2010-2011 Administration & Faculty

Martha Carver
Head of School
Children’s House Lead Teacher

Martha-Carver Ms. Martha joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 1998. She is a Children's House teacher and Head of School at Rock Prairie Montessori. She received her American Montessori Society preprimary certification from Seattle University, certification in Montessori Applied to Children at Risk from Southern Methodist University and a Nursery School Management Certificate from California State at San Bernadino. She taught for 12 years at Crystal Lake Montessori in Crystal Lake, IL, and also taught at Heritage Montessori in Ridgecrest, CA, and Countryside Montessori in Gurnee, IL. In addition, she has taught English and reading at an International School in Yokohama, Japan. Ms. Martha was appointed a trustee of the McHenry County Conservation District in Illinois and she and her husband have a small business that has grown out of their interest in native prairie seeds and plants.

Robyn R. Doege-Brennan
Director of Operations

Robyn-Doege-Brennan Ms. Robyn joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2003.She is responsible for all areas of finance, maintenance, human resources and benefits.She also oversees the day-to-day operation of our business office.Ms. Robyn also has ?a passion for music? and a ?love of children?. This enthusiasm combined with her experience, both in private and group instruction, and education (including a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance with Piano Minor from Illinois Wesleyan University, as well as a certification in Kindermusik) will give RPMS students a great experience in the world of music. She also provides private piano and voice lessons at our school, Knapton Musik Knotes and out of her home. Robyn, along with her husband Jim, are proud parents of two RPMS graduates, Matthew and James (JJ).

Linda Maybee
Director of Development and Planning

Linda-Maybee Ms. Linda joined the Rock Prairie Montessori staff in 2002 as Children's House Assistant Teacher which included the roll of Music Teacher for the Children?s House and Young Child Classes in 2007.In 2008 she acceptedcurrent position as Director of Development and Planning for RPMS. Lindaa bachelor?s degree from UW-Whitewater with majors in both Psychology and Organizational Communications. Before joining RPMS, she spent several years at home raising her two daughters; Brianna and Nichole. During that time she successfully built a home business, established and coordinated a local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Group and was a substitute aide for the Janesville School District. Some of her interests include cooking, reading, spending time with family and friends, golf, music and singing. It is her desire to continue to positively impact the lives of children and their families by introducing them to the wonderful opportunities that are available at Rock Prairie Montessori School.

Pat Duffy
Operations Assistant

Pat-Duffy Ms. Pat joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2008. She moved to Wisconsin from Pittsburgh, PA in 2003 with her husband, Dan and pets. Prior to taking her position as Operations Assistant she attended Bradford Business School and worked in various office positions in both Pittsburgh, PA and Madison, WI. Pat has two sons, Eric & Sean, and taught a "Famous Artists Program" for 4 years when her boys, Eric and Sean were in elementary school. In her free time she enjoys sewing, baking and selling Avon. The staff enjoys her delicious baked goods and joyful sense of humor.

Faculty

Amy Daniel
Young Child Lead Teacher

Amy-Daniel Ms. Amy joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2000. Prior to teaching in the Young Child program, Ms. Amy taught in the Children's House program and implemented the Spanish language program at our school. Ms. Amy has a bachelor's degree from Edgewood College in Madison and is certified in preschool-sixth grade education, with an emphasis on nutrition and Spanish. She received her Montessori certification from Montessori Education Centers Associated. Before joining the Rock Prairie Montessori staff in 2000, Miss Amy worked at the Gingerbread House Learning Center in Janesville. Her interests include physical fitness, knitting, and spending time with her husband, Matt and two children: Jack and Katherine.

Mary Kline
Children’s House Lead Teacher
Extended Day Teacher
Enrichment and Summer School Coordinator

Mary-Kline Ms. Mary joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2001. Ms. Mary received her Montessori certification from Montessori Education Centers Associated, in 2006. She earned her Wisconsin Early Childhood I and II certification from Blackhawk Technical College in 2002. Ms. Mary attended Wilson Language Training Workshops to assist with enhancing and expanding the language curriculum at RPMS. From 2003 through 2005 Mary developed and was lead teacher for the Montessori Enrichment Program at RPMS. As the coordinator for the Montessori Enrichment program, Mary will continue to oversee the curriculum for this successful program, as well as, perform her duties as a Children's House/Extended Day lead teacher. In 2008 she became the Coordinator of RPMS Summer School Program. Ms. Mary brings over 14 years of experience working with young children having taught pre-kindergarten at Community Presbyterian Preschool in Hampton, Virginia prior to moving to Wisconsin. When not in school, Ms. Mary enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

Nancy Horabik
Children's House Lead Teacher

Nancy-Horabik Ms. Nancy joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2000. She received her Montessori certification from Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center in 1972 and attended UW-Whitewater where she studied communicative disorders. She's taught at Montessori schools in Appleton and Racine, Wis., and, for 10 years, at Gingerbread Learning Center in Janesville. She raised four children, including one set of twins. Ms. Nancy's youngest daughter is deaf so she learned sign language to communicate with her and went on to teach sign language to children for seven years. She continues to support her children's interests and enjoys her grandchildren. "My greatest interest has always been children, and helping them to have a great start in life," says Nancy.

