Courtney Walsh

Courtney grew up in Northeast and Northwest Washington state.  She participated in a variety of athletics and studied theatre and music through the end of college, beginning her work with children early on as a piano accompanist for children’s musical theatre, and then as a regular babysitter and nanny from when she was a teen through the end of grad school. She moved to Portland to attend Portland State University for her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, intending to pursue a career in mental health.  She unexpectedly learned about the Montessori philosophy in one of her early childhood development classes and was inspired to see the method in action.  After working as a Primary Assistant at West Hills Montessori in Portland for three years, she attended Montessori Northwest where she earned her AMI Primary Montessori Diploma and a Masters of Education from Loyola University Maryland. 

Courtney has been working with Montessori children and families in Portland for more than 20 years; she was a founding member of Montessori Children’s House when the doors first opened in 2010. At MCH Courtney was first a Primary Guide in Tanager Meadow / part-time Administrative Assistant before starting and Guiding the Chickadee Grove Primary Community for 11 years.

When there was a need for a new Head of School in 2021, Courtney naturally progressed from the classroom to the office, bringing with her more than a decade of classroom leadership experience and her historical knowledge of MCH’s evolution over the years.

Courtney and her husband Mike are both avid outdoors-people, enjoying hiking and backpacking, skiing and snowboarding, and bicycling; they live in Milwaukie.  They are both active members of the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol and spend many weekends volunteering with MHSP; Courtney is an Alpine Patroller, Toboggan Trainer, Hill Captain, and also served as Secretary on the MHSP Executive Council from 2020-2024.  Courtney enjoys spending time gardening, exploring the great outdoors, cooking and baking delicious vegan food, snuggling and playing with her precious cats, listening to podcasts and audiobooks whilst doing chores, and reading.

Verónica

Verónica grew up as a Montessori child throughout different parts of Europe before moving to the States in her tween years. She drifted away from the world of Montessori as a teenager but found her love and appreciation for the method once more while attending college and working at a Montessori school in different capacities. She completed her AMI primary (3-6 years old) training from Montessori Northwest while concurrently completing her Masters in Education at Loyola University. After leading a primary classroom for a number of years, Verónica’s interests fixated on the younger children in her class, the 2.5 year olds. With the desire to attain more knowledge on their development and how to best assist them, she decided to partake in the creation in a toddler community and so also took her AMI A to I (0-3 years old) training at the Montessori Institute of San Diego. Having assisted and lead classrooms at both the toddler and primary level, she now finds her interests lie in mentoring of fellow Montessori guides and assistants as well as administration from a Montessori lens. 

Verónica is an outdoor enthusiast, an avid earring collector, and a wanderlust travel junkie who is passionate about environmental and social justice issues. In her free time she takes delight in hiking, swimming, baking, playing board games, is working on picking up knitting, and of course enjoys spending time with her cherished family, friends, and pets. 

Catherine

Catherine is a California native who fell in love with the PNW when she moved north to study psychology and child development at the University of Washington. It was there that she was introduced to Montessori philosophy and got her start in early education. Since that time her continued passion for child development has taken her across the ocean and back, working with many diverse families. Most recently, Catherine has spent three years working closely with the neuro-divergent community as a behavior interventionist, developing skills to help support learners with a wide variety of needs and sensory profiles. No matter the setting, getting to witness the wonder of growing and gaining independence is what makes Catherine look forward to coming to work every day.  

When not at school, you’re likely to find Catherine trying out a new local coffee shop, car camping along the Columbia with her partner, embroiled 7 hours deep into a DnD session with friends, or singing and playing guitar for her long-suffering audience of one, her cat, Fig. 

Dani

Danika (Dani) was born in Alpine, OR and grew up in Northern California. She always gravitated towards helping out her family with the younger children and wanted to be a teacher from a very young age. Dani has an AA in Behavioral and Social Sciences with a focus in Early Childhood Education as well as her Infant/Toddler Montessori Certification. Dani has been teaching in Montessori classrooms since 2011. She has worked as an assistant and lead guide in infant and toddler communities as well as assisting in primary communities.

