Jessica launched the MRM Middle School in 2016, bringing with her deep experience with middle schoolers and in progressive education. Previously, Jessica taught middle schoolers and elementary students in Waldorf schools in Portland, OR and in La Crosse, WI. She holds a Master of Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Minnesota Duluth, and holds AMI Montessori Adolescent certification. Jessica is well-versed in establishing traditions around curriculum and community culture. She has guided culminating research projects and presentations, led wilderness field trips, staged theatrical works, and helped students run small enterprises. A Duluth native, Jessica returned to the Twin Ports in 2014. While Jessica enjoys working with her hands, she can also often be found adventuring outdoors with her family on foot, bike, or boat. “The forests and the Lake are truly home to me,”  she says, adding: “I'd like to one day circumnavigate Lake Superior by kayak.”

Patty joined MRM in 2019 as an experienced early childhood educator with over 13 years of experience working in Montessori and traditional environments. Patty, who is also a robotics coach and auction coordinator at MRM, loves the clean air and water in Duluth, and appreciates the peacefulness of Montessori environments, having attended Montessori as a young child and served as a Montessori teacher at two schools in the Los Angeles area. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education with a minor in Violin Performance, and has also taught English as a Second Language. Patty enjoys sewing, knitting, running, hiking, “bug-less camping,” and peanut butter and chocolate malts from the Portland Malt Shop.

Andrea, MRM's founding Upper Elementary guide,  is an AMI-certified Montessori elementary teacher with 15 years of full-time experience. She also holds a BA in Elementary Education with a minor in Social Studies from the University of Minnesota Duluth. A native of Detroit Lakes, MN, Andrea moved to Duluth after high school and has stayed put ever since. She loves that Duluth is a city known for its beautiful outdoor features and unique local attractions, and “not for its malls.” When not planning lessons or thinking about school, Andrea is usually busy cooking or creating messy projects with her two children, setting up family exercise challenges, walking in the woods with her husband, digging in her gardens, reorganizing a closet, or kicking back with a good book. Andrea is excited to help shape a school culture focused on the love of learning and the embrace of a Montessori community, and is eager to help build a supportive and inspiring work environment.

Courtney, MRM's founding Lower Elementary guide, holds a BA in Environmental Science and Elementary Education from the College of St Scholastica, and is an AMI-certified Montessori elementary teacher. She started as an assistant teacher in a Montessori classroom in Duluth in 2008, and assumed the role of lead Lower Elementary teacher in 2010. She has also served with Americorps and worked as a camp counselor, nanny, volleyball coach, reading tutor, and as a teaching assistant in the public schools. Courtney loves Duluth for its people, its sense of community, and its physical beauty. In her limited spare time, she loves to read, run, ski, bike, or go camping. She enjoys working alongside like-minded colleagues to develop a school atmosphere of community involvement, trust, growth and open communication. “I feel we should always keep learning!” says Courtney.

Kristi (she/her) is the founding guide of French River Lower Elementary environment, which opened in 2018. She holds an AMI Elementary Diploma from the Montessori Center of Minnesota (2018) and an AMI Assistants to Infancy Diploma from The Montessori Institute Denver (2015). Kristi joined MRM at its inception in 2014 to launch Duluth’s first Montessori Toddler Community. She joined the St. Louis River Elementary Environment (Grades 1–6) as a guide in 2017. She holds Master of Education as well as Bachelor of Applied Science degrees from the University of Minnesota Duluth, and has served as a director in a local nonprofit, where she worked closely with children and their families. Prior to this, she worked nearly four years at a local hospital, specializing in children’s mental health. Kristi comes from a Montessori family, and has had her own children in every grade level at MRM, from the Toddler Community through Middle School. Kristi can often be found outside in the Northland, whether with family, friends, or bringing Montessori outdoors with her own students. She also loves to cook from scratch, and is a lover of history and trivia. Kristi holds a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion at MRM. “I truly believe that the children are the seedlings of humanity and are likewise the hope and promise of a better world,” she says.

