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 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.

Teacher: Rupika Lewis

Years at Montessori Country Day School: 1
Years as an Educator: 30
Education: Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education. AMS Montessori Certification
Experience: 30 years of Montessori teaching experience
Enjoys: Reading, crafting, cooking, and baking

Teacher: Fatima Mercado

Years at Montessori Country Day School: 1st Year at MCDS
Years as an Educator: 5 years of teaching
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.

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)

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, travelling all around the world, reading, and cooking

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

Teacher: Neelam Bathe

Years at Montessori Country Day School: This is my first year at MCDS
Years as an Educator: 11 years
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, Cooking.

Teacher: Maria Wallace

Years at Montessori Country Day School: This is my first year at MCDS
Years as an Educator: 12 years
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.

Teacher: Victoria Hughes

Years at Montessori Country Day School: 3 years
Years as an Educator: 4 years
Education: Montessori Certification from Collin County College & currently pursuing Bachelor's degree in elementary education
Experience: 5+ years of working with children
Family: Wonderful husband and 2 boys, 1 & 3 years old.
Enjoys: Being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with my friends & family

Teacher: Whitney Ball

Years at Montessori Country Day School: 22
Years as an Educator: 7
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.

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.

Teacher: Whitney Ball

Years at Montessori Country Day School: 22
Years as an Educator: 7
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.

Director: 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 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

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

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

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