Outside of work, Dani enjoys spending time outside with her husband (Duane) and their two sons (Riley and Sloan) camping, gardening, and exploring. She also loves a quiet day in snuggling with her 3 cats (Fig, Wren, and Smudge).

Morgan

Morgan (they/them) grew up in Portland, OR where they enjoyed everything the Pacific Northwest had to offer. They’ve always been drawn to the arts and could consistently be found painting, dancing, or playing pretend as a child.
Recently Morgan graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelors of Arts in both psychology and theatre arts. They have always known that they want to work with children, which has lead them to working as a theatre arts educator and camp counselor with a nonprofit children’s theatre in Eugene, OR. After moving back to Portland, Morgan got involved with Oregon Children’s Theatre where they teach in the evenings.

In their free time Morgan enjoys reading, sewing, gardening, and playing with their cats.

Dianna

Originally from the Sierra Nevada foothills in Northern California, Dianna moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2013. She holds a BA in Anthropology from California State University, Chico, and an M.Ed from Loyola University, Maryland. Dianna also earned her Association Montessori International (AMI) primary diploma (ages 3-6) from Washington Montessori Institute.

After many years working in Montessori school environments as both a lead guide for a primary classroom and an assistant for an elementary classroom, Dianna had two children of her own. Since returning to the workforce after the pandemic Dianna has been in administrative roles.

Outside of work, Dianna loves spending time with her husband, Alex, their children, Mia and James, and their two cats, Zelda and Apollo. She enjoys reading books, exploring nature, and baking with her children.

Jackie

Jackie was born in and spent their childhood in Washington County, Oregon. As the eldest of
seventeen grandchildren, they have had a lot of experience with kids, helping to take care of
and tutor their younger siblings and cousins over the years. In 2019, Jackie started attending
Portland State University, from which they received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in
Spanish through the PSU Honors College in 2022. During their time at PSU, they took multiple
classes on human development and education, leading them to find interest in alternative forms
of education. During their senior year at Portland State, they wrote a thesis on how and why
Montessori schooling impacts the way children develop communication skills. After completing
their degree, Jackie worked as a lead teacher in a small toddler classroom in a Corvallis
childcare center, and has now found themselves as part of the Montessori Children’s House community. They hope to become accredited in Montessori teaching at the primary level in the future.

When not in the classroom, Jackie likes to pursue their multiple hobbies. They love arts and
crafts, especially cross-stitch and drawing with graphite or pastels. They also love to read,
particularly enjoying books of essays or poems regarding gratitude, joy, and plants. Jackie also
loves to bake, listen to music, learn new things, and hang out with their friends, family, and cat
named Kevin.

Kaia

Originally from Southern Oregon, Kaia (she/they) attended Montessori school as a child and grew up exploring the natural outdoors and reading 24/7, rarely seen without a book in her hand. The oldest of several siblings, she has always loved young children and seeing their bright minds grow.

Kaia moved to Portland in 2021 to study at Lewis & Clark College and recently graduated with her BA in Political Science. During her time as an undergraduate student, she began to work in middle and elementary school education and came to realize that she wanted to work long-term with children. Inspired by her experience working with students, she is now pursuing her Master’s of Social Work at PSU, called to a career in which she can support children and youth through difficult times. She loves working with young children, especially, and is excited to return to her Montessori roots here at MCH.

In her free time, Kaia is a “big hobby person” who is constantly trying new things, especially sports. Recent pursuits have included boxing, figure skating, and fencing. An enthusiastic enjoyer of the outdoors, she loves hiking, yoga, and long-distance running. Besides sports, though, she also enjoys reading, sewing, gardening, and oil painting, and is often at home with her furry feline child, Gnocchi.

Mandi

Mandi grew up in Redwood Valley and then Galt California. She’s a life-long creative and a retro video game enthusiast. In her free time she studies Children’s Media and takes interest in what lessons are being taught in each franchise and how. She also has a special interest in learning about bugs and other strange creatures.