Becca launched the Chester Creek Children’s House at MRM at the school's inception in 2014. A native of Bemidji, Becca graduated in 2014 from the Montessori Center of Minnesota with her AMI Primary diploma. She holds a BA from St. Catherine University in Education with an emphasis on Montessori, as well as her Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner’s License. Prior to attending AMI training, Becca taught for seven years at Child Garden Montessori School in Minneapolis, both at the Primary and Infant levels. When she is not teaching, you can find Becca spending time outside with her daughter, traveling, learning about history, reading or doing puzzles. Becca loves to guide the children along their natural path of development, offering them “keys to the world in a concrete form.”  

Cora (she/her/hers) comes to MRM as an experienced Children’s House guide and assistant in both Minnesota and California. She holds an AMI Primary Diploma from the ​​AMI Montessori Teacher Training Center of Northern California, a Graduate Teaching Licensure from the College of Saint Scholastica, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation-Outdoor Education from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She has also worked as a wilderness therapy instructor. Cora loves that Duluth is a “perfect-sized city”, surrounded by beautiful natural spaces. She feels lucky to be at MRM, and feels that “the children are lucky to have this place helping to create their foundation for life”. An experienced rock climber, Cora has climbed near the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming and the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Jenny’s (she/her/hers) essential intent is to live a life of simplicity and of high contribution and meaning. Helping others find the keys to reading and the many doors that they unlock is deeply meaningful work for Jenny. This work takes many forms, from helping individual students to the implementation of school wide systems and support. She holds a Master of Arts in Management from the College of St. Scholastica and a B.A.S. in Outdoor Education and Recreation from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Jenny is trained in the Orton Gillingham-based Barton and Wilson Reading Systems. She is currently furthering her studies by working toward her Master of Education in Special Education (Dyslexia Specialist) from Fitchburg State University. Jenny works on building a positive rapport with students, helping them find and feel success, and strives to create an environment where students truly look forward to working on reading. She is the founding force behind Rapids, MRM's Reading Intervention Program, and is known amongst her students for throwing great parties to celebrate their hard work throughout the year! Jenny has also been a committed Many Rivers parent since our inception, and has served in many roles as an MRM trustee, the first Parent Association President, Auction Chair, Substitute Teacher, and Executive Assistant.

Erica is MRM’s Spanish guide for Upper Elementary and Middle School. She comes to MRM from Superior High School, where she was a long-term substitute Spanish teacher, and volunteered at Bryant Elementary School in Superior, Wisconsin. Erica is a native of Veracruz, Mexico. Prior to moving to the US, she held a number of corporate positions in Mexico. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Administration from Cuauhtémoc University in Puebla, Mexico and she also completed Child Development Associate courses in Oklahoma. Erica believes the most important values in education are to work with empathy and to create a positive environment for students. She enjoys spending time with her husband and her son, hiking and biking in our beautiful Twin Ports area in the summer and fall, and cross-country skiing in the winter. Erica’s hobbies include photography, cooking Mexican food, and taking care of her plants.

Laurie (she/her/hers) is the Spanish guide for Lower Elementary and first plane. She comes to MRM from Lowell Elementary School’s Spanish Immersion Program, where she taught for two years. She has also worked in the Lake Superior School District as a paraprofessional and a substitute teacher. Laurie started her Spanish studies as a kindergartener in a Spanish immersion school in the Twin Cities metro area, continuing her studies for 16 years. She has stayed with host families on trips to Mexico and Spain. Laurie holds a teaching degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (K–8) from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City. Laurie loves Duluth because of the convenience of city life along with so much natural beauty. She enjoys going longboarding on the Lakewalk as well as hiking and camping on the north shore with her husband. Her hobbies include her Aerophone (electric sax), cooking from scratch, and reading science fiction. Laurie says, “I love being a part of MRM! I enjoy developing a good rapport with students, and I like how everyone is so supportive of each other and passionate about their work.”

