Paige Payne, Director, ppayne@charlestonmontessori.com, is
dynamic, creative and civic-minded. Paige collaborates with school directors around the United States and world and also with Tim Seldin, President of The Montessori Foundation. In 2011, she completed the course “Building a World Class Montessori School” offered by the Foundation. In our community, she serves on The Library Foundation of Kanawha County, Inc. , and she is a past chair of Girls Night Out , an annual event which raises substantial funds for Hope House, a 24/7 shelter for victims of domestic violence offered under the YWCA’s Resolve Family Abuse Program. She is also a member of the Bridge Road Neighborhood Association.
FACULTY
Qian Wen Yau, Primary Teacher, yau@charlestonmontessori.com, holds a Masters in Education from Loyola University Maryland. In addition, she holds a Montessori primary diploma (certification) from Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Ms. Yau is fluent in Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien) and Malay.
Stephanie Arrowood, Primary Assistant, Arrowood@ charlestonmontessori.com, holds a Bachelor’s degree from Marshall University in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Early Education. She has ten years of experience working in child care settings in West Virginia and Kentucky, substituting in the public school systems in Johnson City, Tennessee, and founding and directing an early education center within her church in Kenova, West Virginia. Stephanie was born and raised in the Huntington area, but has spent time on the mission fields in Peru and Haiti. She also values athletics, so much so that she coaches the high school varsity girls’ soccer team at Chesapeake High School.
Natalie Robinson, Elementary Teacher,
robinson@ charlestonmontessori.com, holds a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from West Virginia University. She achieved an overall GPA of 4.0 in the MA program and also received the honors of President’s List and Dean’s List. From 2008 – 2011, she taught in the classrooms at West Milford Elementary School (PreK-5) in Morgantown, WV. She is state-certified in Elementary Education, grades K-6. Natalie is pursuing full Montessori certification through The Center for Guided Montessori Studies and has been training intensively throughout the summer.
Lisa Leventry, Elementary Teacher,
leventry@ charlestonmontessori.com, holds a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from West Virginia University. She achieved an overall GPA of 4.0 in the MA program and received the honors of President’s List and Dean’s List. From 2008 – 2011, she taught in the classrooms at East Dale Elementary (PreK-6) in Fairmont, WV. She is state-certified in Elementary Education, grades K-6. Lisa is pursuing full Montessori certification through The Center for Guided Montessori Studies and has been training intensively throughout the summer.
Fran Norman, Elementary Assistant, fnorman@charlestonmontessori.com, has been an integral part of Charleston Montessori from the start. With over 20 years in the classroom, she brings to our school a wealth of knowledge and outstanding abilities in teaching, creating rich classroom environments and cultivating a love of learning.
Bryan Lewin, Physical Education Specialist lewin@charlestonmontessori.com, leads the elementary students in physical education activities twice a week. Bryan holds a Bachelor of Athletic Coaching and Education and a Master of Secondary Education, both earned from West Virginia University. He played basketball for WVU and later played in the International Professional Basketball League with the Jamaican National Team, Chinese Basketball Association, and Pakmet-Polpharma (Poland). From 2002-2003, he played with the Harlem Globetrotters.
LaDonna Yaussy, Music Specialist, lyaussy@charlestonmontessori.com, graduated from Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with elementary specialization. She studied voice under the direction of Renay Conlin and has sung professionally with local bands including Cut Southbound band & All Jazzed Up, Now Generation Orchestra, Novo Tempo Big Band, Picatto Trio, Southbound and Moondance. She has also performed in several musical productions with local theater during the last 20 years. Her broad-based experience in education includes early work as a teacher in Ohio and West Virginia and a latter position as the administrator of a Montessori school for 16 years. LaDonna provides weekly music instruction to the students at Charleston Montessori. Her music classes are multi-faceted and fun; the children learn songs from different music genres and also study rhythm, music theory and famous composers.
Helen Poffenbarger-Jordan, Art Specialist, Jordan@charlestonmontessori.com is a native of Charleston, WV. She was formerly the art instructor at Charleston Catholic High School, where she taught 6th through 12th grades. She has also been the instructor for several art camps and workshops at Taylor Books Annex Studios. Her experience as an artist ranges from drawing and painting to bookbinding, ceramics and printmaking. With her guidance, the children explore various art mediums and are inspired to create original works of art. In addition to teaching art during the school day, Helen offers group art lessons after school in her Open Art Studio at Charleston Montessori.
Julie Wirts, Sewing Specialist, is a master seamstress and owner of The Dressmaker’s Closet. Her students learn the craft of sewing, including hand-stitching, sewing on a machine, and pattern making.
