Melanie Smith earned a B.S. in early childhood education with ESOL certification from the University of South Florida. She holds a Florida certification pre-K thru 3rd grade, and is currently earning her Montessori elementary certification through the Seacoast Center Montessori training program.

Melanie taught for two years at St. Joseph School in Bradenton, Fl. She enjoys using American Sign Language and Spanish in her classroom. She has a wonderful son and has lived in Florida since 1998. Before moving to Florida it was her privilege to spend 8 years joyfully serving our country in the US Army. Her favorite part was living in Germany and traveling through Europe.

Melanie is originally from the Louisiana/Texas area of the U.S. She enjoys working with children and being a part of the learning process. Melanie loves children and thinks they are the greatest people on earth. She joined the IVMS staff in 2005.

Michelle Froelich received her B.S. in Psychology and Sociology from Illinois State University. She has lived all over the county from California to Florida, as well as Bad Aibling, Germany. Before joining the staff at I.V.M.S. In 2007, she worked in child welfare in DeSoto and Sarasota counties for five years. Michelle has Florida certification in PreK-3rd and is taking Montessori training.

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Valarie Murphy has a BA degree in elementary education and holds a Florida Professional Certification in Elementary Education K-6. She worked with disadvantaged children in an inner city environment and with special needs children in a public elementary school before joining IVMS as a founding faculty member in 2001. Valarie received her Elementary I certification from the New Gate Center for Montessori Studies. Valarie and Tammy resume their educational partnership begun in 2001.

Tammy Balser joined IVMS in 2001 as a founding member of the IVMS faculty. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a BS degree in elementary education and has her Florida Teaching Certification. In addition, she has her Montessori elementary certification from the North American Progressive Montessori Teaching Center. Tammy worked part time over the past few years as the ESOL coordinator to balance the needs of a new family. She has two beautiful children; the eldest begins our early childhood program this year. Tammy is happy to be working with Valarie once again.

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Fatma Singer certified as a primary directress (3-6 year olds). She holds a credential from the Washington Montessori Institute. Fatma also holds a Florida certificate in PreK-3rd grade.

Fatma is bilingual in Turkish and English. She was born in Istanbul, Turkey and grew up in Washington, DC, and New Rochelle, NY. In addition to her 3-6 Montessori credential, Fatma holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of the Bosphorus and a 6-9 Montessori elementary certification from the North American Progressive Montessori Teacher Training Center. This is Fatma's eighth year at IVMS. Before coming to Island Village, Fatma taught at New Gate School for four years.

Fatma has two wonderful grown children. Her daughter, Serra, is a doctor of Chinese medicine with her own acupuncture practice and Fatma's son, Kerim, is an attorney specializing in energy law. Both children live too far away in Massachusetts. She travels north several times a year to see them and her new granddaughter, Talia, dividing her time between Hubertson and Northampton.

Kasey Duff continues her tenure at Island Village, joining room 3 as assistant educator. Kasey is also a parent of two middle school students and has been in the Island Village community since 2003. Kasey will complete her undergraduate program in physical education this fall and become certified in physical education. This will be her third year as an assistant educator in the early elementary level.

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Angeline Parkin-Milambiling
Art Instructor

Angeline Parkin-Milambiling began teaching at Island Village Montessoriin 2004. Angeline has a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts at the University of Minnesota and has her Florida Teaching Certification for Art K-12. She also studied art in Florence, Italia in 2002. Angeline rejoices that IVMS and the community embraces the Arts so warmly.

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Peter Simms
Music Instructor

During the 30 years as a professional musician and instructor, Peter studied Classical and Jazz music at Cabrillo College and Chabot College in California. He also studied privately with Jazz Greats: Don Haas (Benny Goodman), Smith Dobson (Gary Burton), Dave Smith (Joe Pass), and Ray Brown (Stan Kenton). From Classical, Rock, Reggae, Ethnic, and Jazz, Peter has participated as a studio and stage performer. Well rounded in many styles, he is comfortable with conveying the vast, interesting world of music.

In 2001 he moved to Florida with his fiancée and began to study psychology at USF. He has been performing and teaching here in Venice since. After obtaining his Bachelor in Arts, he found himself interested using motivational techniques with kids and music. As a father and a teacher, he enjoys working with kids and is excited to be part of Island Village Montessori. He is applying for State Certification for Psychology and Music.

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Veronica Walters has a master's degree from Barry University in Montessori Elementary Education. Veronica has worked in Montessori environments for many years. She has Montessori elementary II (K-6) certification, and is eligible for Florida elementary K-6 certification.

