Faculty

• Title: Assistant
• Lower Elementary Staff: Lower Elementary Team

• Title: Associate Guide
• Lower Elementary Staff: Lower Elementary Team

• Title: Certified Guide
• Primary Staff: Primary Team

Kiara Brown has been a valued member of the Charleston Montessori community since 2022 and is a certified Montessori Primary Guide. She brings a wealth of experience, a calm classroom presence, and a deep understanding of child development to her work with children.

Kiara is also trained in UFLI Foundations and has completed her Early Childhood Reading Certificate, strengthening her ability to support emerging readers while maintaining the hands-on, child-centered approach of Montessori education.

As our Certified Montessori Guide, Kiara will focus her instruction in Language and Mathematics, areas in which she has extensive experience and expertise. Through individualized lessons and small-group instruction, she helps children develop strong reading, writing, and mathematical thinking skills while fostering confidence, independence, and a love of learning.

• Title: Support Associate
• Toddler Staff: Support

We are excited to celebrate Kara Kizer and her continued growth within the Charleston Montessori community. Kara joined our team in the spring of 2024 as a Toddler Assistant and has quickly become an important and valued member of our community.

Kara brings a strong foundation in early childhood education through her experience with West Virginia Infant/Toddler (WVIT). Her understanding of child development, responsive caregiving, and the unique needs of young children has been a wonderful asset to our Toddler Community.

During her time in the Toddler classroom, Kara supported the creation of a calm, nurturing, and engaging prepared environment where children felt safe, respected, and encouraged to develop independence. She worked alongside the Toddler Guide to support children through daily routines, practical life activities, social development, and exploration of the Montessori environment. Kara’s patience, warmth, and ability to connect with children helped our youngest learners feel secure as they began their Montessori journey.

As part of her continued professional growth, Kara completed Primary Assistant training through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies (CGMS), expanding her understanding of Montessori philosophy, the prepared environment, observation, and how to support children as they develop independence and confidence.

This year, Kara steps into a new role as Support Associate at Charleston Montessori. In this role, Kara will be a familiar and welcoming presence throughout our community. You will often find her greeting families at the door, supporting individual students when they need additional guidance or encouragement, and assisting classroom communities wherever support is needed. Kara will work one-on-one with students when needed and will reinforce classroom instruction and the child’s identified learning needs.

Kara is also a proud mother of three children: Ryker, Rowen, and Nolan. Her experience as a parent, combined with her professional background in early childhood education, gives her a unique perspective on the importance of nurturing each child as an individual and building strong partnerships with families.

We are grateful for Kara’s continued dedication to Charleston Montessori and the many ways she supports our students, families, and staff. Her commitment to professional growth, her calm and caring nature, and her willingness to serve wherever needed make her an invaluable part of our community.

• Title: Reading Specialist & Librarian
• Specialists: Specialist

Amy Nee joined Charleston Montessori in 2022, beginning her journey with the school as a classroom assistant. Through her time supporting students in the classroom, Amy developed a passion for literacy and a deeper appreciation for the Montessori philosophy. She earned her Montessori Assistant Certification through Trillium Montessori and continues to bring a thoughtful, child-centered approach to her work.

Amy is a certified Wilson Reading System® practitioner and holds a dyslexia certification, allowing her to provide specialized literacy support and targeted reading instruction for students. As Charleston Montessori’s Reading Specialist, Amy works alongside students and guides to strengthen reading development while honoring each child’s individual learning journey. She also manages the school library, creating opportunities for students to explore books, develop a lifelong love of reading, and experience the joy of discovering new ideas through literature.

Amy believes reading is a human right and that every child deserves access to the tools, support, and encouragement needed to become a confident reader. Her work is rooted in the belief that literacy opens doors, builds independence, and empowers children to connect more deeply with the world around them.

Amy also leads Charleston Montessori’s Community Service Club, where students gather in the school kitchen to prepare sandwiches that are shared with members of the Charleston community who have limited access to food. Through this hands-on service, students learn the importance of compassion, dignity, and caring for others while experiencing the meaningful impact they can have within their community.

