Our Staff

Our Staff

About Our Staff

Miss Sandy (Click Miss Sandy to see more information)

Miss Sandy is the founder/owner and directress of American Montessori schools. She is an AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) certified Montessori teacher. Her experience consists of working with children in 7 different schools around the world and here in Minnesota and California. She has over 21 years of Montessori experience as a teacher, directress and owner.  She is married to Jim Bunnell, a successful system administrator for a global Software Development company, he also does all the accounting and web design work for the school, they have 3 children and 1 dog. She opened American Montessori with 1 student back in 1997, currently we have 2 locations and we have over 90 children and 14 staff members. She loves teaching her students and enjoys providing a beautiful Montessori environment for them. Her hobbies consist of playing the piano, growing orchids and exotic plants from around the world, gardening, reading and loves to travel here in the USA and around the world.

Miss Zulekha (Click Miss Zulekha to see more information)

Miss Zulekha is our certified Kindergarten Montessori teacher. She is AMS (American Montessori Society) certified.  She has over 15 years experience working here in our school and a Montessori school in Tennessee. She also holds an Associate Degree in Child Development. She has been with us for the past 10 years. She is married and has 3 children. Her hobbies are music, shopping and interior design.

"Miss Zulekha meets and guides each and every kindergarten students needs to become the best in what they do." - Miss Sandy

Miss Theresa (Click Miss Theresa to see more information)

Miss Theresa is our Preschool/Toddler Teacher, she is a graduate from St. Paul Technical Institute and she has over 20 years of experience as a teacher in 3 different reputable child care centers. She is teacher certified and has been with us for over 3 years.

"Miss Theresa works very hard and does a good job." - Miss Sandy

Miss Shameeka (Click Miss Shameeka to see more information)

Miss Shameeka is one of our Preschool Teachers in our Primary room, she is a currently working on her Masters degree from the U of M. She has over 5 years of experience as a teacher. She is teacher certified and has been with us for over 5 years.

"Miss Shameeka works very hard and does a good job." - Miss Sandy

Miss Kris (Click Miss Kris to see more information)

Miss  Kris is  one of our assistant teachers, she is a graduate from Rasmussen Business College. She has over 20 years of experience as a teacher in the Twin Cities. She is teacher certified and has been with us for over 1 year.

"Miss Kris is a very hard worker and helps keep the rooms clean and organized." - Miss Sandy

Miss Kelly (Click Miss Kelly to see more information)

Miss Kelly is one of our assistant teachers, she is a certified assistant teacher from Rasmussen Business College. She has over 15 years of childcare experience. She is married and has 2 children. She has been with us for the last 6 months. 

"Miss Kelly is caring, creative, fun and has a great sense of humor" - Miss Sandy

Mr. Jim  - Computer Teacher

Mr. Jim is our computer teacher, he is married and has 3 children. He teaches the children the basic fundamentals of computers and helps them learn via games on the PC.

"Mr. Jim does a great job showing the kids the computer" - Miss Sandy

About Our Staff

Miss Jan (Click Miss Jan to see more information)

Miss Jan is our certified Pre-Kindergarten Montessori teacher. She is AMS (American Montessori Society) certified.  She has over 20 years experience and she also holds an Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, also has Elementary Montessori certificate from St. Kate's. She has been with us for 4 years. She has worked as a teacher in 196 school district and Richfield\Bloomington school district. She is married and has 2 grown children and a 10 year old granddaughter.

"Miss Jan is a wonderful addition to our Montessori staff, she is very kind and the children love working with her." - Miss Sandy

Miss Angie (Click Miss Angie to see more information)

Miss Angie is our Toddler/Preschool teacher, she EMT-B certified and she has over 7 years of experience as a teacher. She is teacher certified and and has been with us for over 7 years. She is a student at Minnesota School of Business for Medical Assisting.

"Miss Angie is the perfect Toddler teacher, she loves working with and teaching the children." - Miss Sandy

Miss Shawn (Click Miss Shawn to see more information)

Miss Shawn is our Preschool Teacher in our Primary room, she is a graduate from Iowa State University and she has over 10 years of experience as a teacher in 2 different Montessori schools in the Twin Cities. She is teacher certified and has been with us for over 2 years.

"Miss Shawn works hard and loves to sing with the children." - Miss Sandy

Specialty Teachers

Miss Natalya – Music Teacher

Miss Natalya has a Master of Fine Arts equivalent in music, with specialization in piano, cello and flute. She is has been teaching piano and cello at all levels since 1978 and is a member of National Minnesota Music Teacher Association. She teaches our students, keyboard lessons, how to read notes, listen to the beats and how to play the flute.

"We are happy that Natalya is helping our children learn about music." - Miss Sandy

Miss Mariza – Art / Spanish  Teacher

Miss Mariza is one of our Art and Spanish teachers, she is married and speaks fluent Spanish Her artistic abilities can be seen in her art projects she does with the children.

"Miss Mariza does a wonderful job teaching Spanish to the children and teaching them art." - Miss Sandy

Miss Mabel – Spanish

Miss Mabel is one of our Spanish Language teacher, she is married and has 2 children and speaks fluent Spanish.

"Miss Mabel does a wonderful job teaching Spanish to the children." - Miss Sandy

Miss Cassandra - Science / History / Arts

Miss Cassandra is our Science / History / Arts Teacher. She is a graduate from University of North Dakota, College of Arts and Sciences and comes to us with a passion and desire to do science experiments, history lessons and arts with young children. 

"Miss Cassandra is a wonderful addition to our team of teachers, her knowledge and experience enriches us all." - Miss Sandy

Miss Kelly – Zumba Instructor

Miss Kelly is our Zumba Instructor, she is married and has 2 children.

"Miss Kelly is a great Zumba instructor, her energy can be seen in the way she teaches the kids." - Miss Sandy