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ADMINISTRATION
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Director: Dr. Carolyn Lane
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. Founder - Discovery Montessori School, 1990 . PH.D. Pharmacology - Medical College of Wisconsin . B.S. Biochemistry - Ohio State University . Adjunct Professor, University of North Florida 1995 - 2000 . Leadership Jacksonville 2002 . Has served and/or is currently serving on the Board of Directors for: - Beaches Habitat for Humanity (President and Board Member) 1999 - 2004 - Helping Hands - Project Genesis - Dignity-U-Wear - Us Women's and Girl's Health Initiative . Montessori Parent, Brittany and Austin 1st and 3rd Graduating Class of DMS . Affiliated with DMS since 1990
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Cathy Langdon: Business Manager
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. Previous Associate Teacher at the Elementary thru Middle School Levels, in Syracuse, NY . Clerk in the Financial Aid office at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY . Affiliated with Discovery Montessori School since 1998
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Kim Bednarek: Associate Director
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. B.A. English, Marine Biology - University of New Hampshire . Coordinator of Marketing - Southlight Publishing/Photography . Editor and Graphic Designer - University of Florida . Experiential Educator, Close-Up Foundation, Washington D.C. . Counselor at Risk Youth - Bridge over Troubled Waters, Boston, MA . Montessori Parent . Affiliated with DMS since 2003
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TEACHING STAFF
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Nancy Gniech: Lead Teacher, 4 Day Toddler Program
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. A.A. Business & Economics - Olympic College, Bremerton, WA . AMS Infant/Toddler credentials, North Carolina School for Montessori Teacher Education . Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) . Member of the Society of Human Resource Management . Montessori Parent . Affiliated with DMS since 1999
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Linda Ploegert: Lead Teacher, 5 Day Toddler Program
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. B.A. Marketing - University of Florida . Varied Business Experience . AMS Infant and Toddler Training Certificate, CMTE/North Carolina . Parent of Montessori Graduate, Discovery Montessori School . Affiliated with DMS since 1994
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Yvette Pimentel: Associate, 5 Day Toddler Program
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. A.A. Liberal Arts/Borough of Manhattan Community College . Paraprofessional, NYC Board of Education . Program Assistant, The Cornerstone Learning Center . Administrative Assistant, The Star Learning Center . Bilingual (Spanish) . Montessori Tides Associate Training 2007 . Hobbies: Interior Decorating, Sewing/Knitting, Reading, Traveling, and Gardening . Affiliated with DMS since 2007
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Maria del Pilar Neira: Lead Teacher, Pre-Primary Program
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. B.A. Early Childhood Education - Universidad de la Sabana, Bogota, Columbia . AMS Certificate, Montessori Teacher Training Institute, CMTE/North Carolina . Academic Coordinator, Gimnasio Fuentes del Rio, Bogota, Columbia . Bilingual (Spanish) . Affiliated with Discovery Montessori School since 1994
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Dotty Rashba: Lead Teacher, Pre-Primary Program
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. B.S. Microbiology, Medical Technology - Colorado State University . A.A.S. Biomedical Photography - Rochester Institute of Technology . Pre-Primary Montessori Training Certificate - St. Nicholas . Training Centre, London, England . First Grade Elementary Training - CMTE . DMS Lead Teacher 1994 - Present, Jacksonville Beach, Florida . A Child's Place Lead Teacher 1993 - 1994, Jacksonville, Florida . First Presbyterian Montessori School 1983 - 1993, La Grange, GA . Active Member of Ponte Vedra United Methodist Church, PVB, Florida . Fundraiser for Nonprofit Children's Society and Cancer Groups by Race Walking . Montessori Parent . Affiliated with DMSl since 1994
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Robin Thomas : Lead Teacher, Pre-Primary Program
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. B.A. Early Childhood Education - Vancouver University 2001 . AMS 3-6 Montessori Certification 1998 (Michigan Montessori Teacher Education Center, Rochester Hills, Michigan) . CDA Florida Community College at Jacksonville 1999 . Teacher Assistant Carmel Montessori, Indiana 1994-1996 . Montessori Intern & Teachers Assistant, Novi Northville Montessori, Michigan 1996-1998 . Lead Teacher, 3-6 Director, A Child's Place Montessori, Florida, 1998-2007 . A Certified FIFA Referee . Montessori Parent . Affiliated with DMS since 2007
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Carole Hansen: Associate Teacher, Pre-Primary Program
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. B.A. Food Service & Nutrition - University of Northern Colorado . Officer Candidate School USMC . Basic School (Officer's) USMC . Director of Admissions, DMS 1996-2003, Jacksonville Beach, Florida . Served in the United States Marine Corps from 1975 - 1982 . Fan of Nascar, Jaguars and Golf . Affiliated with DMS since 1996
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Debbie McMenamy: Associate Teacher, Pre-Primary Program
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. A.S. from FJC . CDA from FJC . 3 Years at JU . 10 Years as a Dental Assistant with Expanded Duties . 7 Years as a 2nd Grade Middle School Language Lab Teacher at St. Raphael's School, St. Petersburg, Florida . Cotillion and Debutante Board Member, St. Petersburg, Florida . Avid Swimmer . Affiliated with DMS since 2002
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Pat Klepinger: Associate Teacher, Lower Elementary Program
