Early Childhood Faculty

	Kassi bradley, ec assistant
	Shafia chowhan, ec teacher
	lauren dunbar, ec teacher
	Julie Gabrielse, early childhood admissions director After seven years of teaching in the Early Childhood Casa Program and with the birth of her daughter, Julie Gabrielse has transitioned to a new position within TMA. She is currently the Early Childhood Coordinator and the Program Director for The Montessori Teacher Academy. Julie is a 1997 graduate of Calvin College and received her Montessori Credentials through MTA in 2000. She has been an active member in the greater Montessori Community for the past eight years; attending national conferences; training and participating in MACTE on-site evaluations; supervising student teachers; field consulting for student teachers; and teaching Observation, Classroom Leadership & Language. (Bio updated Feb. 2008)
	karen klingel, Early Childhood Assistant
	patricia o'connell, ec intern
	Cindy Shelley, Early Childhood ALL DAY PROGRAM COORDINATOR Cindy Shelley is Room 5’s new teacher. For the past two years she has developed Room 4 into an all day Montessori classroom. Cindy graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a degree in Family and Child Development. Upon graduation Cindy moved to Dayton, Ohio with her husband Tom, where she was employed by Campfire International as a Program Director and Resident Camp Coordinator. After raising her children, Michael, Christopher and Kathleen, Cindy pursued her dreams of working with children by attending the Montessori Academy Teacher Training Program. Upon completion of her training, Cindy became a teacher at Countryside Montessori School and was there for 13 years. Cindy enjoys gardening, reading, and taking walks with Penny, her Golden Retriever. (Bio updated June 2008)
	Lindsay Turner, Early Childhood teacher
	Lori Twining, Toddler Teacher Miss Twining is the Toddler Teacher in Room 1. A graduate of St. Mary's College, she became inspired by Montessori in 1983 when she came across one of Montessori's books, The Secret of Childhood. She began as an assistant in the 3-6 program and received her 3-6 credential in 1985. She later fell in love with the toddlers and began working with them in 1987. She received her Toddler credential in 1990 and has since been working mainly with the Toddlers. She loves to see the children grow in independence and self confidence, because they are always telling her, I do it myself! Besides working with the little ones, Miss Twining likes to paint, go bird watching, figure skate and sing.