Mandi has a background in graphic design professionally, but has spent a serious amount of time working around and playing with kids through her previous employment at Learning Express and GameTruck. Her top priority is teaching empathy and emotional literacy, with a heaping helping of cool facts to inspire curiosity in the world around your child.

Courtney Walsh

Courtney grew up in Northeast and Northwest Washington state.  She participated in a variety of athletics and studied theatre and music through the end of college, beginning her work with children early on as a piano accompanist for children’s musical theatre, and then as a regular babysitter and nanny from when she was a teen through the end of grad school. She moved to Portland to attend Portland State University for her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, intending to pursue a career in mental health.  She unexpectedly learned about the Montessori philosophy in one of her early childhood development classes and was inspired to see the method in action.  After working as a Primary Assistant at West Hills Montessori in Portland for three years, she attended Montessori Northwest where she earned her AMI Primary Montessori Diploma and a Masters of Education from Loyola University Maryland. 

Courtney has been working with Montessori children and families in Portland for more than 20 years; she was a founding member of Montessori Children’s House when the doors first opened in 2010. At MCH Courtney was first a Primary Guide in Tanager Meadow / part-time Administrative Assistant before starting and Guiding the Chickadee Grove Primary Community for 11 years.

When there was a need for a new Head of School in 2021, Courtney naturally progressed from the classroom to the office, bringing with her more than a decade of classroom leadership experience and her historical knowledge of MCH’s evolution over the years.

Courtney and her husband Mike are both avid outdoors-people, enjoying hiking and backpacking, skiing and snowboarding, and bicycling; they live in Milwaukie.  They are both active members of the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol and spend many weekends volunteering with MHSP; Courtney is an Alpine Patroller, Toboggan Trainer, Hill Captain, and also served as Secretary on the MHSP Executive Council from 2020-2024.  Courtney enjoys spending time gardening, exploring the great outdoors, cooking and baking delicious vegan food, snuggling and playing with her precious cats, listening to podcasts and audiobooks whilst doing chores, and reading.

Kaci

Kaci grew up living on a small lake in Michigan, where she spent every possible day swimming, kayaking, or lounging out on the docks. Moving to Arizona, she continued her passion for childcare before finally making the leap to Portland, a place she had always wanted to live!

Since 2016, Kaci has been dedicated to education, starting at an in-home preschool and eventually becoming a lead Pre-K teacher in the public school system. Over the years, she has worked with children of all ages, directing before and after-care programs and serving as a paraeducator in elementary and middle schools!

Outside of school, Kaci enjoys walks with her dogs, paddling on the Willamette River, painting, and roller skating.

Being part of MCH is meaningful to Kaci because of its inclusive environment, where every child feels valued and supported—a value she holds dear.

Addi

Addi was born in Oklahoma, and moved to Portland in 2021. She has been working in childcare since she graduated high school in 2023! Addi has experience with every age group but she loves working with elementary aged children the most! She is going to school for a degree in early childhood/elementary education!

In her free time Addi enjoys family time, cuddling her pets, baking, and arts and crafts!

Karter

Karter is excited to join the MCH community as a Primary Assistant for PM Care to grow as an educator and support young children as they explore and discover the world around them. Karter recently moved to Portland from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their journey in education began with a fellowship program, where they were given the opportunity to channel their personal passion for expression through into educational practices. Karter has spent the last few years working as a teaching artist through a Pittsburgh community makerspace, leading STEAM hands-on and play-based activities for children of all ages in school and afterschool programs. Karter is happy be a part of a Montessori environment, since they grew up attending Montessori, which helped shape them into the person they are today (full circle moment)! In Karter’s free time, they create mixed media art, spend time with friends & their calico cat (named Spellster), and enjoy nature.

