Diana Longen
Director

I have been involved in Montessori education for 35 years and plan to continue for many more. Born in Wisconsin, I grew up in Sacramento, CA, where I attended college and received a BA in Education with a minor in music.

My interest in Montessori developed while I was raising three sons and thousands of mink (ultimately deciding that teaching was much more rewarding than raising mink). I received my Montessori training at Spring Valley and taught there for five years. Then I started my own Montessori school in 1979, the Montessori School of Tacoma.

In 1998, we moved to our current location and changed our name to Montessori in Motion.

Joyce Crocket
Office Manager

I came to MIM in 1989 with extensive experience in office management and computers. I handle all of the data processing and bookkeeping chores as well as talking to prospective clients both in person and on the phone. I use my computer skills to create all kinds of materials for the school, including all our in-house forms and manuals.

My son, Geoffrey, age 25, started his education at age two at a Montessori school in Oakland, CA. He attended MIM (after we moved to Washington) from age five through age 11 and served in the US Navy at San Diego for almost six years.

By the way, Diana and I are sisters.

Marisin Wissman
Primary Teacher

In 1998, we moved to our current location and changed our name to Montessori in MotionI am a native of Panama where I attended the University of Panama and earned a BA in Journalism.

My first experience with Montessori education began when my husband was stationed at Ramstein, Germany. While there, I worked as a primary assistant at the Little Friends Montessori School in Kottweiler-Schwandan. I then took a comprehensive summer Montessori teacher training program and worked as a head teacher at Little Friends.

We moved back to Panama where I worked in a Montessori school. Eventually, my husband was transferred to McChord AFB. I found MIM and was hired in Spring 2000. Soon after, I took the infant-toddler Montessori course in Seattle. The philosophy of Maria Montessori is a part of my life.

I love working with the younger ages and am very grateful for the opportunity to teach here and be part of a wonderful staff of dedicated educators. This environment is the best I have seen. I look forward to many more years of working with children, especially at MIM.

Lisa Teager
Primary Assistant

I am from Gig Harbor and have lived in the Tacoma area all my life. I have two school-aged boys.

My hobbies and talents lie in interior decorating and arts and crafts. My work experience has all been with children in child care positions at various child care centers.

I have been working at MIM as a teacher assistant and in child care for the last 6 years. I really enjoy working with and caring for children.
 

Tonya Miller
Primary Teacher

I started at MIM in 1995. I truly have the greatest job ever! I have had a desire to work with children for as long as I can remember.

While at Curtis High School, I worked in the developmental preschool at Narrowsview for three years. I also worked at DSHS with autistic children for three summers.

I attended Pierce College studying early childhood education and taught preschool. I transferred to Northwest University and received my BA in Behavioral Science with an emphasis on early childhood education. I worked at Bellevue Montessori for four years as the after-school director, and then took my training at the Montessori Training Center of the Northwest and was an intern/assistant for two years.

I currently live in Puyallup but grew up in the Tacoma-University Place area. I enjoy cooking, working out, gardening, and vacationing.

Linda Kelly
Primary Assistant

This September 2009, I start my 21st year as a teacher assistant at MIM. I love working with children, and I love working here. I also love to cook, sew, and go to car shows with my husband's 62 Pontiac.

I grew up in Fircrest and have lived in University Place since 1975. I have three grown children; two sons and a daughter. I have three grandchildren who attended MIM and a new baby grandson who lives in Spokane. My husband Tom and I have been married for 42 years.

Monika Day
Primary Teacher

I have been involved in Montessori education for most of my life. I attended a Montessori school from preschool through 6th grade, then have been a teacher/parent since 1995. I am certified as a Montessori teacher for both primary and elementary as well as having a Masters of Education degree.

I enjoy the challenge of a variety of levels of excellence in the classroom and listening to the students achieve.

I look forward to helping your child excel.

Alla Lyanskaya
Primary Assistant & Russian Teacher

I am from a beautiful country, Russia, where I grew up, graduated college, and got married almost 31 wonderful years ago. For 15 years, I worked as a teacher at a music school for gifted children. I have two beautiful daughters, Yulianna, 30, and Aleksandra, 20. I am so happy to be the grandma of two of the best grandchildren, Simon and Sofiya.

In 1995, I came to work at MIM, one of the most significant and marvelous events in my life. I really enjoy this job. I love the children; their smiles and questions, suggestions, and decision making. The past 13 years at MIM have gone so fast, and I have really enjoyed watching the children grow and learn. I look forward to each day of work here.

