Teachers and Staff
The school is led and staffed by an outstanding and committed group of educators dedicated to students’ success. Teachers are chosen for TVM based on their educational qualifications, life and work experiences, and personal qualities that demonstrate a balance between academic, social and vocational skills. The support staff consists of teaching professionals who meet or exceed state requirements for their role.
Administration
Kelly Astin, Principal (Kelly.Astin@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Masters of Arts (MA) in Human Services from the California State University in Fullerton. She earned her certification credentials from the National Center for Montessori Education in Primary (3-6), Lower (6-9) and Upper Elementary (9-12) and Florida Certification in Elementary Education for levels K-6. Ms. Kelly is currently completing a second MA in Educational Leadership at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. She is an active member of the Upper Keys Rotary. Previously, she was a counselor in a domestic violence shelter for several years during her college internship. She is a trainer/instructor of state mandated courses for the State of Florida social services division, Wesley House, training individuals who work with children ages 0 through 6. After teaching Primary and Lower Elementary in California for six years, she was hired to be the Director of Montessori Island Elementary and Montessori Island School in Tavernier, Florida. She has taught and directed since moving to the Keys in 1997. In 1998, she was hired to become the inaugural principal of the Charter School and has held this position since that time.
Kelly Anne Mangel, Vice Principal
(Kelly.Mangel@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Kelly (Ms. K.) holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Psychology and Sociology from Jacksonville University and a BA in Special Education and Elementary Education from Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey. She is Florida-certified in Elementary Education and Exceptional Student Education, and is currently working toward her Masters degree in School Administration. She is completing the Montessori training program as well as obtaining the Reading Endorsement. During the past six years she has been working in New Jersey as a special education teacher. She joined the school in 2007 as vice principal.
Karen Christofferson, Office Manager (Karen.Christofferson@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Karen holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Psychology from the Miami Institute of Psychology. She has completed the course work and internship for her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology, and is currently working on her dissertation to attain her PsyD. She has held several positions, including substitute and support teacher since joining Treasure Village Montessori in 2003, and currently serves as the office manager.
Esther Fernandez, Administrative Assistant (Esther.Fernandez@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Esther is a State Certified Real Estate Appraiser and has lived in South Florida all her life. She and her husband owned a Mortgage business in Miami until they decided to relocate to Key Largo full time, 15 years ago. On weekends she enjoys time with her five children and five grandchildren. She joined the school in 2008.
Faculty
Julie Clark, Lead Teacher (Julie.Clark@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Julie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Hope College and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Teaching from Michigan State University. She is certified by the State of Michigan in Elementary Education, and has a Florida State teaching certificate in Elementary Education K-6. Julie taught predominately third and fourth grades in Michigan, and led summer workshops for districts around the county in the area of reform mathematics. She joined the school in 2008.
Cathy Eysenbach, Lead Teacher (Cathy.Eysenback@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Cathy holds a Bachelor of Science of Kinesiology Movement Science from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix. She has her certification in Elementary Education in Nevada as well as in Florida along with her certification in Physical Education (PE) and Health, and Elementary Education K-6 in both states. Ms. Cathy is being trained in the Montessori Method, ages 3-6. Previously, she taught high school PE and Health in Nevada and was a substitute teacher in California. Before teaching, Cathy was an aquatics director in Philadelphia and also worked for Johnson and Johnson Health Care Systems in NJ. She joined the School in 2007.
Jessica Harris, Lead Teacher
(Jessica.Harris@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Education with an emphasis in counseling and psychology from Penn State University. She completed her Montessori training, ages 3-6 and elementary Montessori training ages 6-9, under the auspices of the National Center for Montessori Education in 2006. She maintains a Florida State Certificate in Elementary Education K-6. Previously, she worked with behavioral health care services as well as rehabilitative and vocational services for adults with severe mental and physical disabilities. Ms. Jessica served as a substitute teacher for the Head Start Program at Stanley Switlik Elementary School in Marathon. She joined the school in 2003.
Jennifer Karley, Lead Teacher
(Jennifer.Karley@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Jen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University. She is certified by the State of Florida in Elementary Education K-6, and also holds certification by the American Montessori Society, to instruct ages 3-6 and 6-9. Previously, she taught for 11 years at Montessori Preschool and Elementary in Boca Raton, Florida. She joined the school in 2000.
Shevonne Khazraeinazmpour, Teacher
(shevonne.khazraeinazmpour@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Shevonne attended Miami-Dade Community College and Florida Keys Community College, majoring in Education and Psychology. She will complete her training in the Montessori Method, age 3-6, in June 2008. Ms. Shevonne began her career at the school as a Teachers’ Aide. She joined the school in 2007.
Lindsay Matheny, Lead Teacher (Lindsay.Matheny@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Lindsay holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication and Psychology from Hope College and a BA in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan. She completed training at Montessori Teachers College in Michigan and is certified by the American Montessori Society to instruct children aged 6-9. She is also certified by the State of Michigan in Elementary Education, and has a Florida State teaching certificate in Elementary Education K-6. She taught fifth grade in Michigan. She joined the school in 2005.
Tanya Mayer, Lead Teacher
(Tanya.Mayer@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Mayer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, cum laude, from Florida Atlantic University and a Master of Arts in Varying Exceptionalities in Education, summa cum laude, from Nova Southeastern University. Tanya has more than fourteen years of teaching experience in K-12, including experience teaching in Montessori. She holds a Florida Professional Educators Certificate in Elementary Education 1-6, a Commonwealth of Virginia Postgraduate Professional License in Elementary Education PreK-6 and a Texas State Board Educator Certification, Grades 1-8. She also earned a TESOL Endorsement. She joined the school in 2007.
