Kristie Badgett
Badgett grew up in High Point, North Carolina and is happy to have settled so close to home in Statesville. She attended Appalachian State University and has been the lead teacher at the Children’s House since 2003. Badgett received her American Montessori Society credentials from the North Carolina Center for Montessori Teacher Education in Holly Springs, North Carolina. She decided to pursue her Montessori certificate after she followed her children into the classroom and found a warm, caring environment where students were respected as individuals. She has profound respect for the genius of the Montessori Method and encourages children to love to learn.
Assistants
Cheryl Mercer
Pre-Primary (Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten)
Annette Parker
Parker is a pre-primary teacher who began her career at Statesville Montessori School in 1989 when her sons were attending. Up until 2000 she assisted in both the Children’s House and in a 6-9 year old classroom at the elementary school campus. Parker obtained her 3-6 year old classroom American Montessori Society Credential in 2000 and has taught Pre-K and Kindergarten since that time. She feels so fortunate and passionately about teaching 3-6 year old children using the Montessori Method and materials. She loves her chosen profession and would make the same choice again if given the opportunity.
Assistant – Katelyn Percy Parlier
Lower Elementary (Grades 1-3)
Beth Bush
Bush is a native of Statesville, North Carolina and has been teaching at Statesville Montessori since 2001. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her Montessori training from the North Carolina Center for Montessori Education in Raleigh. She enjoys watching the children learn and grow into independent, self-motivated students. Montessori students learn through guided exploration of their environment and Bush is honored to be a part of each child’s journey. She strives to build sef-confidence and a love of learning.
Teri Green
Green is a native of Charleston, South Carolina and currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. She studied at Morn’s College in Sumter, South Carolina receiving a Bachelor’s of Science degree. Green took her Montessori training at Billingsville Montessori under Ceres York. She taught public school for eight years before coming to Statesville Montessori in 2006. Green enjoys teaching the Montessori Method and believes in the Montessori philosophy of “Follow the Child”.
Assistants
Elizabeth Hatley
Dot Ingram
Upper Elementary (Grades 4-5)
Beth Moore
Moore is a native of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Townsend State University in Maryland and subsequently served 10 years in the U.S. Air Force. She received her Montessori Certification for 6-12 year olds from the North Carolina Center for Montessori Education. She is also certified as an Orton-Gillingham Dyslexic tutor. Moore has been teaching at Statesville Montessori since 1996. She brings to the classroom a love of books and reading.
Assistant
Jayne Gutierrez
Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Mary Ann Simmons
Mary Ann Simmons has been an educator for over twenty years. A National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), she has taught middle and high school English, as well as art history. She is also certified in art education and gifted education. Mrs. Simmons received an undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester, a master’s degree in English Education from The University of Georgia, and a specialist degree in Instruction and Curriculum from Piedmont College. Prior to teaching, she worked in the visual arts as Public Relations Coordinator for The University of Vermont’s Fleming Museum, Gallery Director at the Center for Music, Drama & Art in Lake Placid, NY, and Assistant Director of Parsons School of Design’s summer program in Lake Placid.
Math, Language Arts & Science Teachers
Toby Spector – Math
Jackie French – Science
Mary Ann Simmons – Language Arts
Art
Alisa Medich
Medich has been the lead art teacher at Statesville Montessori School since 2004. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Media Advertising and Marketing. Medich is married and has a daughter, Payton. She enjoys cooking, gardening, volleyball and painting.
Assistants
Jacqui Ford
Music
Anna Garrelts
Garrelts began teaching Music teacher at the Statesville Montessori Schoolin 2010. She received her musical education at the Yerevan Music School #5 in Armenia, studying classical piano, music history, music literature, music theory, vocal music and appreciation. Since graduating Garrelts has regularly performed works by her favorite composers, which include Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Bach and Beethoven.
Spanish
Tara Elliott
Elliott has taught preschool and Spanish since 2004. She also spent a year in Barranquilla, Colombia honing her Spanish speaking skills.
Physical Education
Caroline Campbell
Campbell is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a degree in health & physical education with extra courses in Adaptive Physical Education. Her degree applies to children from Kindergarten to 12th grade. Campbell has taught and coached all grades. She also has been trained in the SPARK curriculum, the NC endorsed program, and has administered the Fitnessgram physical fitness test. Campbell retired from teaching in the public schools and immediately came to Statesville Montessori. She has enjoyed her time at Statesville Montessori especially interacting with the students and staff.
Assistants
Cheri Collins
Office Staff
Elaine Easterling
Cindy McNeely