Staff and Faculty
Sarah Bingham
Administrative Assistant
Sarah was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. Sarah began her journey with CMS in 2006 as the Assistant in the Bamboo Room. Sarah quickly flourished and took on the very important role as Administrative Assistant – in addition to supporting the Head of School, Sarah is integral in welcoming new families and in coordinating and facilitating communications amongst parents and CMS staff. Sarah obtained her B.A. in Psychology from Western Oregon University in 2004, and has worked in several child-related settings in western Oregon including for Trillium Family Services. Sarah enjoys cooking, and partaking in inspiring conversation with family and friends. Sarah lives with her husband Adam, their daughter Nora (2 yr; a student now in Bamboo), and their dog Logan.
Adele Carey
Head of School
A native of Ireland, Adele moved to the U.S. at the age of 24 to become Head of School for the Kennebec Montessori School in Maine. With over 30 years of experience in the Montessori environment as a guide or administrator, Adele is highly dedicated to the Montessori approach to education. Adele has been with CMS since 2010 when she moved to Oregon, first as the Ginkgo Elementary Guide, advancing then to Head of School the following year in 2011. Adele received her primary AMI training at the Dublin College of Montessori in 1981, and returned to Ireland for training in elementary Montessori instruction in 1986. She also holds a degree in Spanish and Archeology (1980) from the University College of Dublin. Adele has a busy family life, with one son and three step-children - all now in their 20’s - and two grandchildren. Two of her children were Montessori students, and both of her grandchildren currently attend a Montessori school in Seattle. In her free time, Adele enjoys golfing, and she is a talented musician. She takes great joy in bringing her love of music to our CMS students, leading weekly tin whistle lessons for the elementary children, and playing her harp and guitar for all to enjoy.
Thomson Chuites
Ginkgo Room Assistant
Born and raised in Georgia, Thomson holds a degree in Romance Languages (2006) from the University of Georgia. Shortly after college, he spent a year in the French Alps teaching English, traveling, and skiing. Thomson’s Montessori experience includes working as the Assistant in an elementary classroom at the Montessori School of Columbia in South Carolina, working for two summers with the CMS summer Discover Camp, and assisting in the Ginkgo Room since fall 2010. In his free time, Thomson enjoys camping, fishing, hunting, boating, and hitting the slopes. He loves to travel and explore, and to get out with his dogs and hike, bike and swim. Cultural production-art, films, books, and music are also his favorite pastimes.
Amaya Esqusquiza
Music, Movement, and Theatre Guide
Amaya is originally from Idaho, but has lived in the Corvallis area since 1996. She earned a B.A. in Theatre Arts in 1994 from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. As the Education Director for Corvallis’ Majestic Theatre from 1999-2009, Amaya has extensive experience working with young people in the Theatre Arts. Amaya’s teaching contributions to CMS have been varied since 1996, most notably as the Maple Room Assistant, Extended Care Assistant, Toddler House Assistant, and Theatre Instructor. Amaya spends her free time contributing as a professional actor, director, and instructor in a number of local theatres. She lives in Corvallis with her two dogs ‘Stinky’ and ‘Little’.
Alex Hammond
Willow Room Assistant
Alex is a true Oregon native, having spent her early years in Albany and Independence and is currently a resident of Corvallis. Alex attended Western Oregon University for undergraduate coursework and has been pursuing a nursing degree from Linn-Benton Community College since 2008. In 2010, she gained valuable life experience in nursing at the Corvallis Manor Nursing Home. Alex has worked with children in various settings since 2008, she joined the CMS staff to work as a substitute in 2010, and was then hired as the Willow Room Assistant and for Extended Care support starting in the 2010-11 school year. Alex greatly enjoys baking, photography, and hiking with her doggie.
Ketty Herb-Kalberer
Bookkeeper
A native of sunny Colorado, Ketty moved to the Northwest with her husband in 1999, settling in Corvallis in 2005. Our talented bookkeeper earned an MBA from the University of Oregon in 2001, and attended college at Whitman College in SE Washington. Ketty is the busy mom to Mason (8 yrs), Bennet (6 yrs), and Neve (3 yrs). In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and skiing with her family. Ketty is also a serious runner, having recently traveled to the Dolomites in Italy for a trail running excursion.
Debra Kane
Maple Room Assistant
In the summer of 2009 Debra and her family moved to Corvallis. Debra joined the CMS staff as a classroom assistant that summer as well. Debra has 20 years of experience working in child-related settings. 10 of those years were spent as a Montessori assistant. Debra lives with her husband Tim, and their two daughters, Sophia and Anya.
Venus Kohler
Ginkgo Room Guide
Venus comes to CMS with sound elementary level experience from Skinner Elementary Montessori, an AMI school dedicated to ages 2 ½ through 6th grade in Vancouver, WA. Venus has been working with children in the Montessori environment since 2004, and as an Elementary Guide since 2006. Venus grew up in India where among other endeavors, she spent time travelling as a youth representative and performer for an International Youth Conference in India. After her experience as an Assistant solidified her interest in the Montessori method, Venus went on to receive her AMI Elementary training in 2006-2007 at the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee. She also holds a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Mumbai (2001). Venus is a busy mother of two young boys – Isaac (a student at CMS), and her newest addition Elijah (born just a few days after the end of her teaching commitment for the 2010-11 school year!). In her spare time from mothering and maintaining an exciting Elementary Montessori environment at CMS, Venus enjoys gardening, reading, and writing poetry.
