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  (a student now in Bamboo), and their dog Logan.

Lynne Brown

Toddler Guide (Toddler House)

Lynne joined Corvallis Montessori School in 2012. She completed her Infant/Toddler (0-3 years) training at the North American Montessori Training Center, B.C. in 2009. Lynne and her husband have four grown children, two grandchildren, and a third grandchild on the way. Not enjoying the “empty nester” feeling when their fourth child moved out, she and her husband have adopted three children over the past five years. Apart from Lynne’s education in Montessori as well as her extensive use of the Montessori approach being used in her home, she also holds a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Simmons College, Boston, and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and English from Suffolk University, Boston.

Thomson Chuites

Elementary Guide (Gingko Room)

 

Thomson Chuites is the guide for elementary children at Corvallis Montessori School. Born and raised in Georgia, Thomson holds a degree in Romance Languages (2006) from the University of Georgia. Following his studies he spent a year in the French Alps teaching, traveling and skiing, and was introduced to Montessori at this time during a visit to Bergamo, Italy. After returning to the States, he began a career in Montessori education first as the assistant elementary guide at the Montessori School of Columbia and at CMS, then as the Ginkgo guide. A lifelong student, his AMI training at the Montessori College Dublin in Ireland has been a joy and pleasure. He has biked and backpacked extensively abroad and enjoys the adventures that come with roughing it in an unknown land. In his free time, Thomson enjoys gardening, reading, and writing, when he is not scrambling around the Oregon wilderness with his wife and two dogs, Huckleberry and Mayfield.

Katherine Denemark

Primary Classroom Assistant (Willow Room)

Katherine joined Corvallis Montessori School in the Fall of 2012. She is a wonderful addition to the Primary Willow Room.

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 dog ‘Stinky’.

Chelsea Foss

Toddler Program Assistant

Chelsea holds a degree in fine arts from OSU. Chelsea has used her creative and artistic skills to help many groups in Corvallis with art shows and theater. She is a wonderful singer and she and her group can be heard performing in Corvallis from time to time. Chelsea's experience with children has been in Florianopolis, SC,Brazil, where she worked with a non-profit group helping impoverished families by providing free child-care to single parent families.

Alex Hammond

Primary Classroom Assistant (Willow Room) - on leave

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

Primary Classroom Assistant (Maple Room)

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.

April Spisak

Elementary Classroom Assistant (Ginkgo Room)

April joined Corvallis Montessori School in 2011.

Karin Lamberson

Primary Guide (Willow Room)

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, Primary Assistant in the Maple Room and our Spanish Teacher. 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 Guide (Maple Room)

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.

Stephanie Vasil

Primary Guide (Bamboo Room)

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

Primary Classroom Assistant (Bamboo Room)

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.