Jeff comes to MRM from five years of teaching in Japan, where he taught English to Japanese high school and junior high students. Prior to moving to Japan, Jeff was the high school science teacher at the Fond du Lac Ojibwe School for three years. Jeff holds a B.A. in Biology from Gustavus Adolphus College.

Kelly started working at Many Rivers in December of 2022. She attended Lake Superior college, and previously worked at Essentia as a Health unit coordinator. During the time she was in college, she was also a nanny.  Taking some time off, she stayed home for many years raising her four children. Kelly was born and raised in Duluth. Kelly says “Being a lifelong Duluth resident, I love Duluth for its awesome outdoor opportunities.” Living close to Hartley, you will often find her family hiking and biking the trails. All four of Kelly’s dis play hockey so in the winter you can also find her and her husband at the rink watching their kids play. In the summers, they also like to spend time at their families cabin in Ely, MN. Here at MRM, Kelly says she has had wonderful experiences with the kids, staff, and parents. “I feel a true sense of community here, and it’s amazing to be a part of that. I love being able to watch the students learn, grow, and find their passions.”

Jen brings to MRM deep experience in outdoor education and working with individuals of different abilities. Prior to coming to MRM, Jen was summer and youth and family programs director of the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center for 12 years. She has also worked as coordinator of out-of-school programs for the Lake Superior School District. She holds a M.Ed. degree in Environmental and Outdoor Education, as well as a BS in Fish and Wildlife Management with a minor in Biology from the University of Minnesota. She has also taken outdoor education courses in Queenland, Australia. Jen cares for four cats and two rabbits, and is a fantastic tomato grower, backpacking enthusiast, and great fan of Gophers football.

Sari (she/her) worked previously as a 4th grade teacher for about 20 years! She currently is the Toddler Assistant in Amity Creek and has found a new enjoyment of teaching a much different age group. Sari says, “Being involved in an educational setting feels like home to me. After getting a small taste of the Montessori Pedagogy and being around like minded people, I find myself inspired to learn and practice more.” Sari and her family moved here from California, and she has found the transition to be an amazing life choice for her family. She Loves that seasons exist in Duluth! In her free time, she enjoys sailing on the lake in the summer, snow shoeing in the winter, and exploring hiking trails whenever she can. She is also slowly learning to adjust to the fact that not everybody enjoys or feels the need for a hug.

Andi comes to MRM after five years of being a lead preschool teacher at Summit School. She holds an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education from Mesabi Range Community and Tech College. In her time outside of MRM, Andi enjoys taking care of her houseplants and thrifting. She also enjoys hiking, camping and traveling with her partner Zach, and their dogs Mack and Dumpling. 

Daphne is in her second decade as a Montessori educator and her first decade as a wearer of bifocals, and she is grateful for the perspective that both of these things give her in life! She joined MRM in 2019 and thoroughly enjoys her role as a Children's House Assistant, where she can support the Guide and the children, helping create an environment where learning and community come naturally. Daphne holds an AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Center of Minnesota, a Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and Bachelor’s degrees in History and Elementary Education from the University of Texas at Austin. Before her Montessori training, Daphne served as a Lutheran pastor, a tour guide at the State Capitol in St. Paul, and a ticket-taker at the state fair. While she took her Montessori training, she fell in love with the Montessori principles of order, beauty, and simplicity, as well as Maria Montessori's passion for providing "the best for the smallest." She is grateful to be part of the MRM community and have the chance to bring these principles to life.

Sara joined MRM in 2017. A Duluth native, Sara is the mother of four Montessori children who are now “fully grown, independent humans”. In 2020, she welcomed a grandson and in 2022, a grand daughter for their family to collectively “love on and gush about!” Sara has been a parent, board member, parent educator, and administrator at Sunny Hollow Montessori in St. Paul. She holds an industrial design degree from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and has worked in design at Rollerblade and Tonka Toys before starting her own business, Grace Press Design, specializing in greeting cards, custom invitations and commemorative paper arts. MRM is a place that “invites us all to carry intention and awareness in our daily observations and guidance of children,” says Sara. “The jewels of our days here at MRM are that we get to witness the pedagogical ideas and words of Maria Montessori, building a life-strong foundations within every young child.” When she's not at MRM, Sara enjoys road biking, mountain biking, hiking, gardening, creating, reading, cooking, traveling and sailing on the big lake. To be a “good friend” in life is what its all about says Sara.