Catherine

Catherine is a California native who fell in love with the PNW when she moved north to study psychology and child development at the University of Washington. It was there that she was introduced to Montessori philosophy and got her start in early education. Since that time her continued passion for child development has taken her across the ocean and back, working with many diverse families. Most recently, Catherine has spent three years working closely with the neuro-divergent community as a behavior interventionist, developing skills to help support learners with a wide variety of needs and sensory profiles. No matter the setting, getting to witness the wonder of growing and gaining independence is what makes Catherine look forward to coming to work every day.  

When not at school, you’re likely to find Catherine trying out a new local coffee shop, car camping along the Columbia with her partner, embroiled 7 hours deep into a DnD session with friends, or singing and playing guitar for her long-suffering audience of one, her cat, Fig. 

Mandi

Mandi grew up in Redwood Valley and then Galt California. She’s a life-long creative and a retro video game enthusiast. In her free time she studies Children’s Media and takes interest in what lessons are being taught in each franchise and how. She also has a special interest in learning about bugs and other strange creatures.

Mandi has a background in graphic design professionally, but has spent a serious amount of time working around and playing with kids through her previous employment at Learning Express and GameTruck. Her top priority is teaching empathy and emotional literacy, with a heaping helping of cool facts to inspire curiosity in the world around your child.

Karter

Karter is excited to join the MCH community as a Primary Assistant for PM Care to grow as an educator and support young children as they explore and discover the world around them. Karter recently moved to Portland from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their journey in education began with a fellowship program, where they were given the opportunity to channel their personal passion for expression through into educational practices. Karter has spent the last few years working as a teaching artist through a Pittsburgh community makerspace, leading STEAM hands-on and play-based activities for children of all ages in school and afterschool programs. Karter is happy be a part of a Montessori environment, since they grew up attending Montessori, which helped shape them into the person they are today (full circle moment)! In Karter’s free time, they create mixed media art, spend time with friends & their calico cat (named Spellster), and enjoy nature.

Mikaela

Mikaela was born and raised in Colorado, where she grew up skiing, playing soccer, crafting, and exploring the outdoors. Mikaela has always loved kids, even when she was a kid, and she started babysitting and nannying as soon as her own grown-ups would allow her to. She took a brief hiatus from childcare to attend Reed College, where she worked in the Admission Office and read books for four years instead. After she graduated in 2017 with a degree in anthropology, this love of working with children brought her back to nannying, and she started working for a family that she still works with today. She also spent several years running summer camps with Portland Parks and Rec, reading and evaluating college applications for Reed, and babysitting for families all over the city. 

Through these families she was introduced to Montessori pedagogy, which aligns with Mikaela’s own values and beliefs about children. She is passionate about respecting children as whole, developing individuals, and she especially values that Montessori is child-led. After years of working with children who attended Montessori preschools in their homes, she was excited about the opportunity to join Montessori Children’s House as an Assistant in the Heron Cove Toddler Community during the 2021-22 school year. Beginning in Summer 2022, she was ecstatic to re-open the second Toddler Community at MCH, Hummingbird Garden. A trained Assistance to Infancy (0-3) Montessori Guide, certified through the North American Montessori Center, Mikaela is passionate about her own continuing education and professional development. She, alongside the children, hopes to never stop learning. 

Outside of the classroom Mikaela is an artist, throwing ceramics, painting, and working with different craft mediums. She loves plants, animals, and insects. She enjoys watching women’s soccer, cooking, and playing with her puppy, Bamuel Buckets.

Izzy

Originally from sunny Florida, Izzy moved to Portland in 2020 and has fully embraced the city’s vibrant community and eclectic spirit. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL, where she developed a deep understanding of human behavior and communication. Her diverse career has spanned several industries, including business development, freelance web design, and event coordination and production.

Izzy’s passion for education was sparked at the Orlando Science Center, where she developed STEM-based curricula for preschool through grade 6 campers. This experience fueled her enthusiasm for interest-based learning, leading to her role as a private educator.

