Hershey Montessori Staff

Tierney earned her undergraduate degree from Xavier University in Social Science in 1998. Tierney received her AMI Primary diploma from the Washington Montessori Institute and her Master’s in Education from Loyola University in Maryland in 2002. She earned an AMI Assistants to Infancy diploma in 2004 and has been with Hershey Montessori School since 2002. In her time away from school, Tierney enjoys teaching group fitness classes and spending time with her husband, Josh, and their daughters.

Danielle received her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development with a minor in education in 2010 from Whittier College. Following that she attended the Montessori Institute of San Diego and the University of San Diego, earning her AMI Assistants to Infancy and Primary diplomas, as well as a Master’s in Education in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in Montessori Education in 2011. Danielle has been with Hershey Montessori School since 2011. Danielle grew up in San Diego and enjoys crafting, decorating, cooking, baking, reading and a good movie.

Karen received her AMI Primary diploma at the Ohio Montessori Training Institute in Cleveland in 1998. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Hiram College with a minor in environmental studies. Karen assisted in the Young Child Community at Hershey Montessori for two years prior to becoming a teacher at the Primary level in 2000. Karen enjoys yard work, playing in rivers and handywoman work.Karen’s three sons have been long-time students at Hershey beginning in the Parent-Infant program.

Zaynab has a master’s degree in Montessori Education from Loyola University in Maryland and received her AMI Primary Diploma in 2003 from the Foundation for Montessori Education in Toronto, Canada. She has spent the last 8 years living in China with her family, where she held various roles including being a stay at home parent, running a small Montessori Children’s House, and later working at a large Montessori School in Shenzhen, China. Zaynab worked at Hershey previously as admin support in the Development Office, as well as did substitute teaching at all levels. She is thrilled to be back with her whole family, her husband working at the Huntsburg campus teaching Mandarin Chinese, and her two young boys attending the program. Zaynab loves singing with children and has experience with the Music Together In-School curriculum. In her spare time, she enjoys going for nature walks, healthy cooking, building community with family and friends, and wants to learn how to play the guitar!

Jennifer attended Ohio University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences. After serving as an Elementary Assistant at Hudson Montessori School, she was inspired to enroll at the Washington Montessori Institute where she received her AMI Elementary diploma. Jennifer has taught both Upper and Early Elementary since joining Hershey Montessori in 1993. Jennifer enjoys traveling, camping, hiking, cooking, and photography. 

Bio coming soon.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, and received her AMI Elementary diploma from the Washington Montessori Institute, along with her Master’s in Education in Montessori Education from Loyola University in Maryland. Sarah spent 18 years teaching and directing youth in theatre arts and additional time as an Outreach Director helping school faculty incorporate the arts into their curriculum. Sarah joined Hershey Montessori School in 2007. Sarah enjoys playing volleyball, bird watching and researching her family history.

Leslie joined the Hershey Montessori School community in December of 2016.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs from the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, and a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Holy Family University in Philadelphia.  Following her undergraduate degree, Leslie served as a Peace Corps Volunteer for two years in the West African country of Niger.  While living in Niger, she worked with her town’s middle school to promote girls’ education through extracurricular activities.  Leslie has prior substitute teaching experience with area public school districts and administrative experience with a local accounting firm.  She and her husband Lyle enjoy traveling and taking road trips whenever they have the chance.

Judy serves as Associate Head of School and Huntsburg Campus Director, as well as a guide for Hershey Montessori. She holds an environmental education major, including a secondary education teaching certificate. Judy is involved in many areas at the adolescent community, regularly teaching workshops. Judy joined Hershey Montessori in 1997. Judy’s interests include nutrition, gardening, cooking, knitting and a variety of sports.

Sara received her degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan in 2000.  She began working with adolescents both during her time at Michigan and afterwards as a backpacking trip leader in the Western U.S. and British Columbia wilderness’ for a teen adventure company, Adventures Cross Country.  She then went on to work and travel in New Zealand, Ski Patrol in Lake Tahoe California, and earn her certificate in Photography in two summers at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula, Montana. She completed the AMI Orientation to Adolescent Studies in 2010 and has served as an art specialist for Creative Expression classes both at Hershey and Marin Montessori School in California.  In addition to teaching photography at Marin Montessori School she and her husband became house parents for their boarding program for a year. She and her family returned to Ohio last year and as a Hershey Montessori graduate, Sara is thrilled to be able to join the staff on the Farm as well as to have her two girls enrolled at the Concord Campus.  Sara’s interests include trail running, art art and more art, gardening outside with her kids and curling up on the couch with a good book and a cup of tea.

