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

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).

Michelle Root - Administrator

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!

​Kara Kress - Education Coordinator

​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.

​Tracy Denton - Assistant Administrator

​​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

​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.

Scott Nagel - Campus Executive Chef

Scott grew up in Rochester, MN and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. He worked as an executive chef and ice sculptor in San Antonio, Texas, before moving to the Flathead Valley and founding the Wasabi Sushi Bar in Whitefish in 1999. In addition to cooking delicious food, Scott enjoys camping, fishing and woodworking in his spare time. Scott joined Woodland in 2020 and looks forward to getting to know his new community!

Lead Teachers

​Andrea Johnson - 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!

Jen Cozad - Lilac Class

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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Karen Pogorzelski - Linden Class

​​Karen joined the Woodland staff in January 2018 as an Assistant Teacher in Linden class. In March 2018, she also became the Music Teacher for the whole school. She recently completed her American Montessori Society Early Childhood Credential through the Montana Montessori Teacher Education Institute. Karen taught for many years in Sandpoint, Idaho, at the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint and Twin Eagles Wilderness School. Since moving back to Montana, she partners locally with the North Valley Music School and Ravenwood Outdoor Learning Center. Karen is inspired by how the Montessori philosophy supports children’s independence and passions. She is excited to step into the Lead Teacher position in the Linden classroom this year, and to nurture the children's personal growth and love for learning.

Kris Reed - 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.

Assistant Teachers

Heidi England - Lilac Class

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! ​

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.  

Emma Kunda - Maple Sprouts Class

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.

 Lauren McCafferty - Apple Class

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! 

Anna Medina - Lilac 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. She is thrilled about joining the Woodland Montessori Staff and looks forward to furthering her education. 

Alyssa Morales - Linden Class

​Alyssa hails from Arlington, TX and received her BFA in Dance from Sam Houston State University in 2015. She pursued dance and business on the East Coast and then the Midwest before settling in Montana in 2018. The Duck Inn Lodge, a quaint B&B on the Whitefish River, brought her to the mountains, where she has lived and worked full-time with her partner. Alyssa’s passion for the arts and teaching has led her to pursue Early Childhood Education and she is thrilled to begin her journey with the Woodland Montessori community. Forever a dancer, she cherishes her students at the Creative Arts Dance Studio in Eureka, MT, where she teaches classical ballet. In her free time, Alyssa enjoys baking yummy treats and playing her ukulele. 

Hannah Stahlberg - Maple Sprouts Class

Hannah was born and raised here in the Flathead Valley and has eight years of experience in the childcare field. She feels that being a part of the childcare community is a privilege more than a job and looks forward to joining the Montessori team! Outside of work she enjoys hiking, music, and spending time with family and friends. Hannah also have a puppy named Miko that she will not hesitate to share about!

 Sophia George - Super Support Staff

Sophia George was born and raised in the Flathead Valley. She studied studio art at Wheaton College Illinois and deaf education at Washington University in St. Louis. Sophia has years of experience working with children in educational, recreational, and cross-cultural settings, and she especially enjoys early childhood learning environments. Sophia is an artist and works primarily in watercolor. She also loves aikido, nordic skiing, and spending time with her family! ​