Our Teachers

DIRECTOR

Heidi’s passion for Montessori Education came to her after teaching Public Elementary School for 10 years. For many years she searched for ways to connect deeper with her students. She founded Cedarwood Homeschool in Fall 2013, and this marked the beginning of her reorientation toward education. Cedarwood provided Heidi the opportunity to work with children in small groups and individually, and even hold class outside. The pace was dramatically different than that of the traditional/conventional classroom - she began to notice a certain calmness that changed the ways her students experienced learning.

Heidi was initially inspired to experiment with Waldorf curriculum, which emphasizes storytelling, singing, dancing and even baking with children of all ages. However, after being exposed to the Montessori classroom, she realized the structure itself was a more ideal environment that combined enough academic structure and individual freedom.

With almost 20 years of working with children, a WA Teaching Credential and AMS Certification, Heidi feels blessed to have found her true passion.

UPPER ELEMENTARY LEAD TEACHER

Morgan (she/her) is excited to join the Fiddlehead team this year as the Upper Elementary Lead Teacher.  

Morgan began her teaching career in 2008 when she took a year off from college to teach elementary English in rural France.  Since then she has led classes at the French American School of Puget Sound, the University of Washington, and Seattle Public Schools.  She has a certificate in Education for Environment and Community from Islandwood as well as her Masters of Education from the University of Washington. 

Morgan attended Montessori as a preschooler and rediscovered the philosophy when her own daughter started school at a local Montessori. Morgan just completed her first summer of Montessori training at the Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest and her daughter will be joining the fiddlehead community as well in our early childhood program.

Outside of school, Morgan enjoys being a mom, watercolors, knitting, traveling, swimming in fresh and salty bodies of water, snowboarding, writing, and building community.

LOWER ELEMENTARY LEAD TEACHER

Teacher Melody (she/her) is excited to join our learning community as our Lower Elementary teacher. She brings her enthusiasm for learning to Fiddlehead in her belief that The Universe is our classroom, learning is everywhere and comes from everyone. Homeschooling her children and teaching at a local homeschool cooperative, Melody later transitioned to public school working with students with special needs and as a substitute teacher. A student of psychology with a Masters in Elementary Education Melody was delighted to discover many of the educational journeys she intuitively took with her own children and her students aligned with her Montessori training.

Living in the Pacific Northwest since 2000, Melody still doesn’t own an umbrella. She and her children enjoy night kayaking to see the bioluminescence, hiking, biking, and house projects. They hope to build a greenhouse soon.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LEAD TEACHER

Beck (she/they) has a passion for the outdoors and has worked for over a decade with young children in different informal outdoor and formal educational settings. Beck's curiosity about the workings of life and nature were spurred on through their own Montessori journey as a child, which led to studying biology and the environment in college. After teaching environmental education to all ages for many years, working in a Montessori classroom feels like coming home. Beck firmly believes that children are already experts in their own lives, that students are the drivers of their learning, and we make meaning of the world by constructing knowledge through our senses.

Beck enjoys traveling, music, hiking and camping, easy backyard bird watching, gardening, drawing comics and making art.

Beck holds a B.S. in Biology from Guilford College and a Masters in Education (Science Curriculum and Instruction) from the University of Washington.

LOWER ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT TEACHER

Jack is so excited to be joining the Fiddlehead Community as the Lower Elementary assistant teacher this year! As a Montessori certified Primary (Early Childhood) teacher, Jack is looking forward to bringing his years of experience with younger children to his work in the Lower El classroom. Jack has been passionate about Montessori education since he studied Montessori’s educational philosophy in college. Like Montessori, he believes that children learn best in an environment that supports their needs and interests, and allows for children’s intrinsic motivation to drive the learning process. He also believes in the power of education to bring about the social progress that can lead us to a more peaceful and harmonious world. Jack has always been fascinated by exploring the history of the Universe, and can’t wait to share his passion for knowledge and learning with the Lower El students.

When he’s not working with children, Jack enjoys reading, walking his Bengal cats Pippin and Spiri, playing tabletop games, and consuming the latest sci/fi fantasy content. He is also proud to be enjoying his first year of married life; he wed Kayla—his high-school sweetheart and partner of over 13 years—in September.

UPPER ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT TEACHER

Kayla (she/her) is happy to be the Upper Elementary Assistant Teacher this year! This is her 4th year working in Montessori Elementary classrooms. She obtained her certificate of Montessori Assistant Training in 2021 from Montessori Northwest. She is also certified in Montessori Movement through Montessori Wellness, and has taught PE to Montessori students for the last three years.  She has a Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and a double minor in Psychology and Dance from Western Washington University.  

Kayla believes that children are our future, and that through Montessori education and their intrinsic drive to learn, children can bring peace, awareness, and change to our world.

Outside of the Montessori environment, Kayla enjoys teaching dance, walking her two Bengal cats, Pippin & Spiri, spending time with family, traveling, and cherishing married life with her husband, Jack. 

EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSISTANT TEACHER

Lissett is more than excited to be a part of the Fiddlehead Montessori community. She has over 10 years of experience with children. She has been a nanny, shadow for students, tutor and teacher assistant. Lissett holds a B.A in Psychology, this has helped her gain insight knowledge to help children thrive. Her philosophy when working as a nanny was to allow the children to grow their minds with a healthy balance of nature and nurture. To create their own world with encouragement of learning and exploring through play and social interactions. Now as a Montessori Assistant Teacher she hopes to bring the same philosophy to the class.

Lissett enjoys lazy days watching the rain, surrounding herself with outdoor activities, reading, creating children’s books, spending time with family and friends, biking and cooking.

Recently, Lissett moved to Washington State to give her and her family a better lifestyle. She is excited about exploring a new environment, a new job and new opportunities.

EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSISTANT TEACHER

Cristi has over 25 years experience with young children and early learning. She is very happy to be part of the Fiddlehead preschool program and describes it as “her happy place”!

She has spent many years working in our community with local programs for children and families. As well as teaching parenting classes through the Anacortes School District. She has been an American Red Cross volunteer and a school district volunteer.

She has 4 grown children and 6 grandchildren that she loves spending time with.

She is looking forward to working and getting to know your children.