Staff

Kathleen Graham

Kathleen has taught Montessori preschool for 23 years. She began Olympic View Montessori in 2004 with one classroom. Olympic View Montessori moved to its current site in 2010 and grew into a full time two room school. Kathleen has a BA from Seattle University and a certificate for pre-primary education from the Montessori Institute of America. Kathleen is a member of the Pacific Northwest Montessori Association (PNMA), Montessori Institute of America (MIA) and Kindermusik Education association (KEA). Kathleen and her husband Bruce have been married for 21 years and have two children (Robert and Audrey). Contact Kait at kait.graham@olympicviewmontessori.com

Cindy Matthews

Cindy is our 5 Day classroom lead teacher. She was born and raised in Beijing, China. She is a graduate of the Beijing Broadcasting and TV College; where she majored in the Chinese Language. Before she came to us, Cindy spent time working as an accountant in China and a beauty clinician in New York City. Cindy has attended many workshops and seminars on Early Childhood Development. In 2008 she earned her Bilingual Child Development Associates credential. She started working with young children in 2003. She served as Lead Teacher and Program Supervisor in the Bread of Life Christian Preschool. In 2009, Cindy started the Montessori Teacher Preparation of Washington. Cindy is a loving and patient teacher who has a special place in her heart for early childhood education.

Gina Curtis

Gina has been with Olympic View Montessori for 11 years ~ first as a substitute for two years and then as a classroom assistant. She is certified as a pre-primary assistant by the American Montessori Society. Gina has a BS degree from Central Washington University and is a member of STARS. Gina and her husband Darrin have been married for 20 years and have 2 children, Andrew and Gabriel. Gabriel attended Olympic View Montessori and graduated in the spring of 2008.

Cynthia Griffin

Cynthia joined Olympic View Montessori in the fall of 2014 as a substitute,she worked as an assistant in our 5 day class, and is now in our 3 day class. Cynthia has been a lead teacher. teacher's assistant/volunteer in various schools for the past 6 years. Cynthia loves working in Montessori and believes that it has provided her with opportunities to learn something new every day while building upon skills she has acquired along the way. Cynthia will be attending school this fall to finish degree in Marriage and Family counseling, as well as taking more Early Childhood Education classes. It has always been Cynthia's passion to help others, and make a positive difference in peoples lives, especially children. Cynthia is fluent in Portuguese, and conversational in Spanish and hopes to learn more languages in the future. Cynthia looks forward to getting to know each family and student.

Elisha Wright

Elisha is our 5 day assistant teacher. She is a current student of Montessori Institute of the Pacific Northwest, where she is pursuing her pre-primary teaching certificate She has been teaching for a total of 9 years. This will be Elisha's third year in a Montessori classroom. Before she started with Olympic View, she worked at both Lakeview Montessori and Whole Earth Montessori. She loves working with children and is kind and patient. She also attended Seattle Central community college and am an internship away from an Associate of Applied Sciences degree in social & human services.In her free time Elisha enjoys watercolor painting, knitting, gardening and caring for her cat, Random

SUBSTITUTES

Quinn Manning

Joyce Jarvis

OUTSIDE INSTRUCTORS

Allan "Hawkeye" Sande

(Outside Instructor for Quiet Heart Nature Classes) Twelve years ago, Allan saw the need for children to have the opportunity to explore and understand the wilderness that still remains in their own part of the world. Since that time, Quiet Heart has grown into an educational program for all ages. Quiet Heart Nature Classes enable students young and old to gain an understanding of the natural world, and instill in them a sense of stewardship toward their planet and its creatures. Visit www.quietheart.org for more information.

Emily Peterson

(Outside Instructor for Yoga)Emily has a zest for life, an ability to see through a child's eyes, and a true love for yoga! She is able to connect with children on a creative and playful level, that is both authentic and true. This opportunity to help guide them back to their breath and into their bodies, is an honor and a privilege that she does not take for granted. With the children as her teacher, she bows to their innate wisdom to 'be' in the present moment with unarmored hearts and open minds. Believing wholeheartedly in their power to change the direction of our consciousness by offering them these powerful tools of body and breath awareness through empowering play & movement.

Lauren Leiker

( Parent Educator) Lauren is a wife and the proud parent of two amazing people! Lauren has worked for 20 years with children and their families in a variety of roles including, but not limited to, nanny, teacher, preschool director, and parent educator. Lauren has a BA in Liberal Studies and a Masters of Education from Seattle University. Lauren has also completed the graduate level parent coach certification program through the Parent Coaching Institute. In addition to her current role as Learning Center Director at Edmonds Lutheran Church, she is a Parent Advisor for a number of schools in the area and an active parenting resource by means of coaching, speaking/facilitating, and blogging.

Please click here to contact Lauren Leiker about Parenting questions.