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.  

​Sally Welder - Director

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).

​Kara Kress - Lead Teacher, Linden Class & Assistant Director

​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.

​Andrea Johnson - Lead Teacher, Apple Class

​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!

Kris Reed - Lead Teacher, Maple Sprouts Class

​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.

​Heidi England - Co-Teacher

​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! ​

Karen Pogorzelski - Co-Teacher

​​After years away, Karen is excited to be back home in the mountains of Montana, sharing her love of nature and music with the Woodland community. She joined the Woodland staff in January 2018 as an assistant teacher and will also be leading a music program for all classes this year. Prior to joining Woodland she taught at the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint. She loves how the Montessori philosophy supports children’s independence and growth, and plans to pursue a credential through the Montana Montessori Teacher Education Institute.

Megan Sturm - Co-Teacher

​​Originally from Missoula, Megan has called the Flathead Valley home for more than 20 years. She has taught at several Montessori schools here since earning her Early Childhood credential at the Montana Montessori Teacher Education Institute on the Woodland campus in 2001. She joined Woodland’s staff as a co-teacher in 2017.  Megan loves working with two- to three-year old students as they explore the world around them and develop language skills. She and her husband have chosen Montessori education for their two daughters.

Jes Brown - Co-Teacher

Kirsten Dunn - Co-Teacher

​Tracy Denton - Office Manager & Human Resources Director

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​With daughters who attended both Woodland Montessori and Kalispell Montessori Elementary, Tracy has been an active part of this community since 2001. She brings a love of the philosophy and a first-hand understanding of our system. Tracy also brings more than 30 years experience in office management, human resources, bookkeeping and customer service to our administrative team. Along with her family, Tracy’s passions include reading and working in her flower gardens. She loves being a part of Woodland and watching your children bloom just as her daughters did here.

​Chelsey Sanford - Communications Director

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​Chelsey joined the Woodland Montessori staff in 2019. Chelsey grew up in Madison, WI and received her B.A. in Religious Studies and Conflict Resolution from DePaul University in 2015. She has lived in different parts of the U.S., but is excited to now call Kalispell home. After spending several years as a social worker in long-term care, Chelsey looks forward to growing and gaining new experiences here at WMS. Outside of work, Chelsey loves hiking and kayaking, or curling up with a good book and her dog.

Toni Mickow - Campus Chef & Assistant Teacher

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​Toni grew up in Oregon but found her way to Montana 22 years ago.  Besides her love for cooking, Toni finds pleasure in hiking in the summer and snowshoeing in the winter with her four children.  She joins the Woodland community in 2019 as campus cook and assistant teacher.