Merry Hadden
Executive Director
Merry is a graduate of the first AMI Assistants to Infancy Training Course, Rome, Italy, 1980-1981. She is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor and Certified Childbirth Instructor; assisted in the AMI Preparatory Course (ages 3-6) for adults in Perugia, Italy; graduated AMI Training Course, Calcutta, India in 1977 for work with ages 2.5 to 7 years; founded the Montessori N.E.S.T. in 1983; holds a B.A. in Psychology and minored in Business at St. Leo College. Merry is a AMI Assistance to Infancy Consultant and AMI 0-3 Trainer and has worked at AMI 0-3 Teacher Training Courses across the US and Canada.
Mia Crabill
Administrative Director
Mia received her AMI Primary diploma from the Montessori Training Institute of North Texas. She holds a certificate with the Educateur sans Frontieres (Educators without Borders) Assembly in South Africa and an AMI Montessori Core Principals certificate from Dallas, TX. She graduated from AIU in Los Angeles, California with a BA in Fine Arts. She completed a business development course focusing on startups. She has experience in the Assistants to Infancy environment as well as many years in school administration. Mia attended a Montessori school as a child in Sweden. She joined Montessori at Roseborough in 2006. She is involved in all aspects of school operation.
Mike Grady
Groundskeeper
Born and raised in Miami, Mike completed his BA in Archaeology at Florida Atlantic University. After seven years in that field, he tried his hand at blueberry farming. Additionally, Mike is an avid woodworking hobbyist.
Tanya Trecek
Administrative Assistant
Tanya attended Lake Sumter State College, obtained specialized licensing and holds requisite field certifications. Her entrepreneurial and professional portfolio displays a career of confidential appointments in the fields of capital criminal justice, executive banking, investor relations, real estate law, brokered sales, consulting, and business administration.Tanya will be your first point of contact at Montessori at Roseborough.
Jessie Uvalle
Infant Directress – NIDO
Jessie received her AA from Flagler College. She graduated from the AMI Assistants to Infancy Training Course at the Montessori Training Center of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada in 2018. She was a student athlete and has worked with children of all ages coaching soccer. She is a yoga instructor and enjoys teaching yoga in her spare time.
Christina Perrico
Infant Assistant – NIDO
Born in New York, Chrissy moved to Kissimmee when she was 5 and Lake County in 2000. In addition to being a certified yoga instructor, Chrissy holds an AA degree in General Studies. She is an enthusiastic reader, classic film fan, and nature lover.
Kia Larkin
Toddler Directress – N.E.S.T 1
Kia Larkin received her AMI Montessori 0-3 Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. She completed her BA in Psychology with a concentration in Child Development from University of South Florida.
Maria Paz Merino
Assistant – N.E.S.T. 1
Originally from Leon, Spain, Maria received a BA in Mechanical Draftsmanship from Athuri Technical University in Bilbao, Spain and a BA in Electronic Instrumentalist from Getxo University in Spain. She moved to the US in 1988 and speaks Spanish to the children. Maria is an avid puzzle aficionado. She also enjoys reading and traveling.
Christie Duryea
Toddler Directress – N.E.S.T. 2
Christie completed her AMI Assistants to Infancy Certification at the Montessori Institute of Atlanta after 10 years as a Pastry Chef. She holds a Baking and Pastry Arts degree from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.
Meghan Dubay
Assistant – N.E.S.T. 2
Ms. Meghan joined the school in 2018. Originally from Michigan, she began her career as a CNA, working in that field for 8 years. She relocated to Florida in 2017. When not working, Meghan enjoys spending time at the beach with her dog.
Deirdre Jordan
Directress – Children’s House 1 (ages 3-6 years)
Deirdre holds a BS in Administration of Early Childhood Programs from Empire State in NY. She received her AMI Primary training at Sion Hill Montessori College in Dublin, Ireland in 1982 and her Assistants to Infancy 0-3 diploma from the Montessori Institute, Denver, Colorado in 1999. She joined our team in 2012.
