Staff

Administration

Martha Carver

Head of School

Children’s House Lead Teacher

Ms. Martha joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 1998. She is a Children’s House teacher and Head of School at Rock Prairie Montessori. She received her American Montessori Society preprimary certification from Seattle University, certification in Montessori Applied to Children at Risk from Southern Methodist University and a Nursery School Management Certificate from California State at San Bernadino. She taught for 12 years at Crystal Lake Montessori in Crystal Lake, IL, and also taught at Heritage Montessori in Ridgecrest, CA, and Countryside Montessori in Gurnee, IL. In addition, she has taught English and reading at an International School in Yokohama, Japan. Ms. Martha was appointed a trustee of the McHenry County Conservation District in Illinois and she and her husband have a small business that has grown out of their interest in native prairie seeds and plants.

Robyn R. Doege-Brennan

Director of Operations

Ms. Robyn joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2003. She is responsible for all areas of finance, maintenance, human resources and benefits. She also oversees the day-to-day operation of our business office. Ms. Robyn also has a passion for music and a love of children. This enthusiasm combined with her experience, both in private and group instruction, and education (including a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance with Piano Minor from Illinois Wesleyan University, as well as a certification in Kindermusik) will give RPMS students a great experience in the world of music. She also provides private piano and voice lessons at our school, Knapton Musik Knotes and out of her home. Ms. Robyn and her husband are proud parents of two boys that are RPMS graduates.

Linda Maybee

Director of Development and Planning

Ms. Linda joined the Rock Prairie Montessori staff in 2002 as a Children’s House Assistant Teacher which included the roll of Music Teacher for the Children’s House and Young Child classes in 2007. In 2008 she accepted her current position as Director of Development and Planning for RPMS. Linda has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with majors in both Psychology and Organizational Communications. Before joining RPMS, she spent several years at home raising her two daughters. During that time she successfully built a home business, established and coordinated a local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Group and was a substitute aide for the Janesville School District. Her interests include cooking, singing, reading, golf, working-out, listening to music and spending time with family and friends, . It is her desire to continue to positively impact the lives of children and their families by introducing them to the wonderful opportunities that are available at Rock Prairie Montessori School.

Sarah Warren

Operations Assistant

Ms. Sarah joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in the fall of 2010. Sarah graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with an emphasis in Graphic Communications. She has also attended several National Association of Professional Organizers classes and conferences. Before finding her way to RPMS she worked as a freelance graphic artist from home for eleven years and cared for her daughters. Ms. Sarah has also assisted area schools as a substitute teacher since 2001. One of Ms. Sarah’s most rewarding activities has been her training of four service dogs for the physically handicapped. In her spare time she enjoys organizing, being outside, working on her 1920’s craftsman bungalow home and spending time with her husband and children.

Faculty

Amy Daniel Young

Child Lead Teacher

Ms. Amy joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2000. Prior to teaching in the Young Child Program, Ms. Amy taught in the Children’s House Program and implemented the Spanish Language Program at our school. Ms. Amy has a Bachelor’s Degree from Edgewood College in Madison and is certified in preschool-sixth grade education, with an emphasis in Nutrition and Spanish. She received her Montessori Certification from Montessori Education Centers Associated. Before joining the RPMS staff in 2000, Ms. Amy worked at the Gingerbread House Learning Center in Janesville. Her interests include physical fitness, knitting, and spending time with her husband and two children.

Tracey Hall Young

Child Lead Teacher Adult

Infant Class Instructor

Ms. Tracey joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in the spring of 2010 as the co-teacher for our Parent & Infant Class with Ms. Bonnie Sue White. In the fall of 2010 she became a Lead Teacher in our Young Child Program. Ms. Tracey has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Houston, Texas with a focus on Child Development. She received her American Montessori Society Birth to Three Certification through North Harris College in 1991. Ms. Tracey worked as a Montessori Lead Teacher at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Texas working with eighteen-month to three-year old children. In 2001 she founded St. Andrew’s Episcopal School of Houston, Texas where she was the Head of School and Lead Teacher in the Young Toddler Program for two years. Since moving to Wisconsin in 2005, Ms. Tracey has been keeping goats and making soap for her small farm business, Roseberry Soap. She also leads sustainable agricultural courses for Angelic Organics Learning Center. Outside of teaching, Ms. Tracey enjoys gardening, cooking, knitting and reading. She and her husband have four sons who keep them both busy attending dance performances, plays, football games, track meets, choir rehearsals.