She is a proud co-founder of Running Wild PDX, an inclusive afterschool running program with the goal of promoting physical and social skills for kids both neurodivergent and neurotypical. Outside of her professional life, she thrives in the kitchen, frequently experimenting with recipes and cooking methods. She and her partner take great pleasure in DJing together and hosting themed events for friends and family.

Amulet

Amulet was born and raised in Portland Oregon. Early childhood development has delighted and fascinated them since they themselves were in a stroller and the interest has only grown with time. Passionate about music, art and other forms of self expression Amulet is committed to meeting children where they are and supporting their individual interests and needs. Amulet is returning to childcare after a four year break (due to the pandemic) and is excited to be working in the Hummingbird Garden as part of the Toddler Community.

Outside of work Amulet is learning Italian, spending time with two siblings, listening to live music, scrapbooking with friends, solving puzzles, and working on personal passion projects in a wide variety of mediums.

Eli

Eli grew up in Portland, Oregon and has lived here all his life besides a brief journey to Iowa to receive his BA from Cornell College. After returning to the city, he began working in education in all sorts of aspects. Teaching preschool, coaching cross country, running circus camp, Eli has spent his time using play as a resource for learning. Most recently, Eli has come to Montessori Children’s House from MESD’s Outdoor School program as a specific needs coordinator. In his spare time he enjoys biking, board games, and reading in local coffee shops.

Tyne

Tyne was born in Montana. Her father joined the military when she was in 2nd grade and she spent much of her childhood traveling to different states and countries. Her junior year in High School she moved to Maryland where she fell in love! She became engaged her senior year of high school and after graduating, she and her fiance, Joel, moved to New Mexico to attend college. In 2005 she graduated from the University of New Mexico with a BA in History and a minor in English. After finishing college, Tyne started working at a Montessori school in Albuquerque where she began her career working with Toddlers. In 2006 her older son Porter was born and just 2 years later her younger son Mason was born. In 2010 her family moved to Hawaii for her husband’s job and Tyne soon started working with Toddlers at a Montessori school in Kailua. In 2014 she had the opportunity to obtain her  Montessori  training at the Assistants to Infancy level for ages 0-3 here in Portland at the Montessori Northwest training center. Soon after graduating from the program in 2015, Tyne and her family relocated to Portland to be closer to Tyne’s family who live outside of Tacoma, WA. Tyne spent 3 years working at Sunstone Montessori School as an Assistant Guide in the Toddler program and 4 years working at Childpeace Montessori in the Toddler Community. Tyne has many hobbies including knitting, jewelry making, rehabbing plants, and thrifting. She loves to spend her off time with her family, cats, and exploring areas of Oregon. 

Zizi

Zizi grew up in Iraq and lived in Egypt for a few years before moving to the US when she was 7. She has lived here in Oregon ever since. Outside of work Zizi enjoys hiking with her cute dog as well as cozy days inside with her cuddly kitty. She also enjoys art, video games, and binge watching New Girl. Zizi is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Education and is set to hopefully graduate in two years time.

Sophia

Sophia is the new Toddler PM Care assistant as well as an assistant in Heron Cove. She recently obtained her degree in Environmental Studies from Reed College. Caring for the environment and creating more sustainable practices are passions of Sophia. She comes to MCH having run summer camps multiple years and with a wide range of age groups. In her free time Sophia enjoys to hike, bike, swim, craft, and cook. She is very excited to have joined the MCH community.

Pilar

Pilar grew up in Lima, Peru, and currently lives in Portland where she enjoyed the harmonious blend of urban amenities and natural beauty. She comes from a social work background which she used in Peru to work for many years at an orphanage. In Portland, she worked with infants and toddlers and as Spanish instructional assistant for kindergarten. In her free time, she enjoys walking, listening to bossa nova music, watching soccer, and being in the sunshine. She joined the Toddler PM Care Community this fall.

