Nido |
|
|
|
Jeanette Kania, Nido Guide A.A. Science & Arts, Early Childhood emphasis The Children's House experience (2015- present)
Jeanette has been working with children for over ten years having previously worked as a nanny for a few families in Traverse City. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, volunteering at the Old Town Playhouse, practicing Spanish and German, and camping with her husband and their rambunctious dog, Powell. |
Young Children's Community |
|
|
|
Agnes Woynarowski, YCC Guide B.S. Krakow University, economics Agnes@traversechildrenshouse.org Agnes and her husband live on a farm with Icelandic sheep, Nubian goats, chickens, ducks, peacocks, two dogs, three cats and a tortoise. She loves reading mystery stories and classic literature. She is interested in art and history, especially in how people used to live a long time ago. She strives to preserve forgotten skills such as spinning wool and making soaps pioneer style. She likes baking and working in her flower garden. |
|
|
Annie Botsford, YCC Guide AMI Assistance to Infancy Diploma, Montessori Northwest, Portland, OR The Children's House experience (2018- present): Annie@traversechildrenshouse.org Annie has worked at The Children’s House since the spring of 2018. When she is not at school, Annie enjoys traveling, running, reading, cooking, and spending time with her dog, Willow. Annie was born and raised in Traverse City but spent time living in the Upper Peninsula and Georgia before returning to the area in 2018. She also spent a summer in Portland Oregon, where she completed her Montessori training in 2021. Annie has been a guide in both the Nido and Young Children’s Community and continues to be very passionate about the first three years of life. |
 |
Betsy Bloomquist, YCC Guide Elgin Community College and NW Michigan College The Children's House experience (2001- present) Betsy@traversechildrenshouse.org Betsy has always loved interactions with toddlers and started babysitting at a young age. Betsy has been a part of The Children’s House family for over 20 years, as a consistent and positive role model to our Young Children’s Community. She feels fortunate to belong to the TCH community as an employee and a parent. Betsy loves spending time with her children, Eva, Estelle and Ephrem, at the beach, at the park and dancing in the living room! Betsy also enjoys running. |
Primary |
|
|
|
Alison Breithaupt, Primary Guide
Alison@traversechildrenshouse.org Alison is a native of Traverse City. She knew when she graduated from college and met her husband, Eric, this is where she wanted to stay to raise her family. She enjoys all of the outside amenities this area has to offer. Alison has three sons who have all attended The Children's House and feels so fortunate to have found the Montessori philosophy and this school. It has played a big part in her life as an educator and a mom. |
 |
Chelsea Seals, Primary Guide B.A. Alma College, Elementary Education and Early Childhood Development AMS Montessori Primary Certification, Center for Montessori Teacher Education, Charlotte, NC Chelsea@traversechildrenshouse.org I was born and raised in Traverse City and then moved away to complete my B.A. and Montessori training. After meeting my husband and getting married, life took us from coast to coast and back again. We have spent the last six years living in Ohio and made the jump this summer to move back to the Traverse City area. It has been such a gift recreating our favorite memories here with our three children - Avery, Piper, and Ollie. As this next chapter unfolds, we are elated to be a part of The Children’s House family. |
|
|
Kristi Johnson, Primary Guide AMI Montessori Primary Certification, Montessori Training Center North East (MTCNE), Hartford, Connecticut The Children's House experience (2023- present): Kristi@traversechildrenshouse.org Kristi has been in Montessori for six years, with three years of experience as a Lead Guide. Kristi recently moved to Michigan in the summer of 2023 from Massachusetts. Prior to her time in New England, Kristi grew up in South Carolina and Georgia. She enjoys backpacking, mountains, flyfishing, thrifting, and playing board games with her partner Taylor Vancil, and their son Steven. |
|
|
Megan Fellows, Primary Guide B.S. Boston University, Early Childhood Education Megan@traversechildrenshouse.org Megan spent her childhood moving around South America and spending summers in Suttons Bay. She enjoys speaking Spanish, cooking, and practicing yoga. Megan moved to Traverse City in June 2016 and has enjoyed getting to know the area with her Daschund Terrier, Molly. |