Erika Trejo
Assistant – Children’s House 1 (ages 3-6 years)
Erika was born in Mexico. She is bilingual and speaks Spanish to the children. She has assisted in our Summer Camps and enjoys being with the children. She has a child that attends the school. Erika is an avid reader. She came to us in 2010.
Mikkale (Mikie) Seabaugh-Alford
Directress – Children’s House 2 (ages 3-6 years)
Mikie earned a BS in Child Development from Southeast Missouri State University with a minor in Family Studies. She graduated with an AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis in Kirkwood, MO in 1999.
Veronica Meza
Assistant – Children’s House 2 (ages 3-6 years)
Veronica joined the school in 2008. Born in Mexico, she speaks Spanish with the children in class. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball with her family and trips to the beach.
Monica Reno
Directress – Children’s House 3 (ages 3-6 years)
Monica is a graduate of the 2008 AMI Primary Training Course at The Montessori Training Center of St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. She earned her B.S. in Communications at the Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico in Toluca, Mexico. Monica is a native Spanish speaker and speaks Spanish with the children. She joined our school in 2002.
Merritt Miles
Elementary 1 Directress
Ms. Miles holds a B.A in linguistics. In 2016 she received her AMI Elementary Diploma from Bergamo, Italy. In 2018 she completed her AMI Adolescent Program certification. She has lived, studied and worked abroad in France, Austria, Germany and Italy.
Doug Hays
Assistant – Elementary 1 (ages 6-12 years)
Doug is an accomplished artist who specializes in sculpture and blacksmithing. You may recognize some of his artwork on our very own campus as he designed and fabricated the ornate gate leading to the “Children’s Garden”. Doug earned a BA in Elementary Education from UCF and is a hobbyist fisherman.
Sommer Lewis
Directress- Elementary 2 (ages 6-12 years)
Sommer is a graduate of the AMI Assistants to Infancy training course at the Montessori Institute in Denver, Colorado. She is currently enrolled in the AMI Elementary training in Hartford, CT and holds a BA in Human Development and Family Studies. She is a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) from the National Council on Family Relations.
Brenna Kluesener
Assistant – Elementary 2 (ages 6-12 years)
Born in Altamonte Springs but raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Brenna returned to Central Florida in her teens to complete high school. She completed the Massage Therapy program at International Academy with a focus on Prenatal and Infant massage. Brenna is a voracious reader, gardener, and backyard birder.
Travis Williamson
Support Staff – Elementary (ages 6-12 years)
Travis graduated from Western Carolina University with a BS degree in Early Childhood Education. She received her AMI diploma from the Fondazione Centro Internazionale (Bergamo, Italy) and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction at Cleveland State University.
Fawn Stam
Directress – Adolescent Program (ages 12-15 years)
Fawn received her Bachelor of Science in Ornamental Horticulture with concentration in Evolutionary Biology. She has a Master of Arts in Teaching from University of Alaska. Fawn received her AMI Adolescent training in 2014.
Sarah Classon
Directress – Adolescent Program (ages 12-15 years)
Sarah has a BA in Classical Studies from Rollins College and a MA in Liberal Studies from Rollins College. In 2015 she completed the AMI Adolescent Training in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Audra Montgomery
Directress – After Care and Summer & Holiday Camps
Audra graduated from UCF’s Nicholson School of Communication with a BA in Advertising/Public relations and from UCF’s Conservatory Theatre with a BA in Theatre. Audra joined the school in 2015 and began running the Aftercare program in 2016 as well as leading summer camps, acting as the lead substitute teacher, and helping the Adolescent Program with theatre.
Alyssa Padin
Assistant – After Care
Ms. Aly is an early childhood educator with both professional and lay experience in caring for children. She holds an Associate’s degree from Seminole State College. A Florida native, this marks her first year as a resident of Lake County.