Anne Osborne, Lead Teacher
(Anne.Osborne@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Anne holds a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Law & Society from Georgia State University. She is currently working on her Master’s degree in Education Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Phoenix. She has her Montessori credentials for ages 3-6 and 6-9, from North American Montessori and American Montessori Society, respectively. She has taught grades 2-4 for four years, three of those years at Treasure Village Montessori, formerly Montessori Island Charter School. She recently completed a certified training for the Writing Traits 6+1 program for grades K-12. Previously, Ms. Anne worked in the political arena as a political consultant and lobbyist at varied local, state and federal levels in Georgia, Alabama, and New Jersey. After teaching third grade for a year in Venezuela, she rejoined the school in 2008.
Kris Sullivan, Lead Teacher
(Kris.Sullivan@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Kris holds a Bachelor of Art in Communications from West Virginia State College and a Master of Science in Journalism from Marshall University. She is has a Florida State teaching certificate in Elementary Education K-6 and is certified by the American Montessori Society to instruct children aged 3-6. Prior to teaching, Ms. Kris devoted over six years to the field of journalism, marketing and communication. She joined the school in 2005.
Christina Trader, Teacher (Crissy.Trader@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Crissy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Leisure Studies from Christopher Newport University and a Master of Science in Outdoor Adventure Education from Western Illinois University. Both degrees focus on team building skills, conflict resolution and effective communication. She is certified by the National Center for Montessori Education to instruct children ages 3-6 and 6-9. Ms. Crissy is certified by the State of Florida in Elementary Education K-6 and has taught grades K- 5. For several years, she worked at the Florida National High Adventure Seabase, and taught diving and snorkeling to a wide variety of organized groups. She joined the school in 2003.
Amie Hernandez- Moreman,
Exceptional Student Education Lead Teacher
(Aime.Hernandez@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Amie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Varying Exceptionalities from Florida International University and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Miami. Previously, she worked at PACE Academy as a classroom teacher and before that at the McGlannan School in Miami as an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) specialist for three years. Overall, she has had eight years of experience working in the ESE field. Amie joined the school in 2006.
Melissa Scott, VPK Teacher (Melissa.Scott@KeysSchools.com)
Melissa Scott attended Purdue University majoring in Youth and Family Services with a focus on Child Development and Enrichment. She completed her training in the Montessori method (ages 3-6) in June 2008. Melissa started her career as a Middle School Paraprofessional in Indiana in 1995. Since moving to the keys in 1999 she has worked as a teacher’s aide, intern and lead teacher within a traditional Montessori environment. This is her first year with TVM.
Support Faculty
Cheryl Kinkelaar, Music Teacher (Cheryl.Kinkelaar@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Cheryl began studying piano at the age of seven and the flute at age nine. She was a member of the Baltimore County Band, the Baltimore County Orchestra and the Maryland Allstate Orchestra. She studied under the principal flutist for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and participated in programs offered by the esteemed Peabody School of Music. She is a member of the Unity of the Keys music ensemble. Ms. Cheryl served as music instructor for Island Christian School in Marathon, and was a board member during the development of the Island Community Entertainment (I.C.E.) She was the featured artist for the recording of the CD, Joining Our Hands. She joined the school in 2003.
Diana McGuirk, Art Teacher (Diana.McGuirk@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Diana holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education from Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY. She also holds art education state teaching credentials in both New York and Florida. She served as a team leader in AmeriCorps (NCCC) National Civilian Community Corps. Previously, she taught summer art programs with Citizen Schools in Boston, MA as well as private art lessons. She joined the school in 2006.
Maria Torres, Spanish & Library Teacher (Maria.Torres@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the Higher Institute of Art in Havana, Cuba. She is certified to teach music in the state of Florida as well as Spanish. Ms. Maria taught Spanish and Music for six years at the Academy at Ocean Reef prior to joining us in 2007.
Jack Malka, IT Administrator & Data Entry (Jack.Malka@KeysSchools.com)
Mr. Jack brings a strong technology background with 15 years of experience including networking, security, office automation, and web development. He is tasked with keeping all of the school’s technology up and running including the network, SMART Boards, printers and over 80 computers. He also maintains this web site and is responsible for data entry to the Monroe County Schools’ systems. He joined the school in 2009.
Wolfgang Bach, Support Teacher (Wolfgang.Bach@KeysSchools.com)
Mr. Wolfgang is a graduate of Coral Shores High School, and holds a fishing captain’s license. On weekends and during the summer, he assists with the Outward Bound program for troubled teens. He joined the school in 2007 and is currently a support teacher and responsible for the Before/After Care Program.
Jesi Bielski, Support Teacher (Jesi.Bielski@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Jesi holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English Language and Literature, with an emphasis in Language Arts and has a minor in Elementary Education from Grand Valley State University in Michigan. She has her certification in Elementary Education K-6 in both Michigan and Florida. She has returned to TVM, after taking a year off. She previously worked at TVM during the 2007-2008 school year as a lead teacher, and will be working as support staff for the school this year.
Holly Trejo, Support Teacher (Holly.Trejo@KeysSchools.com)
Ms. Holly holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies from Lowell State College in Massachusetts. She has taught at St. Justin Marine Academy, PACE Center for Girls and The Academy at Ocean Reef. She is certified in ESE Education, Middle School Integrated Curriculum and Social
