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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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