The Montessori Academy
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    • Before & After Care
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    • Ways To Give
    • Windfall 2020
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
  • Home
  • Explore TMA
    • Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity
    • The Case for Montessori
    • Faculty and Staff
    • Parents and Community
    • Academic, Athletic and Events Calendar
    • TMA at The Center for the Homeless
    • Board of Trustees
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
  • Admissions
    • Inquire/Schedule A Visit
    • Enrollment Information
    • Tuition Assistance
    • Health Forms
  • Academics
    • Toddler
    • Early Childhood
    • Lower Elementary
    • Upper Elementary
    • Junior High
    • Co-Curriculars
  • The Whole Child
    • Mindfulness
    • Athletics
    • Athletics Locations
    • Beyond The Classroom
    • Before & After Care
    • Summer Camps
  • Giving
    • Ways To Give
    • Windfall 2020
    • Volunteer
    • Donate

FACULTY and STAFF

The Montessori Academy faculty and staff work together to address the academic, social-emotional, and physical development of the whole child. All lead teachers have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and are Montessori-certified. They pledge to work in partnership with each family and to be dedicated to every student’s development. Additionally, they pledge to:
  • Honor the principles of the Montessori philosophy and method.
  • Cultivate the child’s intellect with a challenging and engaging curriculum that engenders creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and academic skills.
  • Offer a safe, secure learning environment with an inquiring, cooperative, and nurturing atmosphere.
  • Create an environment where students learn to work as a team and to value each member’s contribution.
  • Emphasize self-motivation and independent thinking so that each child becomes confident and self-assured. 
  • Instill responsibility by providing a learning atmosphere that fosters positive work habits and commitment to others.
  • Build a relationship of trust and support between home and school.​​

STAFF

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Randy Kelly
Head of School
​rkelly@tma-el.org
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Susan Finster
Assistant Head of School for Finance & Operations
sfinster@tma-el.org

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Kim Bosworth
Director of Admissions
kbosworth@tma-el.org
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Colleen Spano
Director of Student Services
cspano@tma-el.org
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Hannah Couch
Director of Advancement
hcouch@tma-el.org
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Deb Kletka
Front Desk Receptionist
frontdesk@tma-el.org

FACULTY

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Melissa Baldwin
Toddler Teacher
mbaldwin@tma-el.org
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Dan Chapman
Art Teacher
dchapman@tma-el.org
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Amy Cousins
Lower Elementary Assistant
​acousins@tma-el.org
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Jennifer Culp
Early Childhood Assistant
​jculp@tma-el.org
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Sarah Culp
Early Childhood After Care Assistant
​sculp@tma-el.org
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Pamela DeCocker
Early Childhood Assistant
pdecocker@tma-el.org
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Janine Faini
Early Childhood Assistant
jfaini@tma-el.org
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Angela Flenar
Lower Elementary Assistant
aflenar@tma-el.org
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Terri Foley
Upper Elementary Assistant
tfoley@tma-el.org
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Aliya Franco
Elementary Before Care,
Lunch Server, Sub Coordinator
afranco@tma-el.org
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Julie Gabrielse
Early Childhood Teacher
MTA Director
jgabrielse@tma-el.org
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Carol Griffin
Elementary After Care Coordinator
cgiffin@tma-el.org
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William Hammer
Science Teacher
​whammer@tma-el.org
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Barb Harvey
Early Childhood Teacher
​bharvey@tma-el.org
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Ashley Kenney
Early Childhood Teacher at CFH
akenney@tma-el.org
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Karen Klingel
​Early Childhood Assistant
kklingel@tma-el.org
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Kathy Kolata
Upper Elementary Teacher
Division Chair
kkolata@tma-el.org
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Rachel Lankford
Toddler Assistant
rlankford@tma-el.org
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Kate Ludick
Junior High Teacher
kludick@tma-el.org
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Becky Ludwick
Toddler Teacher
​bludwick@tma-el.org
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Dana McDorman-Kolata
Elementary After Care Assistant
dmcdorman@tma-el.org
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Chandler Miller
Upper Elementary Assistant
Athletic Director
cmiller@tma-el.org
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Helen Muffoletto
Upper Elementary Teacher
​hmuffoletto@tma-el.org
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Carolyn Owens
Lower Elementary Teacher
cowens@tma-el.org
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Michael Poole
Upper Elementary and
​Junior High Math Teacher
mpoole@tma-el.org
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Jodi Price
Early Childhood Teacher
jprice@tma-el.org
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Rhonda Reynolds
Lower Elementary Teacher
rreynolds@tma-el.org
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Bailey Ritsema
Early Childhood Assistant
britsema@tma-el.org
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Donna Rockafellow
Toddler Assistant
drockafellow@tma-el.org
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Jayme Russell
Librarian
jrussell@tma-el.org
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Patrick Sweeney
Music Teacher
Spanish Teacher
psweeney@tma-el.org
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Lindsay Turner
Early Childhood Teacher
lturner@tma-el.org
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Drew Vance
Early Childhood After Care Coordinator
dvance@tma-el.org
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INQUIRE

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INQUIRE

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VISIT

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VISIT

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APPLY

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APPLY

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MISSION STATEMENT

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The Montessori Academy (TMA) is true to the teachings of Dr. Maria Montessori. We create an environment that cultivates the child's intellect, instills responsibility, fosters respect, and inspires care for the community.
530 East Day Road
Mishawaka, IN 46545
​574-256-5313 phone
574-256-5493 fax

QUICK LINKS

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Admissions Process
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