For Amy, Montessori is more than an educational approach—it is a way of life. She believes in following the child, nurturing independence, and creating environments where children feel supported, capable, and confident.

Amy is also a proud Charleston Montessori parent. All of her children have attended Charleston Montessori, and two continue to be part of our community this school year. Her personal connection to the school, combined with her professional experience, gives Amy a unique understanding of the Montessori approach and the importance of nurturing the whole child.

Outside of school, Amy enjoys gardening, spending time with her family, and embracing all that she loves about living in beautiful West Virginia.

• Title: Head of Business Operations
• Administrative Staff: Administrative Staff

Anna Japhet serves as the Head of Business Operations at Charleston Montessori, supporting the school’s mission through thoughtful organization, financial stewardship, grant writing, Title funding management, and the systems that allow the school to continue growing and serving children and families. While Anna will be working primarily off campus this school year, she remains an important member of the Charleston Montessori community and will continue to be a familiar and friendly face at school events and community gatherings.

Families may connect with Anna regarding tuition payments, account questions, and other business operations needs. Her work behind the scenes helps ensure that Charleston Montessori has the strong operational foundation needed to support students, staff, and families.

Anna and her family became part of the Charleston Montessori community in 2022 after relocating to Charleston, West Virginia, while searching for a school that aligned with their family’s values. Her connection to Charleston Montessori began as a parent before she joined the staff as an assistant teacher in the Toddler classroom, where she discovered a passion for supporting young children during their earliest years.

Originally from Olympia, Washington, Anna earned her Liberal Arts degree from The Evergreen State College with a focus in Business and Finance. Before joining Charleston Montessori, Anna built a successful career as a professional baker, bringing creativity, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic to every role she takes on.

Through financial planning, grant writing, Title funding management, and thoughtful stewardship of resources, Anna is dedicated to supporting the long-term sustainability and financial health of Charleston Montessori, ensuring the school has the strong foundation needed to continue serving children and families for generations to come.

As a representative of Charleston Montessori in the broader community, Anna serves as a member of the Charleston Area Alliance, helping strengthen connections between the school and the greater Charleston community. In the spring of 2026, Anna was recognized through the Lifting Up Small Businesses in Kanawha County initiative for her successful grant-writing efforts that supported Charleston Montessori, demonstrating her commitment to securing resources and opportunities that strengthen the school’s mission.

Outside of school, Anna enjoys spending time with her family, getting lost in a good book, and tending to her garden—a reflection of her love for learning, creativity, and nurturing growth.

• Title: Certified Assistant
• Primary Staff: Primary Team

Lindsey Breedlove is a valued member of our Primary team and provides consistent support across both the Cardinals and Robins communities. She works alongside our guides to help maintain the prepared environment, support children as they build independence, and ensure each child feels safe, respected, and encouraged throughout the day.

Throughout the morning, Lindsey assists with classroom routines, prepares materials, supports individual and small-group work, and helps foster the calm, orderly atmosphere that is the hallmark of a Montessori classroom.

In the afternoon, Lindsey lovingly cares for our younger Primary children who still need a period of rest. She creates a calm, warm, and nurturing environment in a quiet, dimly lit classroom where children can relax, recharge, and feel secure. This peaceful rest time supports each child’s physical and emotional well-being while honoring their individual developmental needs.

Lindsey is working toward her degree in Education through West Virginia University. She enjoys providing babysitting services to families on the weekends.

• Title: Certified Guide
• Lower Elementary Staff: Lower Elementary Team

Nikki Holmes is the Lead Guide in the Lower Elementary classroom and joined the CMS community in 2023. She brings six years of experience in early childhood education and holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Liberty University. Nikki is currently pursuing her Lower Elementary (6–9) certification through the Montessori Elementary Teacher Training Collaborative (METTC).

Known for her larger-than-life personality, Nikki is passionate about creating learning environments that honor each child’s individuality and spark a lifelong love of learning. Originally from Wayne County, WV, she now lives in Poca, WV, with her husband and their two daughters—one a student at CMS and the other attending Marshall University.