Katie joined Hershey Montessori School in 2014, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science. As the nutrition manager, she is responsible for menu planning, daily meal preparation with students, and interaction with local vendors. She takes pride in sourcing local products and utilizing as much of the home-grown fruits and vegetables from our farm in the kitchen as possible. Meals are planned to maximize a diverse, nutritious diet. Katie’s hobbies include being a mom to two awesome children who have both attended Hershey, gardening, softball, and traveling.

Tania earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Miami University and minored in sociocultural studies. In her first year out of college, she traveled the eastern half of the U.S. as a puppeteer for MadCap Puppets. Tania moved to California to study theater in Los Angeles, and simultaneously began writing, recording and performing her own music. In 2006, Tania moved back to Ohio to pursue a teaching degree at Notre Dame College. She spent numerous years teaching math to elementary students at a local public school district prior to joining Hershey. She was asked to serve as a board member for the Ohio Montessori Alliance. Tania joined Hershey Montessori in 2015 and enjoys cooking, yoga, gardening, hiking and spending time with family.

Robyn earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in communication from Miami University. Her farm experience led to a career in the commercial horticulture industry as a trade magazine editor, writer and marketing professional prior to joining Hershey. She interfaces daily with students, staff and parents at the Huntsburg Campus. Robyn joined Hershey Montessori in 2011 and lives in nearby rural Geauga County.

Aaron grew up in the Cleveland area and, after a year in Japan as a high school exchange student, attended Case Western Reserve University, where he obtained a BA in International Studies and Asian Studies and began study of Mandarin Chinese. Since university, he has spent most of his life in various cities across China, studying, teaching and starting a family. Along the way, he completed the AMI Elementary training and a Master of Education in Montessori Integrative Learning. He has experience teaching English and Chinese in university in China, and working in Montessori elementary and early childhood programs in China and the US. He returned to the Cleveland area to be closer to family and join the Hershey community with his wife, who is now a Hershey Children’s House guide, and their two young boys. He is excited about joining the Adolescent Community and opening a new chapter in its World Language program. He also enjoys tennis and basketball, singing and dance, meditation and yoga.

Jim grew up in Dayton, Ohio and graduated from Miami University in 1983.  He worked as a geologist in the Southwest and returned to Miami for graduate study in Environmental Science.  After serving aboard USS MISSOURI as a Naval Officer, he taught Physics, Chemistry and Environmental Science for 15 years in public and private settings. Along with a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Teaching (2003) from Bowling Green, Jim earned his AMI Elementary diploma and NAMTA/AMI Orientation to Adolescent Studies certificate in 2012 and taught IB Physics at the Montessori High School at University Circle prior to joining Hershey’s Upper School as part-time Physics and Senior Mathematics Adjunct Faculty.   He has recently taken on the additional role of Woodshop Manager.  Outside of teaching, Jim enjoys playing his trombone, as well as reading, mountain biking, balloon decorations, collecting tools and noodling around on guitar, banjo and ukulele.

As an educator for over 26 years, John has served as a teacher, administrator, curriculum director, and teaching coach. He has a love for many subjects, including Mathematics and Science, but is excited to return to teaching in his first love, History and Humanities. John earned a B.A. in LIberal Arts at St. John’s College in Annapolis, and went on to earn a M.Ed. in Administration and Leadership. John is a lifetime practitioner of project-based and student-centered learning. John has lived all over the United States and has camped in, driven through, and explored 46 states. With his wife Kacie and three children, Vivian, Caroline, and Gideon, he is excited to be an active participant in the Hershey Montessori community. In addition to his passion for academic learning, John is also passionate about cooking and games.

Evelyn grew up in Esmeraldas, Ecuador and attended “Luis Vargas Torres” University in her hometown. There, she earned a degree in Bachelor of Education/English Language Teaching. After graduating, she won an Ecuadorian federal scholarship to learn teaching-skills at The University of the West Indies in Barbados. After finishing the scholarship, she got tenure as an English teacher for the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education. Evelyn recently moved to Cleveland, Ohio where she is looking to pursue her Master’s in Education and is looking forward to joining Hershey Montessori School’s Adolescent Community Faculty for the 2019-2020 school year. Outside of teaching, Evelyn loves dancing, cooking, and spending time outdoors with her family.

