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, Aaron and their son Hugh will be welcoming another little boy in February 2012. 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.

Although she's lived in the NW for 15 years now, Andrea originally stems from San Jose, California. She first became aware of the "Montessori Method" back in 2008, when she worked as a classroom assistant at Cedar Montessori. It was here that everything fell into place for her, and she made the decision to become a Montessori priamary guide. With a lot of hard work and dedication, Andrea received her AMI diploma from the Montessori Institute NW, and her Master's in Education from Loyola University in Maryland in 2010. Andrea also holds a BS in Drawing, Painting, and Printmaking from Portland State University. Andrea is very excited to be back at CMS as the lead primary guide this year! In her spare time, Andrea enjoys outings with her dog Umber, creating window paintings for her ETSY page, discovering new music, and sharing life with her boyfriend Gregg.

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!

Mariah holds an AMI Primary Teaching Certificate from the Montessori Institute Northwest and will have completed a BA in Human Studies from Marylhurst University in August 2011. She plans to complete a M.ED in the near future. Her experience with children includes volunteering as a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters and the SMART elementary school reading program, as well as au pair work in France. She loves sharing her enthusiasm for hands-on learning with children in the Montessori community. In her spare time, she can be found practicing yoga, exploring the outdoors, shopping at the farmer’s market, or curling up with her cat and a good book.

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.

Melanie was born and raised in California and "discovered" Montessori while in college. After receiving her Montessori primary diploma and degree in ECE in the late 70's, she taught for a few years on the central coast. She then decided to stay home to school her three children for the next 15 years. When she returned to a classroom setting, she had her first teaching opportunity working with toddlers. For the past seven years Melanie has lived Hawaii where she has worked in various ECE settings, primarily with the 12- 36 month age group. Shortly after attending the Assistants to Infancy training at MINW, Melanie after had the opportunity to work with teen moms and their infant/toddlers on a local high school campus in Hawaii. Along with a her training and experience in Montessori Method Melanie is also RIE trainied, studying the teachings of Magda Gerber. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her adult children (who all live in Portland), reading, writing short stories, crosswords, British mysteries, playing a little guitar and piano and spending time outdoors.

A recent transplant to Portland from coastal California, Megan Milligan joined the Cedar Montessori community in June 2011. She is a graduate of the Montessori Institute Northwest and holds a B.A. in Psychology with an emphasis in educational development from the University of Nebraska. Megan has more than 5 years of Montessori classroom experience in diverse environments ranging from New York City to Nebraska. Megan was first drawn to Montessori when she saw how it helps to develop the true potential that exists in each child. She brings her passion for healthy food and sustainability to the daily life of the casa by incorporating vegan baking and food preparation, as well as engaging children in edible garden care. In Portland you can find Megan riding bikes with her partner, Brett, tending a shared garden, and perusing travel guides at the library.

Anala earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College, and proceeded to explore the world of possibilities through a series of adventures during and thereafter! Her travels have taken her to New Zealand, to work with the marvelous endemic birds of that magical country; and to Wisconsin, Florida, California, a small island off the coast of Maine, to Eugene and then back to PA {to name a few}, for various internships, positions and experiences in organic farming, outdoor education, childcare and nannying, field work with birds, work as a naturalist, and personal growth work and guidance. Anala began her life nestled in the hills of Northeast Pennsylvania, at the Himalayan Institute and attended Montessori School there until fifth grade. She completed a graduate program in Vedic Science this past year (2010-2011) and is currently in training to become a Wellness Guide / Health Counselor, and will be accepting new clients towards the end of the school year! Holistic health and well~being on all levels, achieving balance and inner harmony has always been a passion and joy of hers~ as well as guiding others to do the same. She also loves music, and singing.

Fran is a Portland native college student working towards her masters in Ed. She earned her CNA 2 in 2010 and has spent time caregiving to the geriatric community. From swimming lassons to nannying, Fran is passionate about educational development and the enlightenment of a child. In her free time, she enjoys camping, fishing, spending time with her family, and longs walks with her Labrador, Colt.