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 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. 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. In 2022 Karlaynn stepped away from the classroom to start a new passion of teaching Adult Education. Karalynn teaches in our Teacher Education Program and teaches our in house Positive Discipline Class.
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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 Caregiver, Early Childhood Leadership Connection, Assessments, Curriculum, and Beginning Sign Language. 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 - Cosmic 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. Kirsten just received her Montessori Certificate, and is teaching our new auxiliary classroom, Cosmic Class. 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 followed her granddaughter to Woodland Montessori over ten years ago, and has been a part of the Woodland family ever since. She started as our chef and with her great skills with children we encouraged her to join the classroom as an assistant a few years later, and now assists in the Apple classroom. Heidi is excellent at helping children feel part of their community as they are often found helping her with tasks around the school. Heidi has taken our Positive Discipline course and has perfected helping the child feel important and confident. She also received an American Montessori Society certificate for completing a 16 week Introduction to Montessori course through our in-residence teacher training program. Heidi spends much loved time with her grandchildren and enjoys fishing in the summer.
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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- Cosmic Class
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Woodland is fortunate to have Lauren for her second school year now. She learned the ins and outs of our youngest learners in Maple Sprouts last year, and is enjoying getting to know all of the early childhood students this year as she assists in the Cosmic classroom. Last school year Lauren took our Positive Discipline course and is great at asking the children questions as they solve their own problems. Lauren also received an American Montessori Society certificate for completing a 16 week Introduction to Montessori course through our in-residence teacher training program. Lauren enjoys art and spending time with her pup in her free time.
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Isabel Mason- Lilac Class
Woodland is fortunate to have Isabel for her second school year, assisting in Lilac. She studied and achieved an associates degree in Early Childhood Education from Santa Monica College in Los Angeles. She is warm with the children and has been open to every learning opportunity that comes her way. Last school year Isabel took the Positive Discipline course and is a pro at helping give the child space to problem solve. She also received an American Montessori Society certificate for completing a 16 week Introduction to Montessori course through our in-residence teacher training program. Isabel has been so inspired by children learning in the Montessori classroom, that starting in 2023 she will be a student again with our teacher training program as she works towards her Early Childhood Montessori teaching credential to become a lead teacher. Isabel enjoys skiing, knitting and cribbage in her free time.
Sydney Loudermilk- Maple Sprouts Class
Sydney has gotten to know many of Woodland’s students through her time here. Last school year she was a floater and was able to spend time in all of the classrooms. This school year, she is enjoying her time in Maple Sprouts with our youngest students. Sydney completed our Positive Discipline course last year, and is wonderful at seeing each individual child in each individual situation. She also received an American Montessori Society certificate for completing a 16 week Introduction to Montessori course through our in-residence teacher training program. Sydney is a talented singer and actress and is involved in productions at the Bigfork Playhouse.