Karin Lamberson
Montessori Spanish Teacher
Karin grew up on the coastal Oregon town of Newport and has lived in the Corvallis area since 2002. Karin holds a B.A. in Elementary Education (2002), an AMI Primary degree (2008) from the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis Missouri, and a Master’s of Education in Montessori Instruction (2009) from Loyola University in Baltimore. Karin has been with CMS since 2002, filling a number of roles including as Substitute, Primary and Elementary Summer Camp Coordinator, Upper Elementary Assistant, and as Primary Assistant in the Maple Room. She has a strong background in early childhood education and has worked with children since the age of 12 for various summer educational outreach programs. Karin greatly enjoys birding, skiing, hiking, canoeing, photography, and drawing.
Ronna Pomeroy
Primary/Maple Room Guide
Originally from Minnesota, Ronna has lived in the Corvallis community for over 30 years. Ronna earned her AMI Primary degree in 1973 in Toronto, Canada, and additionally holds a certificate as a Licensed Practical Nurse from Green River College in Auburn, Washington. She is a long-standing member of the CMS community where she has spent many years involved both as a parent (all 3 of her children attended CMS) and a member of the faculty. She has been part of the CMS faculty and staff since 2000, working as both an Assistant and Guide (since 2004) in the Maple Room. Ronna has also worked at the Eugene Montessori School, and as a teacher volunteer in a small fishing village on Labrador and Newfoundland, Canada. In her free time, Ronna enjoys gardening, cooking, sewing, and travel.
Dorothy Price
Toddler Program Assistant
Dorothy has been with CMS for 20 years in various roles. She received a B.A. in English and Theology in 1971 from Barat College in Lake Forest, Illinois, and in 1974, earned a Nursing Diploma from St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago. Prior to coming to CMS, Dorothy worked as a Registered Nurse for 17 years, including as a pediatric nurse for 6 years. She enjoys the outdoors, especially horseback riding in the beautiful Coastal Mountains, and playing softball with her church's team The Holy Sox. Dorothy lives in Corvallis with her partner and their small dog Lucie.
Tyler Stephens
Cedar Room Assistant
Tyler is an Oregon native, having grown up in Albany and Portland. Tyler has taken college coursework in Psychology with an interest in human development and will be finishing his degree at OSU. With a strong interest in helping others, Tyler has prior background as a Certified Nursing Assistant with experience in elderly and hospice care, and has worked at CMS since 2010 in various roles as substitute and assistant to the Cedar Room staff. Tyler is an avid musician and dedicated guitarist, spending his free time playing in a band, recording music, and collecting records.
Michael Taft
Primary/Willow Room Guide
Michael’s entry into the CMS community was first as a parent in 2005, when his daughter Fiona attended CMS as a primary student. Originally from the north coast of California, Michael has lived in Corvallis since 1997. Prior to CMS, Michael spent over 10 years working as a field research biologist after receiving a B.S. degree in Wildlife Biology from Humboldt State University in 1996. With a new interest in Montessori education from his own child’s experience at CMS, Michael went on to pursue his AMI degree from the Montessori Institute Northwest in Portland, Oregon, and fortuitously came back to CMS as the Willow Room guide in 2007. Michael enjoys discovering the natural world with his family, and takes pleasure in bringing his love of natural history into the classroom. In his free time, Michael enjoys hiking, surfing, learning guitar, and martial arts.
Hannah Thoman
Toddler Program Assistant
Hannah Thoman graduated from Western Oregon University in 2010 with a Bachelors of Arts in Geography and Communications. While in college she worked as a Substitute Teacher at CMS since Summer 2008. After graduating college she started working full time at CMS as a Toddler House assistant. Hannah is looking forward to her second year in the classroom. She is currently looking into the Assistants to Infancy Course in Portland for Summer 2012. She enjoys mountain biking, football and traveling the world.
Stephanie Vasil
Primary/Bamboo Room Guide
Stephanie was raised in Minnesota, where she received a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Minnesota in 1996. First introduced to Montessori philosophy while working as an Elementary Assistant in Portland, Oregon, Stephanie had the opportunity to observe at the Primary level and knew it was for her. She then earned her AMI Primary degree in 1999 at the Montessori Institute Northwest in Portland, and shortly thereafter came to CMS. Attending annual Montessori refresher courses keeps her practice fresh and offers her inspiration. Stephanie has always found an endless supply of patience and tremendous respect for the child. She loves animals, gardening, and the natural world, particularly the peacefulness of living in her countryside home tucked in the woods. She spends much of her free time cross-country skiing, rafting, backpacking, and practicing Bikram's yoga.
Austin Williams
Bamboo Room Assistant
Originally from Virginia, Austin moved to Corvallis as a teen, and has lived in the community now for over 10 year. Austin holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (2010) from our very own Oregon State University. Shortly after graduating, Austin joined the staff at CMS as the Bamboo Room Assistant. Above all, Austin values family and finds the CMS community a fertile ground for the creation of a better future for and by our children. Austin enjoys spending time with his wife and friends finding adventure, cooking, hiking, playing board games, and conversing. He also finds time to write, study for a private pilot’s license, and contemplate big ideas.
