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Toddler
Teacher: Kelly Banner
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: 5
- Years as an Educator: 7
- Education: BGS, Texas Women's University. Montessori Certification
- Experience: Prior to working at MCDS I was a Sales Director for a power-sports company for 12 years. I found my true passion for working with children when leading a Forest School for ages 2-8. I’m excited to be at MCDS where I can use my combined experience in the classroom.
- Enjoys: Spending time with my husband and 3 children. I love nature and being outdoors. I also enjoy shopping and going to the movie theater.
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Teacher: Rupika Lewis
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: 1
- Years as an Educator: 40
- Education: Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education. AMS Montessori Certification
- Experience: 30 years of Montessori teaching experience.
- Enjoys: Reading, crafting, cooking, and baking.
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Teacher: Fatima Mercado
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: 1st Year at MCDS
- Years as an Educator: 5
- Education: Majoring in Bilingual Early Childhood Education
- Experience: 5 years of teaching and working with a variety of age groups such as infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and second graders.
- Enjoys: Exploring restaurants/new foods, traveling, exercising, spending time with friends and family.
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Primary
Teacher: Anne Orcutt
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: 5
- Years as an Educator: 23
- Education: BA Communications, University of Alabama, Major in Advertising, Minor in Marketing, Montessori Certification
- Experience: 22 years of Montessori teaching experience.
- Family: Married 34 years, mother of 2 children ages 30 and 27, 2 grandchildren.
- Enjoys: Travel, jogging, cooking, Alabama Football (Roll Tide).
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Teacher: Manisha Shah
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: 5
- Years as an Educator: 25
- Education: Bachelor of Science (Microbiology) from Bhavnagar University, India, Pre-Primary Teacher's Training (India), Montessori Certification
- Experience: 24 years of teaching experience.
- Family: Married 35 years, mother of a daughter age 30.
- Enjoys: Spending time with family and friends, traveling all around the world, reading, and cooking.
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Teacher: Hannah Ferris
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: 2
- Years as an Educator: 3
- Education: Montessori Certification Program, Collin County Community College
- Experience: 2 years of Montessori teaching experience, finished studies to become a certified Montessori teacher and is currently completing observation hours at MCDS and other schools to receive Montessori certification.
- Enjoys: Spending time with family, especially her two nephews, hiking and exploring nature, a good book, and traveling.
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Teacher: Neelam Bathe
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: This is my first year at MCDS
- Years as an Educator: 11
- Education: BA Economics, Montessori certification (American Montessori Society)
- Experience: 10 years of Montessori teaching.
- Family: Married 19 years, mother of a sweet 14-year-old daughter and a dog mom.
- Enjoys: Travel and cooking.
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Teacher: Maria Wallace
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: This is my first year at MCDS
- Years as an Educator: 12
- Education: B.S in Psychology from The New York Institute of Technology, Certification from the Institute of the Psychology of Eating, & MACTE Montessori Certification
- Experience: 11 years working in Montessori schools with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. 1 year working as a literacy teacher pre-k through 6 grade.
- Family: Wonderful husband and 2 boys, 1 & 3 years old.
- Enjoys: Listening to my kids laugh while they play, fun outings with my family, date night with hubby.
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Teacher: Rachel Ames
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: 3
- Years as an Educator: 17
- Education: Received AMI Montessori Diploma for ages 3-6-year-olds in 2007
- Experience: Started working in Montessori Schools in 2003, Worked with many age groups (toddler, primary and elementary), 6 years of experience as a Montessori School Director.
- Family: Married 11 years, mother of a 10-year-old son.
- Enjoys: Running and exercise, traveling, hiking, camping, and spending time with family.
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Teacher: Samantha Fedor
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: 2
- Years as an Educator: 2
- Education: BS Child Development with an emphasis in child life, Montessori certification program at Collin College
- Experience: 2 years of Montessori experience working in the toddler and primary classrooms. Has worked with children of various ages in different settings. Has completed a practicum at an equine therapy center for children with special needs and disabilities as well as child life practicum.
- Enjoys: Camping, hiking, animals, anything outdoors. Travel, spending time with family, friends and pets.
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Elementary
Teacher: Victoria Hughes
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: 3
- Years as an Educator: 4
- Education: Montessori Certification from Collin County College & currently pursuing Bachelor's degree in elementary education.
- Experience: 5+ years of working with children.
- Enjoys: Being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with my friends & family.
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Teacher: Rachel Sam
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: Started fall 2021
- Years as an Educator: 5
- Education: BA in Elementary Education from Moody Bible Institute, MACTE Elementary (1-6th grade) Certification
- Experience: PreK-2nd grade Music Teacher, 3 years as a Montessori Lead Guide.
- Enjoys: Reading to her daughter, finding local spots to walk in the woods, listening to audiobooks on long drives.
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Director: Leslie Jenkins
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: 3
- Years as an Educator: 14
- Education: Attended University of Texas at Dallas for childhood learning and development
- Experience: Worked in the Montessori environment for 13 years, hands on in the classroom for 4 years, and in managerial positions for 9 years.
- Family: Married, live in Bartonville with our family of 5.
- Enjoys: Spending time with family, organizing and decorating, being outdoors.
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Director: Whitney Ball
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: 1
- Years as an Educator: 22
- Education: BA Elementary and Special Education, Washington State University, Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education, Eastern Michigan University
- Experience: 16 years as an elementary teacher, 1 year as Admissions Director, 5 years as Principal of Evergreen Academy Elementary School
- Family: Married 14 years, two children ages 10 and 13, one ill behaved beagle.
- Enjoys: Travelling, trying new recipes, golfing, college football and spending time with friends and family.
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Owners
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Owner: Bill Vesterman
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: 14
- Years as an Educator: 15
- Education: BA Economics, Harvard
- Experience: Education experience includes K-12 Administration and Montessori training, business experience includes Wall Street firms, international firms (Hong Kong), Fortune 50 firms, small businesses, military experience includes 2 tours in Iraq with US Marine Corps Infantry
- Family: Married for 12 years
- Enjoys: Spending time with family, friends, Veterans, runners, triathletes, and watching movies.
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Owner: Lisa Vesterman
- Years at Montessori Country Day School: 12
- Years as an Educator: 12
- Education: BA in Communications from San Diego State University, Studied Montessori Education
- Experience: Current Residential Real Estate Agent, worked in the Real Estate Industry for 30 years.
- Family: Married for 12 years.
- Enjoys: Cooking, gardening, horseback riding and DIY projects, love spending time with family and friends, especially if it involves the beach or water sports.
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