Bonnie Sue White
Elementary Teache

Bonnie-Sue-White Ms. Bonnie Sue joined the Rock Prairie Montessori Staff in 2007. She and her husband relocated to Wisconsin from Central Illinois to assume the position of lead elementary teacher. Bonnie Sue received a BS degree in Elementary Education from SIU-E and taught for a couple of years before becoming a stay-at-home mom while raising four children, but always working with many children outside her family through church, neighborhood, and school volunteering. She formally reentered the field of education when her youngest child began school. She taught for ten years in a Christian school, one year of social studies in a public middle school, and another ten years in a public Montessori school. Bonnie Sue holds Montessori certificates in Early Childhood (3-6), Elementary I (6-9) and Elementary II (9-12) from Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center. Bonnie Sue and her husband continue to enjoy their growing family. She currently finds her Early Childhood Montessori training very valuable for their grandchildren and loves the opportunity to use her Elementary Montessori training with the students at Rock Prairie Montessori School.

Kris Klobucar
Elementary Co-Teacher

Kris-Klobucar Ms. Kris joined the Rock Prairie Montessori staff in 2003. Ms. Kris received her Elementary I certification from Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center in 2009. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in Secondary Education; with a Broadfield Social Studies major, and History minor. She taught civics and geography at FJ Turner High School in Beloit for eight years. Ms. Kris attended Wilson Language Training Workshops to assist with enhancing and expanding the language curriculum at RPMS. She enjoys spending time with her husband Jerry and their children Jack, Sam, and Will who are all alumni of Rock Prairie Montessori School.

Sara Termini
Montessori Enrichment Lead Teacher
Aftercare Teacher

Sara-Termini Ms. Sara joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2008. Ms Sara moved to Wisconsin from Illinois with her husband Vince. Seven years prior to RPMS, Ms. Sara taught grades K - 3 in the public school system of Illinois. She has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Ms Sara really enjoys working with children, as well as shopping and cooking in her spare time.

Kristen Canfield
Young Child Assistant Teacher
Montessori Enrichment Assistant Teacher
Nutrition Coordinator

Kristen-Canfield Ms. Kristen joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2008 as an assistant in the Young Child Classroom. She also assists with the Montessori Enrichment Program in the afternoon and is the schools Nutrition Coordinator. Ms. Kristen received her Bachelor of Art's degree in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in fine arts from Bradley University. She has enjoyed teaching Montessori classes over the past 18 months, and hopes to teach more in the future. Before coming to Rock Prairie she worked at Christ United Methodist Preschool Center in Rockford, Illinois. She has also worked at a Montessori school in Moline, Illinois prior to getting married in October 2007. After her wedding she moved to the Beloit area with her husband Jon, two cats and two turtles. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, golfing, scrap booking, traveling, watching movies and decorating her new home in Rockton. She has also become quite the baseball fan. Go Cardinals!!!

Marian Schnieder
Physical Education Instructor
Library Program Coordinator
Young Child and Children's House Assistant Teacher

Marian-Schnieder Ms. Marian joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2004. Ms. Marian brings many skills and talents to the RPMS staff such as being fluent in German, an accomplished organist and a certified USAG Gymnastics Instructor. Ms. Marian received her BS in Microbiology (with German minor) from Purdue University in Indiana where she earned distinguished student status. She has worked in both public and private schools in Janesville as well as developing and maintaining several gymnastics programs at the YMCA. Ms. Marian also coaches and teaches team gymnastics at CSA in Janesville. In her free time, Ms. Marian enjoys biking, roller-blading and jumping on the trampoline with her children.

Ellen Diaz
Children's House Assistant Teacher

Ellen-Diaz Ms. Ellen joined Rock Prairie Montessori School in 2009 as an Assistant Teacher in Children's House. Ellen earned her Bachelors Degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies from Drake University where she traveled to and lived in several Central and South American countries. Ellen also interned for the Center for Global Education in Cuernavaca, Mexico. She joins us after running her own Wisconsin-licensed, bilingual, home daycare for 3 years and completing coursework in Early Childhood. Prior to this, Ellen taught Spanish at Keith Country Day School in Rockford, IL for 4 years, for Kindergarten through 12th grade. In her free time, Ellen enjoys gardening, cooking, traveling, exercise, being outdoors and spending time with her husband and two young sons.

Monica Faist
Children's House Assistant Teacher

Monica-Faist Ms. Monica joined Rock Prairie Montessori School in 2004. She has been an Assistant Teacher in both the Children's House and Extended Day Programs. She has enjoyed the privilege of seeing children learn and grow with the Montessori Method of teaching. Monica has a Bachelors Degree in Management and 10 years of experience in Human Resources prior to working in Education. Monica, and her husband Randy, have three children; Amelia, Miranda, and Isaac. All three of her children have attended Rock Prairie Montessori School. In her free time she enjoys traveling and reading.

Lauren Babcock
Montessori Enrichment Assistant Teacher

Lauren-Babcock Ms. Lauren joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2009 as an Assistant Teacher in the Montessori Enrichment classroom and After-Care Program. Lauren grew up in Janesville and is a graduate of Craig High School. Prior to joining our staff, Lauren had been taking classes for nursing at Blackhawk Technical College. She loves art and attends a painting class once a week that she really enjoys. In her free time she likes to watch movies and shop. Lauren is looking forward to another wonderful school year.

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Our Mission

“Going Beyond the Common Classroom Experience^SM” by enhancing the lives of children, families and society through a peaceful, diverse, Montessori-guided education where children gain appreciation and respect for themselves, nature, the arts, humanity, and the community in which they live.”

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