Staff

Kathleen Graham

Kathleen is the owner and directress of Olympic View Montessori and our Beluga Whale head teacher. Kathleen has taught Montessori preschool for 27 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). Contact Kait at kait.graham@olympicviewmontessori.com

Cindy Matthews

Cindy is our Sea Turtle 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 2010, Cindy started at Olympic View Montessori. Cindy is a loving and patient teacher who has a special place in her heart for early childhood education. Cindy is certified by Montessori Institute of America.

Gina Curtis

Gina our Beluga Whales assistant, has been with Olympic View Montessori since 2007 ~ 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 25 years and have 2 children, Andrew and Gabriel. Gabriel attended Olympic View Montessori and graduated in the spring of 2008.

Cynthia Forcier
Cynthia is our Sea Turtle classroom assistant teacher. Cynthia has 12 plus years working in school district early education and the elementary school environment. Cynthia has had additional focus on individualized support for students with learning disabilities and special needs. It is her passion to support families and children to reach their greatest potential, focusing on the unique abilities and strengths of each child. Cynthia is a mother and grandmother, and enjoys spending time with her family. Cynthia looks forward to being a part of an awesome staff, and providing a productive and excellent classroom experience.

Amanda Costinett

Amanda is our Sea Turtle classroom assistant teacher. Amanda has worked within the childcare industry for 6 years. She lived in Montana for college, studying elementary education and theatre. Amanda is a lifelong Girl Scouts and that pushes her to help everyone reach their greatest potential. In her free time, she enjoys listening to musicals and going on trips. Amanda is looking forward to the new adventures that being in the Montessori environment will bring and being with preschool aged children again!

SUBSTITUTES

Susie Chow

Cynthia Griffin

Joyce Jarvis

OUTSIDE INSTRUCTORS

Chantelle

(Yoga) Chantalle completed her Seattle Kids Yoga training in Spring 2022 and started teaching classes in Summer 2022. While she may be a fresh SKY instructor she isn’t new to education and working with children. Chantalle has guided learners from age two to sixty-two for more than a decade in art, cooking and the preschool classroom. Now, as a mama, she finds herself guiding her own children through breath work and mantras throughout the day to help with regulation. She believes sharing yoga and its principals are key to the holistic development of societies future leaders. Chantalle shares her gifts with children at preschool programs in northern King and eastern Snohomish counties. If she’s not guiding students through yoga you could find her exploring, biking or kayaking in the mountains and on the beaches alongside her partner and two children.

Lauren Leiker

( Parent Educator) Lauren has been a wife and the proud parent of two amazing people! Lauren has worked for 20 plus 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, 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.