STAFF

The greatest sign of success for a teacher... is to be able to say, ’The children are now working as if I did not exist.’ - Maria Montesori

Pocatello Valley Montessori is passionate about Montessori education. Our teachers are educational guides, introducing children to learning opportunities. This approach to education allows children to pursue their passions, at their own level and pace. As children progress, the teachers continue to guide, gently drawing them into new and progressively more challenging learning experiences.

MISS STEPHANIE

Executive Director

Stephanie came to PVMS in 2017. She has been involved with the school in many roles, including: parent, toddler assistant, primary assistant, primary lead teacher, and currently school administrator. She was introduced to the school when her youngest daughter became involved
from preschool through 3 rd grade. Before coming to PVMS, she ran her own preschool for 12 years, but she has been impressed at how incorporating the Montessori methods helped her improve her teaching. Stephanie’s favorite aspect of the Montessori method is watching the
children as they are engaged in their work so well that they no longer notice a teacher is the room.

Outside of the school, Stephanie’s chief interest is her family as her husband and 5 children are her greatest supporters. She loves to spend time in the mountains, quilting, and cooking good food.

Stephanie’s certifications and credentials include:
Early Childhood Education Certificate (CDA)
Montessori Teaching Certificate
Montessori Coaching Certificate

MISS MINDEE

Lead Teacher- Toddler

Miss MinDee came to PVMS in 2020 as an assistant to the toddler class. She has had nearly 20 years of working with children, including 15 years of working in management. After a couple of years assisting, she became a co-teacher, and since 2023, has been the lead teacher for the
toddlers.

Miss MinDee enjoys teaching the toddlers because it is the beginning of their learning journey, and she is grateful for the Montessori method that helps these youngest learners get off to a wonderful start. It is a difference that she has seen in her own sons’ learning journeys. She notes that her youngest, who has been involved with Montessori since he was 4 years old, has
learnt at his own pace, not at a set classroom pace, which has led him to explore topics that were not introduced until middle school for her older sons. She wishes all her sons could have experienced the Montessori method of learning.

Miss MinDee’s certifications and credentials include:

Niddo/Toddler MACTE Montessori Certification
Positive Discipline in a Montessori Classroom
Positive Discipline in Early Education
CDA Child Development Associate

MISS ZOIE

Lead Teacher - Primary Prep

Miss Zoie joined PVMS in 2020 as an assistant in the primary and toddler classrooms. After a brief break, she has returned as a lead primary teacher in our new Primary Prep program. Miss Zoie is passionate about education and teaching – and about the Montessori method in particular.

She has seen how this method, with its emphasis on the individual and independence, benefit children in all aspects of their lives, including implementing the teachings at home as a parent. Miss Zoie has two children attending PVMS (her daughter in primary class and her son in the toddler classroom).

Outside of the school, Miss Zoie enjoys cooking and baking, as well as reading and drinking coffee.

Miss Zoie’s certifications and credentials include:

Elementary Education degree (forthcoming Spring 2025)

MISS ALEXA

Lead Teacher - Primary

MISS RACHAEL

Lead Teacher- Primary

Miss Rachael joined PVMS in 2018. She began as a reading volunteer, which lead her to become more involved as an assistant teacher, and ultimately as a lead primary teacher. Her favorite aspect of the Montessori method is the complementary nature of freedom and structure that teaches students to trust their own instincts and interest while teaching boundaries at the same
time. She loves how the individual child is the focus and developing their independence and confidence through practical life skills.

Outside of the school, Miss Rachael enjoys the outdoors of the local area, especially hiking and exploring. She also has a flower business where she designs bouquets and arrangements for weddings.

Miss Rachael’s certifications and credentials include:

Children's House Lead Certificate from The Prepared Montessorian

MISS BRENDA

Lead Teacher - Primary

MISS JOCELYN

Lead Teacher - Lower Elementary

Jocelyn joined PVMS in 2020. She started as an assistant teacher and became a lead teacher for the lower elementary in 2023. She believes the Montessori method is one of the best ways to educate children as it puts the focus of education on the individual child. Unlike more traditional ways of teaching, she finds that this method helps each child progress and succeed at an individualized pace.

Outside of the school, Jocelyn enjoys reading and playing board games with her husband.

Jocelyn’s certificates and credentials include:

Bachelor’s Degree in University Studies, Idaho State University

MISS TABITHA

Lead Teacher - Lower Elementary

Miss Tabitha joined PVMS in 2023 as a lead lower elementary teacher. Before coming to PVMS, she had worked as an assistant in a primary Montessori classroom and had taught 1 st grade at a public school. She loves the way the Montessori method nurtures and teaches the whole child with its holistic approach that respects the individuality of each child and fosters a life-long love
of learning. She finds that it creates a beautiful learning environment that supports children intellectually, physically, emotionally, and socially.

Outside of the school, Miss Tabitha’s favorite thing is to spend time with her husband and 5 children. She particularly enjoys the outdoors: hiking, camping, paddle boarding, cooking, and road tripping.

Miss Tabitha’s certifications and credentials include:
Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Education, Utah State University

MISS ADELLE

Aftercare Lead

Adelle joined PVMS in 2024. She is new to the Montessori school, but is very excited at her new role as the After-Care lead teacher. Before coming to PVMS, Adelle was the lead teacher at Grant County Head Start in Washington State and was an assistant director at a preschool in Rochester, New York. She has also worked as a middle school teacher, a high school special education teacher, and a piano teacher. Miss Adelle has worked in a Montessori school in Yakima fell in love with the student-centered philosophy. She is particularly impressed with the practical life applications of the program.

Outside of the school, Adelle has numerous and varied interests. She loves to garden and to cook, to plan parties and to meet new people, to sing and to write calligraphy. She wishes she were a mermaid so that she could always be in the water.

Adelle’s certifications and credentials include:

Bachelors of Arts in Education, Central Washington University
Washington State Teaching Certificate

OUR PRIMARY ASSISTANTS

MISS RACHEL

Miss Mindee's Class

MISS BECKIE

Miss Mindee's Class

MISS SOLI

Miss Mindee's Class

MISS HALA

Miss Zoie's Class

MISS ASHLEY

Miss Alexa's Class

MISS RANDIE

Miss Rachael's Class

MISS SAGE

Miss Brenda's Class

MISS ASHLEY

Miss Adelle's Class - Before Care

MR. BRANDON

Miss Adelle's Class - After Care

MISS MEGAN

Miss Adelle's Class - After Care

MISS MICHELLE

General Assistant

OUR ELEMENTARY ASSISTANTS

MISS CLARISSA

Miss Tabitha's and Miss Jocelyn's Classrooms

OUR SUPPORT STAFF

MISS DESTINY

Office Manager

Destiny joined PVMS in 2020. She began as an elementary teacher assistant. After a couple years in that role, she became a behavior support assistant. She recently was named as the operations manager for the school. Destiny believes it is important for children to have independence and to make their own choices. She finds that guiding the child rather than telling them what to do, gives them the opportunity to create their own thoughts and ideas about the world and the things in it. Ultimately, when applied correctly, the Montessori method renders respect and peace all throughout the school.

Destiny’s certificates and credentials include:
ECE Professional Badge - Diversity and Inclusion
Bachelor’s degree in Psychology (forthcoming 2025)