jim recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and have raised three beautiful grown children.  Holly, is an account manager at Shamrock Industry and together with her seven-year-old daughter Avery, live in Ohio. Jared and his wife Molly have a one-year-old  daughter Marley and they reside in Stevensville, Michigan. Their youngest son, Aaron and his fiance, Carlee, live in the Grand Rapids area and will celebrate their upcoming Spring wedding.  Jared is Michigan State Police canine handler and Aaron is a Deputy Sheriff with Kent County. Jim and Terri enjoy traveling to spend time with their children and granddaughters, as well as biking, snow shoeing, gardening, house projects and appreciating life, hummingbirds and sunsets.

Lower Elementary - Apple and Birch
​

Megan Jordan
Lower Elementary Lead Guide - Birch
​jordanm@leelanaumontessori.org

• Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a Early Childhood major from Wayne State University, 1999
• Montessori Certification from Center for Guided Montessori Studies, continuing

Megan has been teaching for Benzie Central School in Preschool, Kindergarten and 2nd grade as well as homeschooling her 2 oldest children. She has always identified with the Montessori Philosophy since learning about it while working on her bachelor's degree in the 90s. When a job opportunity came up with Leelanau Montessori Public Schools she jumped at the chance to become certified as a true "Montessorian," in order to complete a career-long dream. She lives with her 3 children in Traverse City along with her dad (Grandpa to most) Frieda the cat, and Wiggles the snake. Megan's family likes to cook and share food, float down the river, and jump on the trampoline.
​

Rebekah Wissink
Lower Elementary Lead Guide - Apple
wissinkr@leelanaumontessori.org

• BS Elementary Education: Integrated Sciences - Calvin College
• Elementary 6-12 Certification - Center for Guided Montessori Studies

This is Rebekah's first year teaching in a Montessori school. Rebekah has long heard and been interested in the Montessori method because of their focus on the individual child. She is in the midst of the training to become certified and is enjoying the readings and collaboration with other "Montessorians!" Rebekah grew up in Big Rapids, Michigan with three brothers on a “hobby” farm. She attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan for their Elementary Education program and graduated in 2014. Rebekah had the opportunity to teach and explore in several different places - the savannah and sugar cane fields of Uganda, and the onion fields of Grant, Michigan. 
Rebekah is excited to begin this next school year with you all!

Courine Couturier
Classroom Assistant - Apple

Bio Coming Soon!

Upper Elementary - Hickory

Tanya Hill
Upper Elementary Lead Guide
hillt@leelanaumontessori.org

Tanya was introduced to Montessori education when her son went to a Montessori school in Midland, MI.  She was instantly drawn to the Montessori philosophy and pedagogy as he went through his primary class as a four-year-old.  Tanya began her AMS training to receive her Primary credential and has taught in a Montessori environment for 26 years.  Since her time in Midland, MI, she has served in two other schools.  She was at Kingsley Montessori School in Boston, MA. and Esprit International School in The Woodlands, TX.  Tanya has a passion for Montessori education and teaching children of all ages.  She completed her master’s thesis in Montessori Integrated Learning at Endicott College in Massachusetts where her love for Cosmic education was deepened and informed.  When Tanya is not in the classroom, she is at home with her husband remodeling their house and taking care of their “farm” and dogs.  She loves to visit her children and grandchildren in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.
​

    Chelsea Hummon
      Upper Elementary
      hummonc@leelanaumontessori.org 

---

• Upper Elementary BS Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services and Administration Outdoor Education
• CMU & University of Iceland

Chelsea was born and raised in MI with a deep appreciation for the natural world and a love of learning. She received her introduction to the classroom at 11 eleven when her mother brought her to teach the things she was passionate about in her fourth grade classroom. Since then, Chelsea studied engineering and shifted her focus to education, while carrying the engineering design process with her throughout her transitions. She studied education through the lens of outdoor education in high school through Outward Bound and more formally in college. She has been implementing the 8-Shields model of mentoring since her start with the Human Nature School in 2010. More recently, she has intentionally incorporated place-based stewardship education and civic engagement into her personal educational philosophy. Chelsea has delivered quality hands-on educational experiences to students ranging from pre-K to 82 years of age, and has most recently focused her efforts on training and supporting teachers and administrators in the region based on their needs. Through working with 3 Montessori schools, it has become clear that her educational philosophy shares a lot in common with the Montessori model. She is currently working on her first formal training in Montessori pedagogy and practice. Chelsea moved to Leelanau County in 2009 to work on a farm, and has since established an ever evolving family and a career in the Lake Leelanau Watershed. In her free time, she plays in the woods with her kids, cares for chickens, gardens, swims, cooks, builds soil and forts of all types, and creates multi-media art with her boys. ​

Montessori Coaches

Bethany Sparling
Montessori Coach 
sparlingb@leelanaumontessori.org

• BA Elementary Education with Science Endorsement – CMU
• Upper Elementary Training – Seton Montessori

It was in college that Bethany was introduced to educational alternatives and the Montessori philosophy. After she and her husband Jason started a family, she knew that a student-centered approach to learning was a priority for their children.  Sophie, Parker and Violet all attended a primary Montessori program and later homeschooled.  Bethany and her family moved to Leelanau County in 2014 when she took a position as an Upper Elementary guide at Leelanau Montessori where all three of her children attended.  Bethany cherishes the time she has had to be with her family and raise her children, but is excited to be back in the classroom!  Being an outdoor enthusiast, Bethany loves being with her family in northern Michigan in all seasons hiking, camping, gardening, kayaking, skiing and enjoying the fresh water!
​

Lisa Thauvette
 Montessori Consultant 
thauvettel@leelanaumontessori.org

• Alma College - Bachelor of Arts
• Loyola College Maryland - Masters of Education in Montessori
• AMI Washington Montessori Institute - Elementary 6 - 12

Lisa has lived and worked overseas for most of her adult career, from Bangkok, to Buenos Aires, to Brussels. It’s in Brussels, Belgium, where she began her Montessori teaching career at International Montessori, first as a lead elementary guide and then as the Head of School for 11 years. Returning to her home state of Michigan, Lisa now coaches teachers and administrative leaders using the same Montessori lens as with children, guiding individuals toward their fullest potential through observation and individualized mentoring. Along the way she co-mingles her other passion of comedic improvisation as a tool to bring joy and levity to teams, conference speaking engagements, and teacher professional development trainings. ​