The certified Montessori teacher in each classroom serves not as the center of attention, but as an observer and facilitator who assesses
each child's unique interests and progress. The teacher demonstrates a work, spends one-on-one time with a child to overcome a problem,
or leads a small group activity. The teacher directs children to an activity appropriate for their development or redirects children whose
actions may be disturbing the other children at work. A teaching assistant also helps maintain harmony in the room and ensures the classroom materials are prepared and correctly ordered each day. The child will also have the opportunity to interact with other teachers,
such as those providing enrichment lessons such as foreign language.
Iman L Khan
Iman L. Khan is the Assistant Director and a Professional Counselor at Nature’s Classroom Montessori School in Mukwonago WI. She has a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Community Counseling. She is also a certified trainer & facilitator in Leadership Development. She has worked with children for over 15 years in the areas of mental health, developmental guidance and education. She is an ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) therapist who also combines CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) and Mindfulness into her therapeutic approaches. She has worked with families providing parenting education, psychotherapy and group counseling. She is experienced in working with families, teachers & administrators in a Montessori environment providing psychoeducation and consulting services in the areas of life transitions, diversity, mindfulness, parent education, and mental health & wellness. Iman is a strong advocate for Montessori education and adopting Montessori as a way of life.
Mrs. A
Dawn Anderson discovered the gift of Montessori education while attending UW-Parkside for traditional elementary teacher certification. During one of her student teaching experiences, she was completely taken by an enthusiastic, bright six-year-old boy who drove the classroom teacher crazy with his zest for life. Once Dawn discovered this boy’s amazing passion for learning was a product of his experience at a Montessori preschool, she found she had to learn more. After spending a semester doing a self-directed field experience at Racine Montessori School she decided to pursue Montessori certification after receiving her bachelor’s degree in Communication. Initially, she attended MECA (Montessori Education Centers Associated) in Hinsdale, Illinois and received her Early Childhood Credential (AMS 2 ½-6 year olds). She interned as an assistant at Lake Geneva Montessori 1996-1997 and then taught as a primary directress at Racine Montessori School from 1997-2003. While watching her daughter grow through Montessori, she again began to be called to serve the older child. After positive experiences teaching summer school enrichment programs for the elementary students 6-12 years of age, Racine Montessori School offered her a position teaching in the elementary. Dawn attended MMTTC (Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center) of Illinois, received her AMS EI (6-9 year olds) and EII (9-12 year olds) credentials, and taught in a lower elementary classroom at Racine Montessori School from 2004 until 2007. In 2007 she was ready to shorten her commute, work with upper elementary students (including her own daughter) in the most fantastic environment, and begin a new adventure teaching for Nature’s Classroom. Married since 1993, Dawn spends every spare moment with her husband, two children (both NCM students), and two dogs, enjoying family activities like swimming and biking.
Mrs. M.
After utilizing her business degree working in fundraising and public relations, Anne decided it was time to follow her heart and become a teacher. She was introduced to Montessori through a friend who was taking the elementary training in Milwaukee. As an Alverno graduate, Anne found Montessori spoke to her beliefs about education not being a competitive endeavor, rather an opportunity to grow and develop oneself in connection to the larger world. The idea of respect, responsibility and freedom, as well as acknowledging developmental stages drew Anne to Montessori as a profession. She took her training at the AMI training center in Milwaukee from 1991-92.
After working in Chicago as a lower elementary teacher at a well respected Montessori school for several years, Anne moved to Milwaukee in 1995 to marry her husband. She continued to work as a lower elementary teacher for six years at Milwaukee Montessori before she moved to Montessori School of Waukesha. She worked as the Assistant Director for a year, but they needed her in the Upper Elementary classroom. Anne was the Upper Elementary teacher there for six years until the economy affected the school which gave Anne the opportunity to begin working with us at Nature’s Classroom Montessori. Anne’s home life is centered on her husband and two boys, both of whom are Montessori children. Anne loves to travel and swim, so she tries to find ways to combine her sons’ love of sports with her loves during the summer.
Miss Wilma
Wilma Murphy married 13 years ago and moved from México to Wisconsin. She learned English as a second language. Wilma and her husband have 2 children; Jenny is 10 and Tony is 7. She has been tutoring Spanish for the last 3 years and working part time as a substitute teacher in public schools...mostly as a Spanish teacher. In 2005 she started a new experience working at Nature's Classroom, teaching Spanish part time. Currently she is now working full time in the classroom as an assistant and teaching Spanish as well. She really enjoys teaching her culture and language to the children and also takes pleasure in learning new experiences each day.
Miss Dana
Ms. Dana has been working with children ages three to six for over ten years. She has an educational background in theater and musical theater performance. She received her degree from the New School for Social Research in New York City.
Her exposure to the Montessori method during her undergraduate studies inspired her to enter the teaching profession. Upon researching the Montessori methodology she fell in love with its child centered and directed philosophy. As a result, Ms. Dana attended the A.M.I. Montessori certification training in Denver, Colorado for three consecutive summers.
Additionally she earned a master’s degree in education from Loyola College in Maryland. During that time she successfully and diligently taught at Milwaukee Montessori School from 2000-2007.
She is very happy to have the opportunity to teach at Nature’s Classroom Montessori. In her spare time she enjoys coaching adults at the Wisconsin Athletic Club in SPIN, YOGA and Pilates.
Miss Deepa
Deepa Shreekumar grew up having a diplomat father which enabled her to experience many different countries and cultures. Just when she felt life was settling down, her husband, Rajesh's job took her to many different countries, as well. They moved to Milwaukee 7 years ago. She enjoys meeting people, cooking and baking, music, and reading. Deepa greatly appreciates a sense of humor and friendship especially when made in lands far away from her own. She has her Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism. Her older son, Advik, now 14, went to a Montessori school and when her youngest son, Arjun who is 7, started Montessori school her fascination with the Montessori way of teaching continued and she decided to pursue the training to be a Montessori teacher.She completed her Early Childhood training from MECA-Seton, in 2007.
Miss Carlyn
Mrs. Carlyn received her first Bachelor of Science degree in Food and Nutrition from Illinois State University many years ago. While her two children were attending Milwaukee Montessori School and Montessori School of Waukesha she fell in love with the elementary classroom and decided to take the 6 – 12 year old teacher training at the A.M.I Montessori Institute of Milwaukee in 2001-2002. She subsequently finished her Masters of Education degree at Loyola College in Maryland in 2004.
Since 2000, Mrs. Carlyn has worked at both the Montessori School of Waukesha and Nature’s Classroom Montessori in a variety of positions from Children’s House Assistant to substitute teacher/ part time elementary to Assistant Lower Elementary teacher in 2006 – 2008.
She has also taught many weeks of elementary summer program at the Montessori School of Waukesha and many years of religious education to all grade levels at her church community. Another way Mrs. Carlyn enjoys working with children is with her daughter’s 4-H group as a parent leader for the poultry and llama projects for the County Fairs and with individual Montessori tutoring.
She has been married to Duke since 1980 and her children are Baylen, age 19 and Aislynn, age 15. Her family loves music and each of them enjoys singing in the school or church choirs and attending Baylen’s (cello) orchestra concerts whenever possible. Outside of the classroom Mrs. Carlyn enjoys baking, reading, tending to their flock of 32 chickens and 2 cats, and attending Aislynn’s high school events.
