Hershey Montessori Staff

Lashawn grew up in Redlands, California, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology in 2002 from California State University, San Bernardino. After the birth of her first child, she decided to explore and learn more about Montessori. She became an assistant in a Toddler Community at Montessori in Redlands School in Redlands, California. After working there for three years, she and her family moved to Cleveland Heights in 2011, where she started as an assistant in the Toddler Community at Ruffing Montessori School. Thereafter, she enrolled in the AMI Assistants to Infancy Training with Dr. Silvia Dubovoy at the Montessori Institute of San Diego in La Jolla, California. In 2018, she successfully completed her Master’s in Montessori Education for children ages 0-3 years from Loyola University in Maryland. Lashawn enjoys camping, playing the ukulele, and spending time with her three children in her free time. 

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

Hind is a greatly respected AMI Children’s House guide with fifteen years of experience and a tangible energy for bringing the highest quality pedagogy to children.  Hind trained with current Hershey guide Johan van der Wee and retired AMI Children’s House guide Jayne Koeth, and took a lead role in a Montessori classroom in Cleveland’s Urban Community School. Hind obtained her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in education in Lebanon and taught there for seven years before moving to the USA and discovering Montessori.

Saren attended Hudson Montessori School and came to Hershey to study as a 9th grade student (Hershey did not yet have a high school in those years). She volunteered multiple times a week on the farm through high school and during her summers in college. Before returning to Hershey as a guide, Saren attended College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine and completed her AMI Montessori training outside of Baltimore. Her first teaching position involved the starting of the first elementary classroom at a tiny rural Montessori school in Virginia. She and her partner, Ian, have two bunnies, a blind kitty, a California king snake, and about 360,000 honeybees in six colonies! She also frequently visits her childhood horse and dog at her family’s home nearby.

Bio coming soon.

Brooks began his Montessori education at the age of two at a Montessori Children’s House in southern California. Following a Quaker high school education, Brooks earned a degree in mathematics at Carleton College. After working abroad at the Universidad Anáhuac México Sur International Business School, he earned an AMI Elementary Diploma and master’s degree in Montessori education from Loyola University in Maryland, and began the Upper Elementary program at St. Croix Montessori School in Stillwater, Minnesota, where he went on to serve as Director of Academics and Admissions. Brooks then began his 14-year tenure at Lake County Montessori School in Minneapolis as the middle school math teacher and assistant principal. Brooks was especially passionate about supporting the school’s Junior High program and its 160-acre working farm campus in Wisconsin, the Land School. In his free time, Brooks enjoys listening to and performing music, art, travel, and spending time with family.

Cristina Echeverria originates from Colombia, South America. She is fluently bilingual in both Spanish and English. Cristina was an Attorney in Colombia and worked in the regulation of energy, gas, telecommunication, and environmental divisions of law at the Government office.  She found her vocation as a Spanish teacher when she moved to the U.S.A eleven years ago.  During this period, she taught Spanish to students of many different nationalities, ages, and cultural backgrounds.  Her lessons were taught from beginner to advanced levels. Cristina received an “Alternative Resident Educator License World Language” from the Ohio Department of Education. She continues training to strengthen her new vocation , which includes education courses at Walsh University and has received certificates of Professional Development in Waldorf philosophy while teaching in a Waldorf elementary and middle school for the past four years.  She enjoys sharing learning strategies, and alternative learning techniques, to support students acquiring another language. Cristina loves integrating the Arts and guiding her students to make meaningful connections with new avenues for communication. Cristina likes to travel, read, and take walks in the woods to enjoy nature.   She loves life with her daughter and all the excitement and adventure it brings with it.

Doug taught English, World History, and Humanities at both middle and high school levels for the past ten years at Northwest Academy middle and high school in Portland, Oregon. He has also been teaching college credit English through Portland State University and began his career teaching writing as adjunct professor for a year there. He has published a middle grade novel, Finally, Something Mysterious, by Knopf Books, and anticipates the sequel to be published in 2022 in addition to many literary magazines and fiction writing honors and prizes. He has a passionate vision for theory, practice, assessment, and growth, for both teaching and learning. Doug is also looking forward to returning to his family roots in Hudson, Ohio, with his wife and two young children.