|
|
Taylor Vancil, Primary Guide AMI Primary Diploma, Montessori Training Center North East (MTCNE), Hartford, Connecticut The Children's House experience (2014- present): Taylor@traversechildrenshouse.org Taylor graduated from Florida State University in December of 2012 with a degree in Social Sciences. During her time at FSU she played on the Seminoles nationally-ranked soccer team. In her time away from TCH she enjoys spending as much time as she can hiking, kayaking, or road-tripping to the Upper Peninsula. |
Lower Elementary |
|
|
|
Jaime Janiszewski, Lower Elementary Guide AMI Montessori Elementary Certification, Montessori Institute of North Texas The Children’s House Experience: (2020 – present): jaime@traversechildrenshouse.org Jaime is a part of the TCH community as a parent and teacher. She enjoys spending time with her children, Mollie and Maxon, her husband, Ed, her basset hounds, Maria and Wanda, and her cat Bella. She loves exploring Northern Michigan and its abundant beauty on hikes, at the beach, camping, and riding bikes. Jaime enjoys improv, theatre, learning new things, and documentaries. She also delights in a good book and a cup of tea. |
|
|
Sandra Besselsen, Lower Elementary Guide B.S., Hope College, Education-Language Arts Composite The Children’s House experience (2016-present) Sandra@traversechildrenshouse.org Sandra has been a part of the school community as both a parent and teacher. She feels privileged to work in a community that I have valued as a part of our family for so many years. Before beginning her work at The Children's House, Sandra was Director of Libraries at Interlochen Center for the Arts for 6 years and the K-12 Librarian at Glen Lake Schools for 3. When she is not at work, she loves spending time working in her yard, cooking for friends and family, playing games, taking camping trips in the summer and just goofing around! |
Upper Elementary |
|
|
|
Jamie Schaub, Upper Elementary Guide B.A. Kalamazoo College, psychology and art The Children’s House experience (2012-present) Jamie@traversechildrenshouse.org Jamie is a lifelong learner choosing to spend her moments dabbling in new art projects, reading books about other cultures, writing poetry in new forms, growing her own food and trying new recipes, picking up new instruments and sports and experimenting with woodworking. She enjoys acquiring new skills and continuing to learn while making time to get outside and enjoy this beautiful place she calls home. |
|
|
Karin Church, Upper Elementary Guide B.A. University of California at Davis, French, International Relations J.D. Boston University School of Law Karin@traversechildrenshouse.org Karin enjoys spending time with her two children, Marguerite and Nicolas, her husband, Bill, and dog, Beckham, especially on great swimming days at Elberta Beach. She also loves to go on long, slow runs, ride her bike on the TART trail, read good books, hike Pyramid Point and discover new campgrounds around Michigan. |
Compass Junior High |
|
 |
Kristina Weidenfeller, Junior High Guide B.A. Michigan State University, Special Education K-12 Kristina@traversechildrenshouse.org Kristina has been a parent at TCH since 2006, and an employee since 2009. She has had many roles during her tenure; room parent, summer yoga instructor, coach, Kitchen Classroom, Earth to Table, and Junior High Guide. She enjoys time with her family, outdoor sports of all seasons, reading, and new adventures. Kristina appreciates that TCH community provides so many opportunities for not only students to explore and share their interests, but adults are encouraged to as well. |
 |
Treenen Sturman, Junior High Guide B.A. College of the Atlantic, Maine, Human Ecology Treenen@traversechildrenshouse.org Tree started his career in environmental education and conservation, working for non-profit organizations in his native New York City, then Chicago, central Vermont, and, finally, Northern Michigan. The son and grandson of teachers and principals, Tree has had a passion for education going back to his first internship on the lower Hudson River. Shortly after moving to Traverse City, Tree was invited to join in the development of the Children's House Jr. High program. Co-founding and collaborating on Compass Montessori's innovative curriculum has been the culmination of a lifelong dream, which continues to inspire him each and every day. When he is not teaching, Tree enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, rock hounding, hiking, cooking, and sampling as many kinds of cheese as his travels (and the US Postal Service) can provide! |