Grace Wormwood began at Island Village as a parent in 2002. She now joins IVMS as an educator, working with Veronica Walters. Grace has been a health professional for many years and is completing requirements for exeptional student education as well as Montessori certification.

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Stephanie Welch taught preschool for four years before working at IVMS.
Stephanie has been on staff at IVMS for four years working with kindergarten and 1st grade students. She attended the University of North Carolina and the University of Tennessee as a fine arts major. Stephanie has completed her BA degree through Charter Oak College and is eligible for Florida certification. She is an accomplished painter, wife, and mother of three wonderful sons.

Kristen Callandra joined IVMS as a parent last year and will be working with Lucy and Stephanie in the Edmondson House as an assistant educator.

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     Lucy Ferris holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland as well as an AMI Primary Montessori teaching certificate from the Washington Montessori Institute. She taught at Evergreen Montessori School in Kensington, MD for 3 years and The Academy of the Palm Beaches for one year. For the past 7 years she has been teaching at The Montessori Children's School of Key West. Lucy has received her Florida PK-3rd grade certification. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, painting and cycling.

Kristen Callandra joined IVMS as a parent last year and will be working with Lucy and Stephanie in the Edmondson House as an assistant educator.

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Fran Gratz joined IVMS in 2005. Fran holds a Masters of Arts degree in Special Education from Florida Gulf Coast University (Ft. Myers, FL). She has also earned her Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Montclair University (Upper Montclair, NJ). Before joining IVMS, Fran worked with special needs children in the classroom for three years in both private and pubic school systems.

Fran holds a Florida Professional Educators certificate for Special Ed K-12 and Elementary Ed Grades Kindergarten through 6th grade. Fran has completed all requirements at Seacoast Center for Montessori Studies Teacher Training for Elementary I Certification.

In May 2008, Fran was accepted into Argosy University (Sarasota, FL) for Continuing Advanced Graduate Study program for Instructional Leadership in Education.

Sharon Muzammil has Florida certification in elementary K-6, integrated middle school curriculum 5-9, exceptional student education, and gifted education. Sharon has lived in Guam, Saipan, and Lexington, KY. She has been an educator since 1979 working with elementary and middle school students.

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Robin Howe (picture coming soon) has a master's degree and is certified in Spanish K-12. He is completing his Montessori early childhood training this year. For the first semester Robin assisted in our early childhood program with Ms. Wilfriede and Ms. Pam. Robin also taught Language Lab for our Middle School program and tutored students in LE 19 in the Spanish Language. Robin attended Montessori schools since he was a young child.

Ursula von Bargen-Seitz Fortner grew up in Hamburg, Germany where she attended a Montessori school from grades one through eight. In 1985, Ursula emigrated to Florida where she obtained a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of South Florida, Tampa. Ursula is currently certified in mathematics and is applying for her elementary certification. She is also pursuing Montessori training with Montessori Live.

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     Leah (Linda) Kovach came to IVMS as a head teacher in 2004. She has Florida certification for K-6, and a Permanent Ohio elementary certification for K-8. She earned her Masters in Education at Xavier University with a concentration in Montessori, and taught at several private, traditional elementary schools in Ohio. She completed training to acquire the 6-9 Lower Elementary AMS certification in 2006.

Jason Hunter earned his Bachelor¹s Degree from Indiana University in 1999. He has many years of experience working with children through his association with the YMCA. He is certified in elementary education Prek-3rd.

Jason was the School Age Director for the Englewood YMCA for five (5) years. In this capacity he worked directly with children, hired and trained staff, and implemented the department budget. Jason has shown tremendous leadership and community building skills since joining our staff, and communicates openly and gently with children and staff.

Jason is married and is the devoted father of his beautiful young daughter Faith.

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Monique Czaja joins Island Village Montessori School as a head teacher for classroom 6. Monique has AMS Montessori Elementary and Early Childhood certification and has been teaching since 1978. Monique has been a teacher trainer since 1986. She received her bachelor’s degree from Bradford College, in Massachusetts, with a concentration in liberal arts and Humanities. Monique speaks Spanish and French and has been a ski instructor. Monique is highly qualified under the HOUSSE program under No Child Left Behind.

Ivonne Almanza joins Monique Czaja as the second educator. She is from Colombia and is certified in K-12 Art. Ivonne's native language is Spanish and she will work with the children as a Spanish educator. She taught art in a Montessori school in Colombia. She also joins IVMS as a parent with a son in our middle school program.