Cedar Montessori School LLC, Montessori Staff

Cree Falck holds an AMI Assistants to Infancy level diploma and will have completed her M.Ed. in October of 2011. Cree has a BA. ED. and has several years experience working with children of all ages in varied environments. Her primary focus has been working with children ages birth to 3yrs and has broadened her interest in this area by attending both birth and postpartum doula trainings.
Cree is an avid gardener and carries over her love of growing her own food into the classroom by involving the toddlers in growing seedlings in the classroom and planting them in the Toddler Garden. Outside of gardening, Cree also enjoys spending her time caring for her chickens, hiking, camping, reading/learning, and knitting.

Hilary holds AMI diplomas at the Primary and Assistance to Infancy levels as well as a M.Ed. Currently she is working towards completing a post graduate Certificate of Advanced Studies in Education. Hilary has taught for over nine years both in private and public sectors ofthe Montessori community in Oregon and New Zealand. After working for several years at the Native Montessori School, Hilary opened Cedar Montessori School in the fall of 2006. Hilary and her husband, Aaron, welcomed a baby boy, Hugh, into thier family in July 2009. When she is not busy in the office or the classroom Hilary enjoys spending time with her family and walking her two crazy Jack Russels, Peanut and Pickle.

Meg holds a BFA, in print making from the University of Utah. In 2001 Meg recieved her AMI Primary Teaching Certificate from the Montessori Institute Northwest and her Masters of Education from Loyola College in Maryland. Meg taught locally for several years at Vancouver Montessori School before taking time off to raiser her daughter Lucella. Meg and her husband, Josh (also a Montessori teacher), recently finished building their own timber framed home from the ground up! In her free time Meg enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, cooking and is active in the Dragon Boat community.

Desiree holds a B.A. in Human Rights and Religion from Bard College. She has experience working with children from infancy to adolescence in a variety of environments, from nannying to leadership development programs. Desiree is dedicated to creating strong community networks for empowering women, adolescents and families through peer counceling/education, birth and postpartum doula work, comprehensive childcare and holistic healthcare. She volunteers with both PDX Doulas and Backline (a pregnancy support talk line). She enjoys commuting by bike, devouring informational texts and trying to create the perfect loaf of bread!

Sarah Lee holds a B.A in English from Shippensburg University, PA and an AMI primary diploma from the Montessori Institute Northwest. Currently she working to complete her M.Ed from Loyola College in Maryland. Sarah Lee is a past volunteer with theAmeriCorps Conservation Corp in Orgeon as well as an instructor for the Portland Parks and Recreation. Sarah Lee and her husband resided in Seoul, South Korea for several years where they both taught in 3-6 year old classrooms. In her spare time Sarah Lee enjoys vegan baking, knitting and rock climbing. Her inviting personality, love of nature and zest for life contributes to the dynamic atomosphere at Cedar Montessori School.

Tanya is a graduate of Mulnomah University's Bible &Theology and Educational Ministries program. She was introduced to Montessori in a human development class and has pursued her study of the Montessori Method ever since. During her college years, she spent a summer in northwest Kenya and southwest Sudan working among the Turkana communities building relationships and promoting peace and reonciliation events. Tanya is a devoted barefoot gardener, musician and perpetual leaner of the Spanish language. She also enjoys yoga, hiking in the Columbia Gorge and gluten-free/vegan-izing her Betty Crocker cookbook. Her classroom motto is "Keep them Singing" and she believes that its really hard to have a bad time when music is coming from the mouth and the heart.