Melinda Nielsen, Elementary Directress
Melinda Nielsen has been teaching in the Montessori environment for nearly 28 years. Twenty four years ago she founded Bay Area Montessori House with Tommie Hebert and currently serves as the Curriculum Administrator. Melinda is a diploma holder at both the Primary (Washington Montessori Institute 1984) and Elementary (Montessori Institute of Milwaukee 1997) levels. She is very active in the Montessori community working on several AMI/USA committees, on- site coordinator for AMI Refresher courses and visiting schools as an AMI Consultant. As a practitioner, Melinda strongly believes in Dr. Montessori’s plan for the elementary child of Cosmic Education. She has fostered an extensive “Going Out” program along with integrating all subjects, including the arts into the classroom. In addition, Melinda served on the AMI/USA board of directors for six years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Texas A&M University. In her spare time Melinda enjoys all kinds of fiber arts, reading, visiting art museums, ringing hand bells, archeology and exploring new environments.
Marybel Slebodnik, Spanish Teacher/Kitchen Manager
Marybel Slebodnilk joined the Bay Area Montessori House Family in the summer of 2011. In addition to managing our Kitchen daily, Mrs. Slebodnik visits each Primary classroom once a week to teach the children Spanish. She graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and comes to us with fifteen years experience as a Teacher's Assistant, fluently speaking, writing, and reading Spanish. Most recently, she served as a Teacher Assistant and Clerical Assistant at Northline Elementary in Houston. Mrs. Slebodnik is married with beautiful twin girls.
Bridget Schuler, Primary Classroom Assistant
Mrs. Bridget Schuler joined the family at BAMH in August 2011. She holds a diploma in Primary from Montessori Education Programs International and finished her AMI Elementary Montessori training in August 2011. Mrs. Schuler will complete her M.Ed. in Montessori Education at Loyola College in August 2012.
Before beginning her teaching career, Mrs. Schuler earned her B.S. in Business Management from California State University at Northridge and worked as both a Human Resources Manager and Area Training Manager for an internationally recognized food services company in their Sports & Entertainment division.
Mrs. Schuler enjoys volunteering with the children's program at her church as well as volunteering in her community and spending time with her husband and two children.