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 Winquist 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 and a Masters in Education from Doane University. Emily is also proficient with Mac computers. She holds an active Nebraska teaching certificate and has several years of teaching experience. This is Emily's first year at MCR.
Elementary I Lead Teacher
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 at 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 Lead Teacher
Megan received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from University of Nebraska at 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.
Paraprofessional Elementary I
Courtney holds a Bachelor of Science in Family Sciences from the University of Nebraska. She is completing her Primary teaching certification from Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training Institute and American Montessori Society. Courtney attended MCR as a child and previously worked at a Montessori school in Nashville, Tennessee. She joined MCR in 2009.
Paraprofessional Elementary I
Hannah Gronemeyer graduated from the University of Nebraska at 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. This is Hannah's first year at MCR.
Primary Classroom A
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. 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.
classroom B
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 joined MCR in 2021.
Primary Classroom D
Kandi holds a Primary Montessori Teacher certification from Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training Institute and American Montessori Society. Kandi joined the school in 2014 as a team member of our after school program.
Classroom D
Franny holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the University of Nebraska Lincoln. Franny has been a MCR parent of three children and volunteer for the past five years. Franny joined MCR in 2021.
Pre-Primary
Malesha holds a Primary level Montessori certificate from North American Montessori Center. She joined the school in 2015 as a team member of our after school program.
Pre-Primary
Kristyl holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Nebraska. She received her Birth-3 years of age Montessori certificate from the Montessori Institute in Denver. Kristyl joined MCR in 2019.
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.
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.
Elementary Outdoor Classroom
Nick holds a Bachelor’s in Foreign Language from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, but his true passion is organic gardening. He became serious about organic agriculture during his late teen years and has been on a continuous journey to restore native plants that are essential to safeguard the biodiversity of our planet. Nick joined MCR in 2019.
Primary Outdoor Classroom
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.
