Meet the Woodland Montessori Team
Our staff here at Woodland Montessori are dedicated childcare providers, committed to providing quality Montessori education. We work closely together to ensure that each child thrives socially, academically and emotionally, with the goal of igniting a life-long love of learning within each child who walks through our doors.
Office & Support Staff
Sally Welder - Founder / Director
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Sally attended Gonzaga University and received her B.S. in Child Psychology from the University of Minnesota. She completed her Montessori Early Childhood training and received her certificate in June of 1972. Sally taught at the Flathead Montessori School until 1977. Sally and Terry began the Kalispell Montessori Center in 1977 and they have been co-administrators since that time. Sally has done additional graduate work in the field of education and business management at the University of Montana. Sally has been treasurer of the Flathead Child Care Association, instrumental in forming the Montana Montessori Educators Organization and a past president to Glacier National Park Associates. In 1993, Terry and Sally were hosts to the American Montessori Society heads of school retreat in Whitefish. Sally is also the director of our Teacher Education Program and an evaluator for the Montessori Accreditation Council on Teacher Education (MACTE).
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Michelle Root - Administrator
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Michelle Root is the newest member of our Woodland Montessori staff. Michelle completed Woodland’s Montessori teacher training program at the beginning of her career, and then moved to Gilbert, AZ where she has spent the last 33 years as a Montessori teacher and administrator! Michelle is so excited to be at WMS again and to become better acquainted with your children. Currently, you will find her helping in the Apple classroom, as well as the office. When not at school, you will find Michelle outdoors - walking, riding her bike, and water and snow skiing are her favorite activities! Most of all she loves to spend time with her family, which is the true reason they moved back to Montana!
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Karalynn Kress - Education Coordinator
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Kara holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Colorado, Boulder (2000) and an AMS Early Childhood Montessori Credential. After many years working in various children’s programs, she began teaching at Woodland Montessori in 2005. Following a break from 2007-2010, she has returned to the classroom and now also enjoys being a Montessori parent.
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Christina Thorne- Assistant Administrator
Christina is a Montana native and has been part of the Woodland team for over a year. You have probably spoken or communicated with her in some aspect in the office, she has enjoyed getting to know your families and being a part of your child(ren)’s life and learning the Montessori Philosophy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children, reading and has just started a new hobby of weight training.
Sophia Ackerman-Mero - Assistant Administrator/ Bookeeper
Sophia is the newest member of the Woodland Montessori administrative staff. Sophia has a Bachelor's Degree in Forestry from Humboldt State University in California. During her time in college Sophia worked as a wildland firefighter for the US Forest Service here in Northwest Montana and fell in love with the area. Outside of work she enjoys exploring the outdoors, hiking, camping, and spending time with her puppy. Sophia is looking forward to learning the Montessori philosophy and excited to be joining the Woodland Montessori family.
Lead Teachers
Andrea Johnson - Apple Class
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Andrea moved to Kalispell from her native Mexico in 2010. In 2011 she joined the Woodland family as a Spanish teacher and while doing so found a new passion in teaching young children. She decided to pursue a career in education and received her Early Childhood Certification through Montana Montessori Teacher Education Institute in 2016. Andrea is a Montessori parent to her two children. She is very excited to share her language and culture with our community!
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Jen Cozad - Lilac Class
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Jen Cozad joins the Woodland Montessori School community from Chicago, IL, where she has lived with her family for the past 18 years. Jen's in-laws live just south of Bigfork, and she and her family are thrilled to now reside nearby. Jen is an AMS certified, 3-6 teacher with 15 years of teaching experience. Before discovering Montessori, Jen completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she majored in Dance. Jen often draws on her dance background when working with students and weaves her love of movement and creative expression into her classroom. Jen is also pursuing her Masters in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Social and Emotional Learning from the Erikson Institute in Chicago.
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Kris Reed - Maple Sprouts Class
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Kris completed her Early Childhood Montessori training in Kalispell. She has been in early childhood education for 19 years. Kris has developed and taught preschool curriculum, and has completed coursework in the following areas: Infant Toddler Care Giver, Early Childhood Leadership Connection, Assessments, Curriculum, and Beginning Sign Langauge. She previously ran a day camp for children and volunteered in Special Education Classes. Kris enjoys watching the growth of each child and sharing their enthusiasm for learning.
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Kirsten Dunn - Apple Class
Kirsten moved to Kalispell in 2013 from Germany. Being a Montessori mom herself, Kirsten has witnessed the profound effect a Montessori Education has on children. Kirsten joined Woodland as a substitute teacher in 2019 and feels privileged to join the staff as a co-teacher to such an amazing group of kids this year. Kirsten is also excited to begin her journey to become a certified Montessori teacher through the Montessori Teacher Education Program in the coming year! Outside of work, she enjoys the outdoors, cooking, reading, homemaking, and spending quality time with her family.
Anna Medina - Linden Class
Anna is a New Mexican Native who recently made Montana her home. Anna has a Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry from New Mexico Highlands University. During her time in college Anna played on the collegiate soccer team all four years. Anna has enjoyed coaching youth soccer and facilitating soccer camps for her community and abroad. Anna is excited to combine her passion for the outdoors with her love for children. Anna finished her Montessori teaching credential and is excited to be a Lead teacher in Linden class.
Kara Stuckey- Linden Class
Kara Stuckey joined Woodland in the summer of 2021 and co-taught in Lilac. Kara finished her Montessori teaching credential in June of 2022, and is excited to Lead teach in Linden. Outside of work, she enjoys the outdoors, camping, reading, hiking, and spending quality time with her husband Tim.
Assistant Teachers
Heidi England - Apple Class
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Heidi is a native Montanan who has been a part of the Flathead Valley community for a number of years. She has raised four children, and has a granddaughter who started at Woodland Montessori in 2013 and who has now made her way to our sister school, Kalispell Montessori Elementary. Heidi has worked here for two years and her many talents, from her delicious cooking to her nurturing spirit, have been such a benefit to our school - we are so grateful to have her!
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Emma Kunda - Maple Sprouts Class
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Emma has lived in the Valley since 1995 with her husband and two children (ages 15 and 13). Emma had the privilege of working for eight years in School District 5 as a substitute paraeducator and school bus driver. She is so excited to be back in the classroom with our wonderful Woodland students and looks forward to pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education in the future. In her free time, Emma loves hiking, singing, sewing and spending time with her family.
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Lauren McCafferty
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Lauren is a Montana native and childcare enthusiast with over five years of childcare experience and two years working in early childhood education with an art distinction. Lauren is passionate about the arts, botany, and conservation and is eager to continue her education here at Woodland! Outside of the classroom, you can find Lauren chasing around her nieces and nephews, creating new art pieces and taking her dog on adventures!
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Isabel Mason- Lilac Class
Isabel is one of our newest members of Woodland Montessori. Isabel is a native to Montana. She studied and achieved an associates degree in Early Childhood Education from Santa Monica College in Los Angeles. Upon returning to home Montana, she’s taken interest in hiking and crafting such as knitting, embroidering and sewing.
Sydney Loudermilk- Maple Sprouts Class
Sydney is Woodland's newest addition. Sydney can be found helping out in multiple classrooms. Having a passion for children, Sydney is looking forward to learning the Montessori philosophy and furthering her education. Outside of work she enjoys acting in community theater productions, singing, dancing, and art.
