Using a team teaching model, our certified Montessori teachers focus on the needs of the whole child: social, emotional, and cognitive. Our highly trained Montessori instructors guide children to their fullest potential, instilling a deep sense of personal independence and responsibility to self, to others, and to nature.
MCR teachers are qualified specialists in early childhood and elementary education. We are proud of the retention rate of our staff, which adds continuity to our school community. Each classroom follows a team-teaching approach with two professionally trained American Montessori Society instructors who guide the children through the carefully prepared environment.
Head of School
Mary serves as Head of School and has been active in Montessori education for 30+ years. As one of the original founders of Montessori Children’s Room, her goal is to assure a top-quality education for each child who attends MCR. She received a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from College of St. Mary in 1976 and holds an active Nebraska teaching certificate. Her Montessori teacher certification includes Primary level (3-6 years old), Elementary I (6-9 years old), and Elementary II (9-12 years old). All levels of training are certified and endorsed by the American Montessori Society. Mary has been actively involved in each level of teaching over the years since the school began. She is also the author of the booklet, The Outdoor Classroom, with more than a thousand copies sold across the country. Mary has been a featured speaker at several national Montessori conferences on the benefits of gardening with children.
School Administrator
In her role as school administrator, Mary oversees the day-to-day school operations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Public Administration from University of Nebraska at Omaha. Mary obtained an Administrator Paraprofessional certificate from MECA-Seton in Chicago. She joined the school in 1992.
Business Manager
Molly graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in accounting and finance. Upon graduation she acquired her Certified Public Accountant certificate working at a regional accounting firm in the Chicagoland area. There she worked primarily as a financial auditor. She moved to Omaha in 2013 to be closer to home and her family. Molly attended MCR as a child and wanted her children to attend the school as well. She is now the business manager at MCR and the HR manager.
Elementary II 4-6 Grade
Patti holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education from the University of Calgary, Canada. She holds an active Nebraska teaching certificate, as well as Elementary I and II teacher certificates from Mid-American Montessori Teacher Training and American Montessori Society. In addition to teaching for five years in the public school system, Patti has 14 years of Montessori teaching experience. She has been at MCR Elementary since 2009.
Elementary II
Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Masters in Education from Doane University. She holds an active Nebraska Teaching Certificate and has several years of teaching experience in Greta and Elkhorn school districts. Emily is currently enrolled with The Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Emily joined MCR in 2022.
Elementary II Paraprofessional
Elementary I
Becky has a Nebraska Teaching Certificate, K-6 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Bachelor of General Studies, both from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She also holds a Montessori Elementary 1 Teaching certificate from the University of Nebraska-Kearney and the American Montessori Society. Becky joined MCR in 2019.
Elementary I
Megan received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from University of Nebraska-Omaha and a Master’s in Elementary Education from Plymouth State University. She has a Nebraska Teaching Certificate, K-6 and is certified as a Montessori Elementary 1 teacher from Mid-America Montessori Training in Omaha. She taught Montessori in the Millard Public school district for eight years. Megan joined MCR in 2021.
Elementary I
Courtney holds a Bachelor of Science in Family Sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She also serves as the Elementary 1 Art teacher and has created several amazing pieces of Art with the students for the school's annual fundraiser. Courtney attended MCR as a child and previously worked at a Montessori school in Nashville, Tennessee. She joined MCR in 2009.
Elementary I
Hannah graduated from the University of Nebraska-Kearney in December of 2017 with a degree in Early Childhood Education (age 3 - Grade 3) and Special Education (K-6). Hannah holds an active Nebraska teaching certificate and has several years of teaching experience. Hannah is currently enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Kearney working towards her Montessori Elementary certificate from the American Montessori Society. Hannah joined MCR in 2022.
Primary Classroom A
Jessica received an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Metro Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the College of St. Mary. She is currently enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Kearney working on her Primary level endorsement from the American Montessori Society. Jessica is an MCR parent and joined MCR in 2021.