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. Attended Purdue University (2 Years) . I. U. P.U. I. Dental Assistant School (1 Year), Indianapolis . Associate Teacher, DMS Pre-Primary Program . Top Sales Associate/Supervisor, Marriott Hotel Sawgrass . Owner/Operator Licensed Day Care Center (5 Years), Baltimore, MD . M.B.A. Wives Club Treasurer (2 Years), Bloomington, Indiana . Montessori Grandparent . Affiliated with DMS since 1998
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Amy Mohr: Associate Teacher, Pre-Primary Program
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. B.S. Marketing Syracuse University . Montessori Tides Associate Training 2007 . Children's Program Director and Co-owner of World Martial Arts Academy . Substitute Teacher 2006-2007 DMS . 1st Degree Black Belt - Chung Do Kwan, Tae Kwon Do . Affiliated with DMS Since 2006
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Janet Allen: Associate Teacher, Pre-Primary Program
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. B.S. Business Administration, Marketing, Boston University, MA . Health Policy Analyst, Mass Health 2003-2005 . Manager Accounts Receivable, Mass Health 2000-2003 . Montessori Tides Associate Training 2007 . Montessori Parent . DMS Yearbook Coordinator . Affiliated with DMS since 2005
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Julie Williams: Lead Teacher, Lower Elementary Program
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. B.A., Elementary Education - University of North Florida . AMS Infant/Toddler Certificate - CMTE/North Carolina . AMS Pre-Primary Certificate - CMTE/North Carolina . AMS Elementary 6- 9 Certificate - CMTE/New York . Researched, Designed and Implemented a Montessori Infant Program (One of a Few in the United States) . Coordinator of a Classroom Youth Gardening Program (Winner of State and National Level Awards) . Running Enthusiast (Marathon) . Montessori Parent . Affiliated with DMS since 1992
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Kelly Johnson: Lead Teacher, Lower Elementary Program
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. B.F.A. - Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Georgia . AMS Elementary Certificate - Institute of Montessori Studies, Florida . Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor . Montessori Art Teacher 2000 - Present . Montessori Music Teacher 2003 - Present . Member of the SCAD Jax Alumni Chapter, Fundraising and Community Education Boards . Active Painter, Organic Gardener, Surfer, Snowboarder and Musician . Affiliated with DMS since 1999
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Nita Sinden: Lead Teacher, Upper Elementary
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. B.S., Psychology - University of North Florida . Montessori Tides Associate Training 2006 . Advisor for UNF Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega . Affiliated with DMS since 2006
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Pat Greenman: Associate Teacher, Pre-Primary and After Care
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. Child Development Associate Certificate from National . Association for the Education of Young Children . Montessori Teaching Certificate from National Center for Montessori Education in Primary Education . Lead Teacher, Canyoncito Montessori School, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 1979 - 1992 . Lead Teacher, Family Learning Center, Espanola, New Mexico, 1992 - 1998 . Lead Teacher, Desert Montessori School, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1998 - 1999 . Lead Teacher, Monarch Montessori, Churchville, Maryland, 2000 - 2005 . Enjoys Gardening, Swimming, and Spending Time with Her Granddaughter . Affiliated with DMS since 2006
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Theresa Day Allen: Upper Elementary Associate
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. B.S. - Western Kentucky University, Associate in Applied Science from Henderson Community College . 12 Years Experience in Community Mental Health Services - Nashville, TN . 4 Years Experience in Developmental Disabilities - Santa Fe, New Mexico . 6 Years, Sunday School Catechist - Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville . Designed/Sponsored Art Contest for School-Aged children 12 - 18 to Encourage Recycling . Participated in Junior Achievement Program in 2001
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Maritza Lathion: Spanish Instructor
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. B.A. Commercial Recreation and Sports Management - Indiana State University . Spanish Instructor, Indianapolis, 1999 - 2006 . Enjoys Travel, Camping, Biking, and Water Sports
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Shelley H. Whitman: Art Instructor
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. B.A., Humanities (emphasis on Art & Literature), Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida . M.A., Arts and Sciences (Art Therapy focus), University of Louisville . A.T.R., Registered Art Therapist, ACSW in Missouri . Art Therapist in Kentucky, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Florida in Residential Treatment, Outpatient Services and Private Practice with Children and Families since 1974 . School Volunteer in Ponte Vedra and St. Augustine Schools, Mentoring and "Readers Aloud" . Served on St. John's County Children's Commission (2 Terms) . School Improvement Team Member at Landrum Middle and Nease High School . "Learn To Read" Volunteer (Trained through Jax Office) . Served on Jacksonville's Foster Care Citizen Review Board . Montessori Parent . Affiliated with DMS since 2006
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Jessica Ahlburg Bruno: PE Instructor
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. B.S. Early Childhood Education/M. Ed. . 3rd Degree Black Belt (18 years of Training) . 20+ Years Teaching Experience (2-19) . Coached Basketball, Volleyball, and Gymnastics . Owner of Martial Arts Academy . Facilitated a Preschool Karate Program . Enjoys Snowboarding, Gardening, Decorating, Piano, and Tennis . On the Board of the "Mary Davis Cates Foundation" - Providing Scholarships for Women in the Martial Arts . Affiliated with DMS since 2007
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>> Meet our Board of Directors.
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