Mary Kline Children’s

House Lead Teacher Extended Day Teacher

Enrichment and Summer School Coordinator

Ms. Mary joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2001. Ms. Mary received her Montessori Certification from Montessori Education Centers Associated, in 2006. She earned her Wisconsin Early Childhood I and II Certification from Blackhawk Technical College in 2002. Ms. Mary attended Wilson Language Training Workshops to assist with enhancing and expanding the language curriculum at RPMS. From 2003 through 2005 Mary developed and was Lead Teacher for the Montessori Enrichment Program at RPMS. As the coordinator for the Montessori Enrichment Program, Ms. Mary will continue to oversee the curriculum for this successful program, as well as, perform her duties as a Children’s House/Extended Day Lead Teacher. In 2008 she became the Coordinator of RPMS Summer School Program. Ms. Mary brings over 14 years of experience working with young children having taught pre-kindergarten at Community Presbyterian Preschool in Hampton, Virginia prior to moving to Wisconsin. Outside of work, Ms. Mary enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

Nancy Horabik

Children’s House Lead Teacher

Ms. Nancy joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2000. She received her Montessori Certification from Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center in 1972 and attended University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where she studied communicative disorders. She’s taught at Montessori schools in Appleton and Racine, Wisconsin, and 10 years, at Gingerbread Learning Center in Janesville. She raised four children, including one set of twins. Ms. Nancy’s youngest daughter is deaf so she learned sign language to communicate with her and went on to teach sign language to children for seven years. She continues to support her children’s interests and enjoys her grandchildren. “My greatest interest has always been children, and helping them have a great start in life,” says Ms. Nancy.

Bonnie Sue White

Elementary Co-Lead Teacher

Adult and Infant Class Instructor

Ms. Bonnie Sue joined the Rock Prairie Montessori Staff in 2007. She and her husband relocated to Wisconsin from Central Illinois to assume the position of Elementary Lead Teacher. Bonnie Sue received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from SIU-E and taught for a couple of years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. While raising four children, she continued working with children outside her family through church, neighborhood, and school volunteering. She formally reentered the field of education when her youngest child began school. She taught for ten years in a Christian school, one year of social studies in a public middle school, and another ten years in a public Montessori school. Ms. Bonnie Sue holds Montessori Certification in Early Childhood (3-6), Elementary I (6-9) and Elementary II (9-12) from Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center. Ms. Bonnie Sue and her husband continue to enjoy their growing family. She currently finds her Early Childhood Montessori training very valuable with her grandchildren and loves the opportunity to use her Elementary Montessori training with the students at RPMS.

Kris Klobucar

Elementary Co-Lead Teacher

Ms. Kris joined the Rock Prairie Montessori staff in 2003. Ms. Kris received her Elementary I Certification from Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center in 2009. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Secondary Education; with a Broadfield Social Studies Major, and History Minor. She taught civics and geography at FJ Turner High School in Beloit for eight years. Ms. Kris attended Wilson Language Training Workshops to assist with enhancing and expanding the language curriculum at RPMS. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their children who are all alumni of Rock Prairie Montessori School.

Sara Termini

Montessori Enrichment Co-Lead Teacher

After Care Co-Lead Teacher

Ms. Sara joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2008. Ms. Sara moved to Wisconsin from Illinois with her husband. Seven years prior to coming to RPMS, Ms. Sara taught grades K – 3 in the public school system in Illinois. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Ms. Sara really enjoys working with children, as well as, shopping and cooking in her spare time.

Kim Melaas

Montessori Enrichment Co-Lead Teacher

After Care Co-Lead Teacher

Ms. Kim joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2010 as a Co-Lead Teacher for the Enrichment and After-Care Programs. Ms. Kim has lived her entire life in Janesville. Prior to coming to RPMS she worked for 33 years at General Motors . After retiring from General Motors in 2008 Kim worked at Cargil Christian Daycare for two years as an Assistant Teacher. She enjoys working with children and watching them grow. Ms. Kim also loves spending time with her husband, four children and her grandchild.