Hema Marreddy
Primary Teacher

I was born and raised in India where I earned my BS. While earning my BS, I went to evening school and took a two-year child psychology course.

I then married and moved to the US. I have two great children. My son has finished medical school and is doing a residency in cardiology. My daughter graduated from USC with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Currently she is working for Accentur as a consultant.

I obtained my Primary Montessori teaching certificate and have been teaching for 15 wonderful years.

I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I moved to Washington in 1991 and worked as a nurse's aid for seven years.

I started working at MIM in 1998 as a teacher's assistant with Mrs. Marreddy. I enjoy my job working with children.

I have a daughter who lives in Tacoma, as well as my youngest grandson, Alexander, 21, who was recently accepted at the UW Tacoma. My oldest grandson, Bruno, now 22, has graduated with a degree in the field of natural gas and oil.

Mike McKay
Primary Teacher

I am very happy to be a Montessori trained Primary and Elementary Teacher. I started at Mont-essori in Motion as a Primary Teacher in September 2003. I taught at this level for two years. In September 2005, I started teaching at the lower elementary level. I completed the Montessori Elementary Teacher Training Program in August 2007. I am now certified to teach the Montessori method through the eighth grade.

I am married to Jacqueline McKay, who is the upper elementary teacher at Montessori in Motion. I have a daughter and two grandchildren.

Previous to my teaching career, I retired from Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue after 20 years as a volunteer, career firefighter, and a fire officer. I taught at the Washington State Fire Academy for 14 years. I am also a retired Naval Officer. I have submarine experience as well as Engineering Duty Officer experience.

Jacque McKay
Elementary Teacher

This is my 12th year as a Montessori teacher. I am certified to teach through the eighth grade. Working with upper elementary levels is a passion for me. It is so rewarding to help and guide each student to build a solid foundation in learning and to encourage enthusiasm within each student to make learning a lifelong goal.

I have an AA degree in Art and a BS in Business Administration. The 2009-10 school year will be my ninth year here at Montessori in Motion.

Shayna Taylor
Art Teacher

I have lived in Tacoma for about 10 years. I have a wonderful 13 year old son named Jayce. I've worked with children for over 20 years including having my own daycare for several of those years. I have been interested in art since I was very young and have an AA in design. I come from a family full of artists and musicians, so I guess you can say it runs in my blood. This is my second year here at MIM teaching art and my first year providing after school child care. I look forward to working with all your children this year in Art.

Erica Coutsouridis
Music Teacher

I am excited to be at MIM. Music has always been a very positive part of my life, from piano lessons to singing in school choirs, to pursuing my degrees in flute performance. I love music, and I will share that love with the children through singing, playing instruments, listening, and moving. I have been teaching private flute and piano lessons for over a decade. I am also an active performer, currently playing flute and piccolo with the Washington National Guard Band at Camp Murray and the Northwest Symphony Orchestra in Seattle.

I earned my Bachelor of Music from Coe College in my hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and my Master of Music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where I also played and taught for five years. I played flute and piccolo with two active duty Army Bands, in Fort Lee, Virginia, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky. I most recently moved here from Fort Riley, Kansas, because my husband is now stationed here as a drummer in the Fort Lewis Army Band.

Mitch Woodruff
PE Teacher & Handyman

They say 95% of people who get a university degree in one field of study will end up working in something totally unrelated. I graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Economics. I spent 16 years in management and buying with two major retail companies and gladly ran away from flying a desk to becoming a stay-at-home dad for my newborn son and two middle school girls.

I was a coach in cross country and track and field with a youth program in Federal Way and organized and ran the track meets for my girls' high school. When my son started at MIM several years ago, the school discovered I love to work with my hands, and I was hired first as the handyman and then also as a P.E. teacher.

I look forward to coming to work every day and being greeted by your wonderful children. Both of my girls went to MIM years ago and have now graduated from the U of Portland. I see the benefits of their MIM education at work every day

Carol Teager
Child Care & Maintenance

I currently live in the Gig Harbor area and have been married for 37 years. I was born and raised in Washington State. I have two wonderful, grown daughters, both of whom work here at MIM, and four terrific grandsons, who I have enjoyed being able to take of the last several years. I had a licensed Family Home Daycare and have spent many years working with children. I have also worked in retail and done various volunteer work. I am thrilled to be able to work here and be a part of MIM.

Dana Epstein
Child Care

I was born and raised in Chicago, IL. I moved here to Washington after my freshman year of high school. I graduated from Curtis High School in 2004. I am currently attending Pierce College and earning my AA in Early Childhood Education. My goal is to one day open my own preschool.