EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Debra is the Executive Director of the Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute.

Debra was the lead Montessori primary teacher at Felician Children’s Center in Jackson, Michigan. Debra has been a Montessori teacher for over 40 years, beginning in Montessori in 1980. In addition, Debra was an adjunct faculty member in Early Childhood Education at Siena Heights University for 20 years. Debra was an instructor for 25 years teaching Practical Life and Mathematics for the Montessori Teacher Academy in Mishawaka, Indiana. Debra has been an instructor and faculty member at ADMTEI since its inception in 1991. Debra is passionate about Montessori, her family, and lake living.

Debra received her Master’s degree in Elementary Education, her Bachelor’s degree in English, and her Michigan Elementary Certification (K-9) from Siena Heights University. She received her AMS Early Childhood Credential from the Northeast Montessori Teacher Education Center in Boston, Massachusetts. As part of her Master’s thesis, Debra created the Extended Day Kindergarten program at St. Joseph Academy Montessori Children’s House in 1985. Debra has had numerous articles published in Montessori Life magazine.

Debra is a speaker and presenter at national and regional workshops and conferences. She is a guest lecturer for both Montessori and public school parent and teacher meetings. Debra and her husband are owners of the Montessori4Life Materials Company, designing food preparation kits.

Debra is a member of the American Montessori Society, the Michigan Montessori Society, Cincinnati Montessori Society, the United Montessori Schools of Indiana and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Shanna Lacey is Administrative Assistant at Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute. She handles incoming requests for information, processes applications, tracks tuition payments and assists faculty with class materials.

INSTRUCTOR

Teneka is entering her 25th year as a Montessorian. In 2015, she began Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute’s Primary teacher training, completing her student internship at Doughty Montessori School in Ann Arbor, where she is currently serving students and families as a teacher. The Doughty community reflects the values she holds dear, which include respecting the child’s developing potential while striving to create a peaceful learning environment that sparks a lifelong love of learning.

In addition to teaching young children, Teneka has worked as a Nurturing Parenting Educator for Spanish speaking parents, teenage parents, formerly incarcerated parents, and parents with limited resources. She has also coordinated/ facilitated educational support programs to educate families about mental health and support resources available in our community.

She is the proud mother of 1 daughter and 2 sons, and her favorite things to do include reading, hiking, and yoga.

Teneka is the program instructor for Social Studies/Geography.

INSTRUCTOR

Pamela Esterline holds an MA in Early Childhood Education from Siena Heights University and a BS in General Science from Eastern Michigan University. As part of her Master’s thesis, she designed an early childhood science curriculum. She taught math and science in the public schools with a Michigan Secondary Teaching Certificate. She received her AMS Early Childhood Credential in 1983. Pam worked as a head teacher at the Montessori Children’s House in Adrian, Michigan since 1985 and as a director from 1999 to 2012.

Pam joined the ADMTEI staff in 1991 and has taught sensorial, philosophy, peace education, and science. She also has been an instructor at Bowling Green Montessori Education Program and at Indiana University South Bend Montessori Teacher Academy. Pam is a member of the American Montessori Society and Michigan Montessori Society. She is past commissioner for the AMS Accreditation Commission. She continues to do accreditation on-site visits for AMS.

Pam enjoys spending time with her two children and their families, including her four grandchildren. She enjoys reading, belongs to several book clubs, is an avid yoga practitioner, and loves to hike and kayak. She volunteers at the library, is a member of the Friends of the Library, and is a trustee on her local Library Board.

INSTRUCTOR

Theresa holds a BS in Elementary Education from the College of Mount St. Joseph (now Mount St. Joseph University). Theresa is a 1995 graduate of the Adrian Dominican Montessori Teacher Education Institute.

Theresa taught Montessori pre-primary aged children at the Brighton Montessori School in Brighton, Michigan where she was the head teacher. She teaches the language, music and movement curriculum for ADMTEI. Theresa is a member of the American Montessori Society and is a board member of the Michigan Montessori Society.

She has been married to her husband for 40 years and has 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. “My favorite way to spend my free time is with my grandchildren. They make me laugh and give me another opportunity to see the Montessori philosophy in action. It is wonderful to see the next generation appreciate the gift of Montessori.” The rest of her spare time is spent knitting, crocheting, sewing, reading, and volunteering.

INSTRUCTOR

Hannah Cousino received a BA in anthropology from the University of Notre Dame in 2002 and her AMS Early Childhood Credential from ADMTEI in 2011. She had learned about (and loved!) Montessori before being certified, and self-taught herself enough to homeschool her three young children using Montessori methods for four years. She was then officially trained at ADMTEI, and taught preschool at Daycroft Montessori School in Ann Arbor until her fourth child was born in 2014. She went back to homeschooling until her youngest was old enough to attend preschool at Daycroft and was then employed there as a Parent-Toddler teacher, with long-term substitute positions in both the Kindergarten classroom and as the Learning Resource Specialist. She has accepted the job of full-time Learning Resource Specialist for the 2018-2019 school year. This will be her first year teaching philosophy for ADMTEI.

Hannah enjoys running and doing triathlons with her husband and children, and often gleans wisdom from books on parenting and teaching.

INSTRUCTOR

With over twenty years of experience as a Montessori teacher, Sherry has owned and operated the very successful Doughty Montessori School in Ann Arbor, Michigan since 1995.

Partnering with ADMTEI, Sherry has mentored countless Montessori teacher education students as they work towards completing their practicum requirement in a safe, loving, and nurturing environment.

Sherry has been involved in Montessori teacher education, presenting workshops and mini-courses for the American Montessori Society in the areas of administration and community building. Sherry teaches classroom administration for ADMTEI.

INSTRUCTOR

Erin Compton received a BS in Early Childhood Education from Michigan State University in 1999, with an emphasis in Psychology and Child Development. Erin is a 2000 graduate of the Adrian Dominican Montessori Teacher Education Institute.

Erin worked at Stepping Stones Montessori School in East Lansing from

1996 to 2016, where she taught in a primary classroom. For the last 2 years (2017-2018) she has worked at Radmoor Montessori School in Okemos, Michigan.

Erin will be teaching science and family involvement for ADMTEI. Erin is a member of American Montessori Society and Michigan Montessori Society.

Erin lives in East Lansing, Michigan with her husband, who works for MSU, and her 2 children. She enjoys taking her dog Hazel on daily walks, camping with her family, playing card/board games, crafting, bird watching, gardening, and spending as much time outside as possible.

Erin is excited to share her love of Montessori with the ADMTEI students this year.

INSTRUCTOR

Noel received her BA in Psychology from Kenyon College in 1988. She then went to earn her MAT in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1990. Noel is a 2019 graduate of ADMTEI and is also a member of AMS and the Michigan Montessori Society.

Noel taught for 8 years in the public school until she took time off to raise her children. During that time, she taught part time in the Education department of the Toledo Zoo and facilitated a summer camp collaboration between the Zoo and Bowling Green State University for gifted students.

Noel currently is the lead teacher of the Readiness program (PreK/K) at Lial Catholic School in Whitehouse, Ohio. She has been on the faculty since 2007.

Noel lives in Monclova, Ohio with her husband. She has 2 adult children. She enjoys daily walks with her dog, spending time with family and friends, reading, Bible study groups, being outside and traveling whenever possible. She also sing with the Perrysburg Chorale.

Noel is currently an instructor with AMTEI for Child Development and Music/Movement.