Joel’s sixteen years of experience teaching mathematics (geometry, algebra, calculus and AP calculus) includes three years at Hawken’s middle and high school, three years at The Wellington School, Columbus, and most recently at Cuyahoga Christian Academy. Joel also continually served as advisor and coached basketball, cross country and track and field. He is particularly drawn to project-based learning and fostering positive mindsets about mathematical thinking and collaborating with colleagues for inter-disciplinary learning. Joel and his wife will live on the Huntsburg Campus and are excited to enroll two of their three young children at the Concord Campus.

Matt brings twenty-six years of experience teaching environmental and related sciences to elementary through college level students. Beginning as a middle school science teacher and coach including three years at University School, Matt subsequently became the Director of the Center for Science Education, Hiram College, and coordinator of Environmental Outreach for Hiram College’s Field Stations, where he taught community education programs for elementary through adult learners. Serving as Adjunct Faculty at Hiram, Matt has been student teacher supervisor and mentor of teachers in the science education licensure program. . Matt and his wife, Roxanne, a teacher education professor at Hiram College, have two children who are now in third level education.

Brooks began his Montessori education at the age of two at a Montessori Children’s House in southern California. Following a Quaker high school education, Brooks earned a degree in mathematics at Carleton College. After working abroad at the Universidad Anáhuac México Sur International Business School, he earned an AMI Elementary Diploma and master’s degree in Montessori education from Loyola University in Maryland, and began the Upper Elementary program at St. Croix Montessori School in Stillwater, Minnesota, where he went on to serve as Director of Academics and Admissions. Brooks then began his 14-year tenure at Lake County Montessori School in Minneapolis as the middle school math teacher and assistant principal. Brooks was especially passionate about supporting the school’s Junior High program and its 160-acre working farm campus in Wisconsin, the Land School. In his free time, Brooks enjoys listening to and performing music, art, travel, and spending time with family.

Laura is a native Northeast Ohioan and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology with a Music minor from Case Western Reserve University. Prior to joining the Hershey Community in 2018 when the Upper School building opened, she spent twenty years working in corporate information technology. Outside of school, Laura enjoys supporting local food organizations, hiking and spending time with her family.

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. Most recently, she completed her AMI 6-12 Montessori Orientation (also known as the AMI Montessori 6–12 Assistants Certificate) in May 2021 and the AMI 3-6 Montessori Orientation course in January 2022.  Prior to joining Hershey, Lakisha was the regional director for a national nonprofit focused on dropout prevention.  Additionally, Lakisha is a former college admissions professional and has worked in admissions at Macalester College, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, and 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 spouse and three elementary aged learners.

Shelley joined Hershey in the summer of 2020 as the first Human Resources Administrator for the school.  She received her Human Resources Management degree from Lakeland Community College while working full-time in the field of Human Resources.  She later attained her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification in addition to earning her Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation along with the Group Benefits Associate (GBA), Retirement Plans Associate (RPA), and Compensation Management Specialist (CMS) specialty designations from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) and the Wharton School of Business.  She has over 24 years of experience in Human Resources in the supply chain management, manufacturing, and professional services industries, along with having contracted at another private school in Northeast Ohio.  Shelley loves spending her free time reading and experiencing nature, especially amongst the trees where she lives in Hambden Township, Ohio along with her husband, two daughters, dog, chickens, and ducks.

A.J. grew up in Chardon and resides in Burton with his wife Tracy and their son Ben who is a student at the Hershey Upper School.  Currently he is the Whole School Facilities Manager for Hershey, managing the Concord and Huntsburg campuses.  He worked in the construction industry for twenty years, including six years living in the Catskill mountains in New York learning the timber framing, plumbing, stone masonry and heavy equipment trades.  A.J. enjoys being outdoors, mountains, streams, golfing, motorcycles and cooking.