Kristen Canfield

Young Child Assistant Teacher

Montessori Enrichment Assistant Teacher

Nutrition Coordinator

Ms. Kristen joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2008 as an assistant in the Young Child Classroom. She also assists with the Montessori Enrichment Program in the afternoon and is our school’s Nutrition Coordinator. Ms. Kristen received her Bachelor of Art’s Degree in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in Fine Arts from Bradley University. She has enjoyed taking Montessori classes, and hopes to take more in the future. Before coming to RPMS she worked at Christ United Methodist Preschool Center in Rockford, Illinois. She has also worked in a Montessori school in Moline, Illinois prior to getting married in October 2007. After her wedding she moved to the Beloit area with her husband, two cats and two turtles. In her spare time she enjoys riding motorcycle with her husband, cooking, golfing, scrap booking, traveling, watching movies and decorating her home in Rockton. She has also become quite the baseball fan. Go Cardinals!!!

Marian Schnieder

Creative Movement (Physical Education) Instructor

Library Program Coordinator

Before Care Teacher

Children’s House Assistant Teacher

Ms. Marian joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2004. Ms. Marian brings many skills and talents to the RPMS staff such as being fluent in German, an accomplished organist and a Certified USAG Gymnastics Instructor. Ms. Marian received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology with a German Minor from Purdue University in Indiana where she earned distinguished student status. She has worked in both public and private schools in Janesville as well as developing and maintaining several gymnastics programs at the YMCA. Ms. Marian also coaches and teaches team gymnastics at CSA in Janesville. In her free time, Ms. Marian enjoys biking, roller-blading and jumping on the trampoline with her children.

Ellen Diaz

Children’s House Assistant Teacher

Extended Day Assistant Teacher

Spanish Teacher

Ms. Ellen joined Rock Prairie Montessori School in 2009 as an assistant in our Children’s House Program. Ms. Ellen earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies from Drake University where she traveled to and lived in several Central and South American countries. Ms. Ellen also interned for the Center for Global Education in Cuernavaca, Mexico. She joins us after running her own Wisconsin-licensed, bilingual, home daycare for three years and completing coursework in Early Childhood. Prior to this, Ms. Ellen taught Spanish for four years at Keith Country Day School in Rockford, Illinois to Kindergarten through 12th grade students. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, cooking, traveling, exercise, being outdoors and spending time with her husband and two young sons.

Monica Faist

Children’s House Assistant Teacher

Extended Day Assistant Teacher

Ms. Monica joined Rock Prairie Montessori School in 2004. She has been an Assistant Teacher in both the Children’s House and Extended Day Programs. She has enjoyed the privilege of seeing children learn and grow with the Montessori method of teaching. Ms. Monica has a Bachelor’s Degree in Management and 10 years of experience in Human Resources prior to working in education. Ms. Monica and her husband have three children. All three of her children have attended Rock Prairie Montessori School. In her free time she enjoys traveling and reading.

Lauren Babcock

Montessori Enrichment Assistant Teacher

After Care Assistant Teacher

Ms. Lauren joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff in 2009 as an assistant in our Montessori Enrichment and After-Care Programs. Ms. Lauren grew up in Janesville and is a graduate of Craig High School. Prior to joining our staff, Ms. Lauren had been taking classes for nursing at Blackhawk Technical College. She loves art and attends a painting class once a week that she really enjoys. In her free time she likes to watch movies and shop.

Justine Maldonado

Children’s House Assistant Teacher

Ms. Justine joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff the fall of 2010 as an assistant to Ms. Nancy in the Children’s House Program. Prior to accepting this position, Justine was a substitute teacher during the 2009-2010 school year. She has worked in early childhood since her senior year in high school. Ms. Justine has taken Early Childhood I & II and is currently working toward an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood. She is married and has three children. Ms. Justine enjoys watching her children play sports , going on family trips, reading and long walks.

Meghan Glick

Young Child Assistant Teacher

Ms. Meghan joined the Rock Prairie Montessori School staff during the fall of 2010 as an assistant to Ms. Tracey in the Young Child Program. As a toddler, Ms. Meghan attended a Montessori school for three years before Kindergarten. Because of this experience she has always had an interest in the philosophy of Montessori teaching. She is a graduate of Parker High School in Janesville, WI and went on to attend Blackhawk Technical College to become a Dental Assistant. Ms. Meghan was employed at Agard and Lipkar Dental for three years before becoming a stay-at-home mother to her son. She and her husband have been married since 2007 and live in Janesville. Ms. Meghan’s son is also a student at RPMS. Ms. Meghan enjoys spending time with family, cooking and working on projects around her home.