Catherine

Catherine is a California native who fell in love with the PNW when she moved north to study psychology and child development at the University of Washington. It was there that she was introduced to Montessori philosophy and got her start in early education. Since that time her continued passion for child development has taken her across the ocean and back, working with many diverse families. Most recently, Catherine has spent three years working closely with the neuro-divergent community as a behavior interventionist, developing skills to help support learners with a wide variety of needs and sensory profiles. No matter the setting, getting to witness the wonder of growing and gaining independence is what makes Catherine look forward to coming to work every day.  

When not at school, you’re likely to find Catherine trying out a new local coffee shop, car camping along the Columbia with her partner, embroiled 7 hours deep into a DnD session with friends, or singing and playing guitar for her long-suffering audience of one, her cat, Fig. 

Sophia

Sophia is the new Toddler PM Care assistant as well as an assistant in Heron Cove. She recently obtained her degree in Environmental Studies from Reed College. Caring for the environment and creating more sustainable practices are passions of Sophia. She comes to MCH having run summer camps multiple years and with a wide range of age groups. In her free time Sophia enjoys to hike, bike, swim, craft, and cook. She is very excited to have joined the MCH community.

Pilar

Pilar grew up in Lima, Peru, and currently lives in Portland where she enjoyed the harmonious blend of urban amenities and natural beauty. She comes from a social work background which she used in Peru to work for many years at an orphanage. In Portland, she worked with infants and toddlers and as Spanish instructional assistant for kindergarten. In her free time, she enjoys walking, listening to bossa nova music, watching soccer, and being in the sunshine. She joined the Toddler PM Care Community this fall.

Eli

Eli grew up in Portland, Oregon and has lived here all his life besides a brief journey to Iowa to receive his BA from Cornell College. After returning to the city, he began working in education in all sorts of aspects. Teaching preschool, coaching cross country, running circus camp, Eli has spent his time using play as a resource for learning. Most recently, Eli has come to Montessori Children’s House from MESD’s Outdoor School program as a specific needs coordinator. In his spare time he enjoys biking, board games, and reading in local coffee shops.

Sasha

Sasha grew up attending her local Montessori school in southwest Indiana. Her seven years in the primary and elementary classrooms sparked her love of music, literacy, and learning, and being surrounded by a supportive community influenced her desire to create similarly nurturing environments for others. After graduating from Beloit College with a BA in Japanese Language and Culture and a minor in English, Sasha returned to her Montessori roots and supported in primary and elementary classrooms as well as taught in the after care/summer program at a Montessori school in Eastern Tennessee. She moved to Portland in 2024 to explore the West Coast and earn her AMI Primary Diploma through Montessori Northwest, which she completed in 2025. She is currently working on her Masters in Education through Whitworth University. Outside of the classroom, Sasha enjoys a variety of hobbies including reading, hiking, and board games. Music and dance is integral to her. She is a budding pianist, a lover of singing, and has been a cellist since she was in first grade. Through her experiences abroad, she learned yatose, a high energy, Japanese, community dance that pairs traditional Japanese dance movements and folk songs with modern musical arrangements.

Ryan

Rest in peace, our dear friend. You will always be a part of our community!

Ryan graduated in 2009 with a BA in Elementary Education with a focus on kindergarten and 1st grade. He has taught 1st, 4th, and 5th grade all at the public level. Ryan also taught English in Haiti, while living at an Orphanage in Mirebalais Haiti. He stumbled across the Montessori teaching method and fell in love with working with children using this teaching method/lifestyle. Ryan has been a Toddler Guide in the past and loves getting to assist in the classroom setting. Ryan transitioned rom working with the Toddler age group to the Primary age group at MCH in 2020 .

Ryan grew up the oldest of three boys in a small town in Oregon. His father immigrated from England at a young age and, because of this, a lot of Ryan’s family traditions are based in English tradition, including the fact that he has multiple middle names. Ryan’s family is very close and they enjoy holidays together as well as vacationing together.

Through the years of working with children in the Montessori setting Ryan has made the decision to get his Montessori training. He is excited to further his education and understanding of the Montessori teaching method.

David