Primary Classroom A
Emma holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and an Early Childhood Endorsement from University of Nebraska-Omaha. She has her Nebraska State teaching certificate for K-6 and has received her Primary Montessori Certification from the Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training Institute and American Montessori Society. Emma has been a Montessorian her whole life as a student from pre-primary to 6th grade and was a Primary teacher at the Montessori Co-op School for eight years. Emma joined MCR in 2025.
Primary Classroom B
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Illinois and Master’s in Early Childhood Education from Erikson Institute in Chicago. Miss Stephanie is currently enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Kearney in the Montessori Teacher Education Primary (3-6) training program. Stephanie joined MCR in 2021.
Primary Classroom B
Nikki received her Primary level Montessori certification from The Montessori Academy in Kansas City in 1982. She has worked in Montessori classrooms for many years in both Kansas and Nebraska and came to MCR with a wealth of information to share. Nikki joined MCR in 2013.
Primary Classroom C
Kristen received a Bachelor's in Biology from Baylor University in 2016. After volunteering with AmeriCorps in Chicago, she realized her true passion for early childhood education. She worked in a preschool setting for several years and then began working at MCR. Kristen completed training with Oaks Montessori Teacher Education Center in 2025 and will finish her internship to be certified in 2026. Kristen joined MCR in 2024.
Primary Classroom C
Karlyn attended the Early Childhood Program at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha. She eventually decided to pursue a career in the Montessori philosophy and obtained her Primary Montessori Certifications in 1994 from the Montessori Institute of Nebraska and the American Montessori Society. She has spent 36 years teaching in Montessori classrooms in Minneapolis, Kansas City and Omaha. Miss Karlyn returned to MCR in August of 2023. Upon her return, she has taught at MCR for 11 years in all.
Primary Classroom D
Kandi holds a Primary Montessori Teacher certification from Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training Institute and American Montessori Society. Kandi attended the University of Nebraska studying Early Childhood Education. She joined the school in 2014 as a team member of our after school program before completing her Primary Montessori training and moving into the classroom. Miss Kandi also serves as the Primary liaison to the administration.
Primary Classroom D
Franny holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the University of Nebraska Lincoln. Franny has been an involved MCR parent for the past eight years of her three children's classrooms. Franny has worked alongside Miss Kandi in classroom D for the last 5 years. She worked and directed summer camp programs over many summers while in high school and college. Franny joined MCR in 2021.
Pre-Primary
Malesha received her Primary level Montessori certificate from North American Montessori Center in 2022. She worked as our Head Aftercare coordinator for 5 years before moving into the Primary classroom. She has been working alongside Miss Kristly in the Pre-Primary classroom for the past two years. Malesha joined the school in 2015.
Pre-Primary
Kristyl holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Nebraska. She received her Birth to 3 years of age Montessori certificate from the Montessori Institute of Denver in 2008 and has been working in Montessori Toddler and Primary Classrooms for over 25 years. She joined MCR in 2019 along with her two children who are now in Elementary II.
French Instructor
Chantal is our French teacher who works with the children on a weekly basis. She holds a Primary level Montessori teaching certificate from Great Plains Montessori Teacher Training and American Montessori Society. Chantal also holds a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature from the University of Haifa in Israel. She follows the AIM methodology, which promotes rapid language acquisition through the use of gestures, theater, music, and carefully chosen vocabulary. She joined the school in 1999.
Head Chef and Kitchen Manager
After 22 years in the corporate world, Margy followed her culinary passion to the kitchen of MCR. Since 2009, Margy has been preparing healthy, nutritional lunches using a variety of ingredients from the school garden. She attended Peru State College and recently completed the Live Well Omaha Kids Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment in Child Care program.
Sous Chef
Andrea has been an MCR parent for the past 8 years. She worked as an elementary paraprofessional at a local public school while she attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Andrea's interest in cooking developed as a young child while preparing meals with her grandfather who shared his culinary passions with her.
Outdoor Classroom Teacher
Rachel's interest in gardening began in her childhood, growing up in a family that prioritized producing their own food. Spent her early adult years traveling and working on farms, eventually working as a ranch hand. Her passion for food and sustainability led her to agriculture; she now enjoys sharing her passion and skills with future generations at MCR.
