Faculty Discovery Montessori is very fortunate to have a highly dedicated and qualified staff, in both formal education and life experiences. In our classrooms, you will find a teacher for every 10 children (the exception being the Toddler programs where the ratio is 6 to 1).   ADMINISTRATION Julie Williams: Co Head of School & Lead Teacher, Elementary Program           . B.A., Elementary Education - University of North Florida . AMS Infant/Toddler Teaching Credential - CMTE/North Carolina . AMS Pre-Primary Teaching Credential - CMTE/North Carolina . AMS Elementary 6- 9 Teaching Credential - 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) . Parent of Discovery Montessori Graduate . Affiliated with DMS since 1992           Kim Bednarek: Co Head of School & Director of Admissions           . 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, D.C. . Counselor at Risk Youth - Bridge over Troubled Waters, Boston, MA . Montessori Parent . Affiliated with DMS since 2003 . Marathon and running enthusiast . American Red Cross certified CPR/AED Professional Rescuer     Janet Allen: Business Manager           . 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                 TEACHING STAFF         Heather Dore: Lead Teacher 5 Day Toddler Program           . B.A. English – University of North Florida . M.A. Psychology – University of North Florida  . Ph.D. Psychology – Florida State University . Montessori Infant / Toddler Certification – CMTE / NY . Taught psychology courses at FSU, UNF, FCCJ . Research Scientist – Center for Drug Prevention Research UNF . Conducted research in various areas of child development . National Champion Tennis – UNF . Inducted into UNF Athletics Hall of Fame . Montessori Parent . American Red Cross certified CPR/AED Professional Rescuer . Affiliated with DMS since 2007     Linda Ploegert: Lead Teacher, Full Day Toddler Program           . B.A. Marketing - University of Florida . Intern UF Center for Autism & Related Disorders . AMS Infant and Toddler Training Certificate, CMTE/North       Carolina  . Manager of Visitor Services: Jacksonville Zoological Garden  . Purchasing Agent / Unit Coordinator: Charter Hospital of Jax  . Guardian Ad Litem for State of FL . Volunteer with Halloween Doors & More Pediatric Hospice Fundraiser . Parent of Montessori Graduate, DMS . Affiliated with DMS since 1994     Cathy Langdon: Associate, Full Day Toddler Program           . 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           Yvette Pimentel : Associate, 4 Day Toddler     . AA Liberal Arts - Borough of Manhattan Community College . Paraprofessional - New York City Board of Education . Enjoys painting, gardening, and dogs . Associated with DMS since 2007         Maria del Pilar Neira: Lead Teacher, Pre-Primary Program           . B.A. Early Childhood Education – University of La Sabana, Bogota, Columbia . Pre-Primary Montessori Certification – MTTI Miami, FL . Academic Coordinator, Gimnasio Fuentes del Rio, Bogota, Columbia . Bilingual (Spanish) . Affiliated with Discovery Montessori School since 1994           Dotty Rashba: Lead Teacher, Pre-Primary Program           . 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 DMS since 1994 . Leadership and Management for Child Care Center Directors 2005 . Gesell Institute of Human Development- Kindergarten 2007         Robin Thomas : Lead Teacher, Pre-Primary Program           . 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 . Florida Child Care Professional Credential 2008 . Florida Staff Credential - FDCF 2008 . Florida Director's Credential - FDCF 2008 . 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 . Montessori Parent . Affiliated with DMS since 2007   Theresa Day Allen:  Teacher Intern, Pre-Primary Program           . 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         Debbie McMenamy: Associate Teacher, Pre-Primary Program           . 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       Pat Klepinger: Associate Teacher, Pre-Primary Program           . 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           Laurie Peterson: Associate Teacher, Pre-Primary Program           . 1 year at FCCJ . 20 years of Childcare Experience . Enjoys Gardening and Walking . Affiliated with DMS since 2006         Krista Simms: Associate Teacher, Pre-Primary Program           . AA Liberal Arts - FCCJ . Business Studies – St. John’s University - NY . Liberal Arts – Valencia College – Orlando, FL . Student Teacher – Lower Elementary J. Allen Axson 2007 . 5 Years Restaurant Management experience . Enjoys Photography, Traveling and Natural / Attachment Parenting . Montessori Parent . Affiliated with DMS since 2008           Kelly Johnson: Lead Teacher, Lower Elementary Program           .B.F.A. - Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Georgia . AMS Elementary 6-9 Teaching Credential - Florida Institute of Montessori Studies . Certified Integral Yoga Hatha Instructor . Montessori Art Teacher 2000 - Present . Montessori Music Teacher 2004 - 2008 . Head of DMS SEVA Club (Student Community Service Club) . Board Member of the Beaches Local Food Network Community Organic Garden . Supervisor Winter Green Resort Children's Program 1998-2000 . Active Painter, Organic Gardener, Surfer, Snowboarder and Musician . Affiliated with DMS since 2000         Cara Doud : Associate Teacher, Lower Elementary           . B.S. Journalism / Public Relations – Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR . Pursuing Masters in Montessori Elementary Education from Barry University . Certified Ashtanga Yoga Instructor . Yoga Instructor – The DePaul School, ABE, The Reed Educational Campus . Enjoys running, reading and spending time with her family . Montessori Parent . Affiliated with DMS since 2008         Kirby Jones-Belcher: Associate, Lower Elementary           . B.A. Elementary Education - University of North Florida . E.S.O.L. Certification . Florida Teacher Certification K-6 . International internship England . DMS substitute . Surfing counselor/instructor 2002-Present . Member of the Surfrider Foundation-Jacksonville Chapter . Active in Environmental Education and awareness . Enjoys surfing, snowboarding, swimming and spending time outdoors.           Nita Hurley: Lead Teacher, Upper Elementary           . Masters of Education Specialization in Montessori Education -   Barry University . AMS Elementary Certification EL I & II (6-12) . 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   Joanna Lind Vausberg: Associate, Upper Elementary   . B.F.A. - Temple University, Philadelphia . M.A. Certificate - K-12, University of the Arts Philadelphia . M.A. Philosophy and Ethics - University of North Florida . Certificate in Ortin-Gillingham Language Development . Teacher at Berkeley Montessori School - Berkeley, CA . Teacher at University of San Diego . Literacy teacher - Jaisalmer India, Costa Rica . Artist, mural painter and social activist through art. . Tutor of art based language development. . Affiliated with DMS since 2003             Pat Greenman:  After Care Coordinator           . 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         Flavia Bowling :  Associate, After Care           . A.A. Interpreter & Translator (Naples, Italy) . Secretary, Italforwarding Imports, Ponte Vedra, FL . Teacher Assistant, “Children Around the World” Naples, Italy . Toddler Teacher Associate, DMS 2004 – 2007 . Lead Teacher (1 year old's) Childtime Learning Center, Ponte Vedra, FL . Enjoys Cooking, Gardening and Reading . Bilingual: Italian / English . Affiliated with DMS since 2004           Shelley H. Whitman: Art Instructor           . 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         Ingrid McCawley : Spanish Instructor           . B.A. Social Psychology - Florida Atlantic University . Cultural Arts & Recreation Board Member – Atlantic Beach . Atlantic Beach Holiday Sing-Along Coordinator . Adele Grage Community Center Renovation Project Committee Member . Singer – “The Islanders” Band . National Anthem Singer – ABAA . Affiliated with DMS since 2008         >> Meet our Board of Directors                         © 2008 Discovery Montessori School | 102 15th Street South · Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 | 904-247-4577