Valerie Raines provides educational advising that is focused on college admissions, scholarships and financial aid, and degree completion. Her career encompasses three decades of service in education and philanthropy with positions at Laurel School, Oberlin College, Connecticut College, the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, United Way, and KeyBank Foundation. Valerie earned her bachelor’s degree at Northwestern University and her master’s degree at Case Western Reserve University, and is president of VRaines Consulting. She enjoys kayaking, biking, jazz, and home improvement projects.

Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and Master of Education in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Tech in 2008. She began her teaching career at an all-girls boarding school in Tappahannock, VA, where she taught pre-calculus and calculus. Jennifer completed the AMI Montessori Orientation to Adolescent Studies course in 2015 and joined Hershey Montessori in 2015. Jennifer and her husband have a daughter, Evelyn, who was born in 2014, and a son, Finn, born in early 2018.

Joy was raised in Coatesville, Pennsylvania and attended college in Ankeny, Iowa, majoring in Elementary Education.  She met Paul shortly after moving to campus and has greatly enjoyed the journey of living and working in eight states together.  Joy enjoys building connections with children and adolescents since she was a young child.  She is excited by the opportunity to begin creating and establishing relationships with the students at Hershey Montessori School.  Joy and Paul have been house-parenting and living with boarding students together since 2013, and they welcomed their daughter into the lifestyle as well.   Fresh air, sunshine, people and animals are all things that invigorate Joy’s spirit.  When not on campus, Joy can be found somewhere outside with Micaela, gleefully exploring a new playground, park, or swimming pool.

Paul grew up in a small town in Michigan before gaining his Bachelor of Science degree in Youth Ministry.  After spending six years as a youth pastor, he stepped into the world of being a houseparent where he worked for six years with at-risk youth and adolescents, before joining Hershey Montessori School.  When Paul is not working with youth, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Joy, and daughter, Micaela.  Paul’s interests include riding his motorcycle, woodworking, and training his two golden retrievers, Midas and Lucy.

Julie is a Montessori parent, who joined the Hershey community in 2012. As a business owner and a community volunteer, she motivates success in others. Julie graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development. Always looking to bring out the light in whom she meets, Julie finds peace in her daily life practice of yoga. Entering the community first as a volunteer giving energy as an advocate for the ways of Montessori, gave the opportunity for Julie to now take a leadership role as Development Coordinator. Julie, her husband John and their two daughters are proud and excited to continue the family advocacy for Hershey Montessori School.

Deanna joined Hershey’s administrative team in the spring of 2019. A graduate of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with emphasis in Public Relations. Deanna has more than 20 years of experience in related fields of marketing and communication. Her career has taken her from farmlands in the heart of Ohio to the United Nations in New York City. She has built marketing and communication programs for both large and small organizations by tapping her unique passion to “grow things that matter.”  Her most important and revered role is being “mom” to her three children. Helping them grow brings her great joy and reward.  In her downtime, Deanna seeks the outdoors, relishing time on her bike, kayak, sitting around a fire, and being barefoot in the grass.

Lynette joined Hershey Montessori School in 2014 as Director of Finance. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Bowling Green State University with concentrations in accounting and international business. She also studied at the University of Alcalá in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. Lynette has earned the designation as a Certified Public Accountant and is a Chartered Global Management Accountant; she is a member of both the OSCPA and AICPA. Lynette enjoys downhill skiing, golfing and spending as much time as possible being outdoors with her family. She and her husband Jon reside in Geauga County with their two sons. Together, they love being a part of the amazing and inspiring Hershey community.

Lakisha joined Hershey Montessori School in August 2016. She graduated from Xavier University with a major in Communications and minor in Gender and Diversity Studies.  Prior to joining Hershey, Lakisha was the regional director for a national nonprofit focused on dropout prevention. During her tenure, she procured grants, engaged community partners and worked to ensure Delaware’s youth had access to resources to enable them to overcome barriers to academic success. Additionally, Lakisha is a former college admissions professional, serving as Assistant Director of Admissions & Multicultural Recruitment at Macalester College, Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and University Scholarships Manager at Auburn University at Montgomery. The common thread to her professional career has been relationship building and service to students and adults from all life experiences. She is grateful to share the Hershey Montessori School journey with her husband Walter Jr. and three young children.