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Mrs. Morrison brings a wealth of experience to Highlawn.
After graduating from Shawnee Mission East, she attended the University
of Kansas where she graduated with a Bachelor in Education degree
with a focus on history and language arts followed by a Masters
Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Mrs. Morrison taught an elementary
classroom for ten years in the Blue Valley School District. While
teaching she served on the district’s technology, curriculum,
and assessment committees. During this time her own three boys became
students at Highlawn and she served in several volunteer roles including
Board President. She began working for Renaissance Learning, an
education software company, where for ten years she provided staff
development seminars and consulted in schools across the country
in the areas of math, reading, and standards based assessment. Mrs.
Morrison joined the Highlawn team in the fall of 2006 as the Director
of Highlawn.
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Mrs. Rubenstein is our administrative assistant. She
assists the school
director in the office accounting and day to day operations of the
school.
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Mrs. Belz trained at the Kansas City Montessori
Institute, an extension of the Montessori Training Center of St.
Louis, under the direction of Annette Haines and Connie Coburn.
She is a parent of children who attended Highlawn and was hired
as an assistant in 1990. Mrs. Belz was an assistant for five years,
graduated from training in 1995, and became a directoress in 1996.
She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing/Management
from Southwest Missouri State and her Masters degree in Early Education
Montessori Emphasis from Loyola.
"I fell in love with Highlawn when
my two children attended and were treated with respect, gentleness,
and love. My love affair with the school, teaching staff and parents
is still going strong after 17 years." Maureen
Belz
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Miss Connell attended one of the original AMI
Montessori Schools established in the early 1960s in Houston, Texas.
She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of
Kansas. After a lively and varied career in the Washington DC area,
fond memories of her Montessori days led her back to the Montessori
classroom and AMI training. She trained at the Washington Montessori
Institute under the direction of Hildegard Salzabacher and Janet
McDonell. Miss Connell received her AMI Primary Certification in
1995 and taught in Northern Virginia for seven years before moving
to our area in July 2003 when she began her tenure as a directress
at Highlawn Montessori.
"I interviewed and observed in schools
over a three state area for just the right one, a Montessori environment
that had a feeling of home. Highlawn was my favorite, with its cheerful
classrooms, friendly staff and beautiful materials. I was thrilled
to join the Highlawn staff, and after five years of working with
the Highlawn families, I have not been disappointed. Highlawn is
home."
Karen Connell
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After graduating with a B.A. degree in Elementary
Education, Mrs. Doolittle completed her Montessori training through
the American Montessori International training center in St. Louis.
Mrs. Doolittle was part of AMI's first satellite training class
held right here at Highlawn Montessori. She gained valuable teaching
experience working as a directress in the Kansas City Missouri School
District at one of the three Montessori magnet schools. As one of
the few public Montessori schools in the nation, Holiday Montessori
became a model for modern public Montessori education. In 2004,
after teaching at Holliday Montessori for 14 years, Mrs. Doolittle
happily moved to Highlawn, where she is currently in her fourth
year of teaching.
"I have always loved this school since I took
my training here 18 years ago. Two of my own children have graduated
from kindergarten here and my son Ian continues on in the elementary
program. There is a wonderful sense of family in our Montessori
community that I really enjoy." Nancy Doolittle
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Mrs. Smith learned about the joy of Montessori education through
her children who attended the Montessori lab school at Avila College
under the direction of Miss Lena Wikramaratne. She decided to enter
the training program at Avila and received her AMI diploma in 1984.
She then taught for two years at Belmont Montessori. While teaching
there, she also began working as a Parent Educator for one of the
model Parents as Teachers Programs. She continued this work for
five years while also teaching. She substituted at Highlawn for
one year before becoming a directress in 1987. Mrs. Smith also holds
a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from UMKC.
“I began substituting at Highlawn to help out a friend.
I quickly knew I wanted to teach full time at this wonderful school
and I’ve always been thankful I made that decision. I appreciate
the opportunity to truly ‘follow the child’ as Dr. Montessori
directed. There is such a sense of community among the staff, children,
& parents.” Linda Smith
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Mrs. Valentine trained at Avila College under
the direction of Miss Lena Wikramaratne, an early student of Dr.
Montessori. Carol worked as a classroom assistant and office manager
for the lab school for five years before entering the AMI training
program. She graduated in 1974. Before coming to Highlawn she taught
at Belmont Montessori. She substituted at Highlawn at both it's
original and current site before becoming a directress in 1983.
Mrs. Valentine has had a child and grandchild attend Highlawn.
"I began at Highlawn by subbing when
it was still up on the hill, and continued while my son attended.
Later, I was so blessed to be able to come and teach full time.
It was the fulfillment of a long time dream. The attitude of the
staff is so great here with each one supporting the other. With
no sense of competition between the teachers, the welfare of each
student is the primary concern. We have such supportive parents
, who along with the staff give of their time and energy to make
Highlawn a successful environment. To me Highlawn has always stood
for excellence, I am so proud to be a part of Highlawn."
Carol Valentine
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Ms. Wright began her teaching career in 1990
as a first grade teacher in a newly created computer magnet school
where children enhanced their studies with the latest technological
advances. After completing her Masters Degree in Education, Ms.
Wright continued her studies at the Center for Contemporary Montessori.
The center is part of the College of St. Catherine, Minneapolis,
MN where she earned her AMS Montessori Elementary credentials for
both 6-9 and 9-12 year olds. She taught lower elementary students
at Holiday Montessori for six years and joined Highlawn Montessori
School in 2003. Ms. Wright believes, as did Maria Montessori, that
the world beyond the classroom is a key factor in teaching the elementary
age child.
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Mrs. Barackman has a lifetime of experience dedicated
to the well-being and development of preschool age children. In
1991, she received her AMI diploma through the Kansas City Montessori
Institute, extension of St. Louis, under the instruction of Dr.
Annette Haines and Connie Coburn. She spent two years as a Montessori
Assistant before opening her own class at the Academy Montessori
International. As she began her Montessori career she also committed
her next few summers to grading Montessori albums for the up and
coming Montessori teacher.
Prior to becoming certified in Montessori, for ten
years she designed and implemented physical education programs for
several area gymnastic clubs and preschools. This is where she found
her love for Montessori. Patti is a lifelong resident of the Kansas
City area. She has two grown children who attended Montessori schools
and continue their love of learning.
"I am forever grateful for the opportunity
to work at Highlawn. The school has a tremendous sense of community
among the families and staff. After working at other schools, I
love Highlawn even more. Highlawn demonstrates to me a valued commitment
to Dr. Montessori's vision." Patti Barackman
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