MISSION STATEMENT
"To help each child develop to his fullest potential by following each child through observation and helping him direct his own growth
spiritually, emotionally,
intellectually, and physically, by providing a prepared environment that is designed to meet
the child's needs."

Teachers at Montessori Children's House & Garden

Paula Evans, Director and 6-9 Teacher

I earned my B. A. Degree from Butler University and did my M. A. at Indiana University. I hold Montessori preschool (three to six year olds) diplomas from St. Nicholas (1974) and MECA-Seton (1980). I completed the American Montessori Society diploma for six to nine year olds at Xavier University in 1984.

For years, I was an avid camp fire leader and I really enjoy bringing skills and songs from that experience to our classes. I collect dolls and artifacts from all over the world and bring neat things to illustrate the different cultures we study. (I was told by the AMS school certifiers that we have the best collection of artifacts at our school that they had ever seen.)

I love fossils, anthropology, and prehistoric studies and I enjoy exposing the children to these subjects.

Both my daughters were Montessori preschoolers and are now Montessori teachers. My grandchildren (of course!) have all attended school here at Montessori Children’s House.

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Terri Havens, 3-6 Teacher

I am a former student of Montessori Children’s House and I have been involved with Montessori Children’s House since age three. As a teenager, I did volunteer work at Montessori Children’s House and I began teaching here in 1990.

My undergraduate degree is in Business and Accounting. I received my AMS certification after completing my training at MECA-Seton in Chicago.

I am also a former Arthur Murray Dance Instructor, a musician (I play the clarinet), and a dancer. I have been a Scottish dancer in the Gordon Pipers Bagpipe Band and I am currently studying Middle-Eastern dance.

My diverse background works well within the Montessori environment, whether I am sharing my love of math, music, reading, or dance with my students.

I am a mother of two wonderful children who both attended Montessori Children’s House when they were younger. The love of learning we have all acquired here has remained with us and will remain with us eternally. I am grateful to have the opportunity to pass it on to your children.

Alicia Lovell, Teaching Assistant

I attended Montessori Children’s House for kindergarten when I was younger. I have been working as an assistant in the 6-9 year old class here at Montessori Children’s House for 17 years. I have been trained to aid the children on their quest for knowledge by AMS certified Montessori teachers.

I also have 35 years of dance experience. I have studied ballet, tap, jazz, highland (Scottish), and middle-eastern dance techniques. I share my love of dance with the students at Montessori Children’s House by offering after school dance classes here at Montessori Children’s House.

I have two wonderful children. My daughter is in the Big School and my son is in the Little School.

Jamie Sellhorn, Children's Garden Director and Teacher

I began as a parent volunteer at Montessori Children's House in 2003 when we moved from Chicago and my daughter transferred to Montessori Children's House from Chesterton Montessori. I did my undergraduate work at Duke University in Family and Child Psychology and did my graduate work at Indiana University in business and technology. I was so inspired by the Montessori Method as it was practiced at Montessori Children's House that I decided to pursue my Montessori Teacher's Training at Columbus Montessori Education Center. I have both my Early Childhood (ages 2.5-6) and my Infant and Toddler Montessori Credentials. In 2006, I started Children's Garden so we would have a Montessori environment for the youngest children.

Kelly Sikora, Toddler Teacher

As a mother of three bright and energetic children; Jasi (8), Kaya (7), and Elijah (3), I first became interested in Montessori five years ago when I enrolled my oldest daughter in Montessori Children’s House (MCH). I volunteered in the classroom and immediately became hooked on the Montessori philosophy and practice. Kaya spent three years and Jasi two years at MCH, and Elijah is in his second year at Montessori Children’s Garden. I became so enthralled with Montessori that I started working with Jamie in the summer 2007 and started taking the Infant/Toddler Training in Columbus in their Montessori Teacher Education Program. I will receive my AMS Infant/Toddler Certification in the Summer of 2008.

My background includes a Secondary Teacher’s License with a B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education and a minor in Coaching from Michigan State University. With a Master’s degree in Public Health from Indiana University, I have worked for the City of Bloomington and Cornell University as an Alcohol/Drug Educator, taught Personal Health at IU, taught K-8th graders growth and development/puberty education, and taught outdoor/environmental education at the Joy Outdoor Education Center. I also spent two years teaching K-8th graders peace and self-esteem skills at the Indianapolis Peace Learning Center. In addition, I spent three years working on a Master’s degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology at the Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado.

Since I spent 15 of my early years competing in gymnastics, I have now developed a love for tai chi and especially yoga. I have studied ashtanga, hatha, and kripalu yoga styles in addition to studying Thai massage, and Insight Meditation. I am also an avid reader.

Tosha Ward-Janni, Infant and Toddler Teacher

Hello, my name is Tosha. I am 26 years old, the mother of an awesome four year old boy named Ashtin and the wife of a wonderful husband, Samuel, for almost eight years. Along with working with children, my hobbies include photography, scrapbooking, reading, and being with my family.
From an early age, I have found myself working with children. For several years, I was involved with the Vivian Smith House, a program that provided infant and toddler care for teenage mothers who were attending school. I also volunteered as an assistant to to Bridget Huffman working with severely handicapped children, helping them with hygiene, feeding, crafts, and music.
Until Ashtin was four, I home schooled him, while providing in-home care to several different families with young children. During this time, I also started teaching myself photography and working free lance to learn as much as I could. I also couch Pee Wee baseball for Lowell Little League.
I’m currently working towards a degree in early childhood education, as well as learning and taking as many pictures as possible. I will graduate with my Infant and Toddler Montessori Credential in the Spring of 2009. Being a life long learner makes for many great adventures and working with children gives a promise that things are never dull and always full of smiles.

Susan Caskey, Toddler Teacher

My name is Susan Caskey. I have a degree in Early Childhood Education from Purdue University. I have worked with at the preschool level as a nanny, preschool teacher and in childcare. I have also worked with older children at the Perry Meridian Middle School library, the Marion County library bookmobile and as a Kindergarten aide.
I had first learned of the Montessori Method while an undergraduate at Purdue when I visited a Montessori school in West Lafayette but have never had the opportunity to work in a Montessori setting until now. I also never really had a chance to fully explore the different theories Maria Montessori developed although I have employed some of the Montessori practices while teaching in my previous jobs. I especially have been a huge advocate of individuality in art expression. I have always believed the process not the product was the important thing. I enjoyed seeing how each child, when given the same materials as every other child would create something unique in a unique way. That is why I feel the Montessori philosophy is so important. It allows each child to be self-expressive and to learn what that individual needs to learn in their own time.
In my spare time I enjoy quilting, gardening, vegetarian cooking, Yoga, Pilates, and reading mysteries and non-fiction. I have a certificate in Feng Shui training from the Nine Harmonies School of Feng Shui and am very interested in how a person’s surroundings affect them in all areas of their lives.
I am really excited to have the chance to work here at Montessori Children’s Garden. I have discovered that it is not just a learning experience for the children but for the adults as well.

Grace Lewis, Infant and Toddler Teacher

Hi, my name is Grace Lewis. I strarted working at Children's Garden in Febraury. Originally from the Philippines, I worked as a live-in-nanny for a chinise family in Hong Kong for 3 years.

I came to the US in October 2007. My husband, Dan, and I live on the Southside of Indianapolis. He is currently working as a store manager for Walgreens.

My native language is Tagalog. I can also speak Ilonggo, one of the many dialects in the Philippines. I can read, write, and speak both . I've studied English since grammar school. In colege, I majored in English with a Literature concentration. I enjoy cooking, singing, reading, watching movies, and home improvement. I am looking forward to working with the children and meeting all the families.