Ruby holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and has worked with children of all ages as a nanny, early childhood educator and after school instructor. The belief that each individual child is at the center of their own learning process drew her to the Montessori philosophy. She has been with Many Rivers since the spring of 2021 as a substitute and lower elementary assistant. She now holds a new role as a Children’s House assistant and Lead Aftercare Staff. Ruby loves to see the world through the eyes of children and believes that “each child has an innate need to explore the world through their play.” Ruby enjoys spending time with family, attending live music concerts, finding treasures while thrift shopping and is always in the midst of a craft project including sewing and collage work. 

Amanda (she/her) is currently a sophomore at St. Scholastica, studying Elementary Education. Having worked with kids in different settings since she was 17, she comes to MRM with a rounded experience with kids at different age levels. Amanda says, “I love the community at MRM. So far, everyone has put in an effort to make me feel welcome and comfortable.” In her free time, Amanda likes to be creative, doing things with her hands like making jewelry. She also enjoys reading. Amanda’s favorite thing about Duluth is how beautiful the scenery is, especially in the fall.

Wendy joins Many Rivers in Summer 2023 as its second Head of School. She comes to Duluth and MRM as a lifelong Montessori educator, leader, parent, and advocate. Wendy was Head of School at Mountaintop Montessori in Charlottesville, Virginia from 2004–2016. Other Montessori leadership roles include Managing Director of Great River School in St. Paul, Vice President of Education for LePort Schools, and Administrator Course Coordinator for Baishan Montessori Teacher Education Institute in China. She has also served on the board of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. Wendy holds Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) certifications at the Primary and Elementary levels, as well as North American Montessori Teachers Association’s Adolescent certification. She taught Montessori students at all three levels before becoming Head of School at Mountaintop Montessori. Following her keen interest in Montessori pedagogy, Wendy has worked on research studies with noted Montessori researcher Angeline Lillard at the University of Virginia, where she subsequently completed her doctoral coursework in Educational Leadership. She holds a Masters of Education from Loyola University of Maryland, a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from University of Maryland College Park, and a certification in Charter School Leadership from Southwest Minnesota State University. With family living in Minnesota, Wendy has long loved Duluth for its beauty and its myriad outdoor activity opportunities, especially since she is an avid runner and downhill skier. “MRM’s commitment to authentic Montessori truly resonates with me,” says Wendy. “The educators here have created a warm, inviting and well-prepared learning environment, and I’m so honored to continue Many Rivers’ exciting and impactful educational mission.”

Since MRM’s inception, Brenda’s has been the friendly voice fielding a prospective parent’s first phone call, and she has shepherded all of MRM’s families through the application process. She holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice, worked for several years with adjudicated youth, and began working with children in childcare settings while still a teenager. She has been involved in the opening of and management of several restaurants, and has always thrived in “a setting where you are creating something from the ground up.” A key part of MRM’s Launch Board, Brenda feels blessed to have helped to found a school that will have a lasting impact on the children of the Twin Ports. “I’m in awe of what a group of people with a common goal can do if they set their hearts and minds to it,” says Brenda.

Kelsey holds a Master’s degree in School Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Kelsey has worked in many roles at MRM over the past 7 years, with the most recent being the Executive Assistant in the business office. Having worked for 3 years as a school counselor, she has taken a step back from that career choice and re-joined the Many Rivers Community full time, following her second passion with administrative work while also still being able to support the whole child growth of our future leaders. Kelsey is a lifelong Duluthian who loves spending her time outside of work with her wife and their daughter, exploring Duluth, and spending time at their families’ cabins on Whiteface Reservoir.