Kelly Libby Head of School

After moving from Vermont in 2018, Kelly joined Children’s House as the Head of School. She earned her B.A. at Trinity College of Vermont, and her AMI Administrator’s Certificate through the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies.  Previously, she was employed for nearly 18 years at a private school that served children from six weeks old through eighth grade located on several campuses in central Vermont. She loves being at Children’s House and working with the parents, staff members, and the children. Outside of school, she spends a lot of time with her family, and enjoys visits back up north when there’s time to get there.  She lives in Orange City with her daughter and son.

Kaitlyn Moore Head Teacher

Kaitlyn joined Children’s House in October of 2023 as a Toddler Assistant Teacher.  In August of 2025, she stepped into the Head Toddler Teacher role.  She now lives in DeLeon Springs with her husband, daughter, and their four-legged, furry child Creed.  Kaitlyn loves being a part of the Children’s House community.  Watching the toddlers accomplish such big tasks is her favorite part of being here.  She loves that we are a close-knit community where everyone knows each other.  Outside of school, Kaitlyn and her family love to spend time outside fishing, hunting, and just having fun together. 

Taquisha Burgos Assistant Teacher

While visiting from Puerto Rico, Taquisha started at Children’s House as a volunteer. She then started working in the After School Program before taking a position in our Toddler Classroom. She speaks to the children in Spanish a lot which is such a valuable tool in their language learning!

Taylor Hale Assistant Teacher After School Teacher

Taylor started working at Children’s House in August of 2026. She really enjoys working with the Toddlers! They make her laugh every day. In her free time, she spends as much time outside with her son as she can.

Amy Stam Head Teacher

Amy is a teacher in one of our two primary classrooms. She earned a B.S. degree in Anthropology with a minor in Health Science. In 2007, Amy began at Children’s House working in both the outdoor environment and the primary classroom as an Assistant Teacher, and is now a Head Teacher. She earned her AMI certification from the Houston Montessori Institute. She resides in DeLand and has a daughter, who attended Children’s House from Primary through Eighth Grade. Amy loves having the opportunity to work with the children here at school each day. Outside school, she enjoys camping, hiking, gardening and finding new materials to enhance her classroom.

Cory Austin Teaching Assistant

A DeLand native, Cory graduated from Stetson University with a degree in Elementary Education. From 2000-2014, she worked as a teacher at Seminole Spring Elementary in Lake County. Cory came to Children’s House looking for an alternative to a traditional school setting for her daughters. She enrolled the girls here and became a member of the parent community and then in 2015, Cory joined the staff community as well.

Morgan Beattie Head Teacher

Morgan joined Children’s House in August of 2018. She has her Bachelors in Psychology from UCF, her certification in the Orton-Gillingham literacy approach, and received her Montessori Training through The Center for Guided Montessori Studies. She loves that the teachers and staff care about the child’s whole development, including physical, social, emotional and cognitive. Morgan enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children. They love spending time outdoors in nature, and swimming in the beautiful local springs. Morgan believes that a child’s homelife plays an important role in their success in school. She is passionate about limited screen time and healthy eating habits for her children, as they play a significant role in their development.

Braden Curley Assistant Teacher

Braden joined Children’s House in 2023 while balancing the roles of a mother of three, student, and aspiring educator. Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in education at Seminole State College, she is fueled by a deep passion for shaping young minds and positively impacting the field. With three years of residence in DeLand, Braden embraces the community's diverse opportunities and experiences. Her unwavering dedication and commitment to personal and professional growth define her journey as she aspires to excel as an educator, nurturing future generations. In August of 2024, Braden completed the Montessori Assistant Training through the International Montessori Council.

Christal Silver Lower Elementary Head Teacher

Christal joined Children’s House in the fall of 2023 as the Lower Elementary Assistant Teacher. She hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of New Haven in Connecticut, just a short drive from her hometown of New York City. She also earned her Lower Elementary Teaching Diploma from the North American Montessori Center. Christal is passionate about creating a safe, fun, and enriching learning environment, and she loves how the CHMS community feels like one big family, all working together to support the growth and development of each child. Outside the classroom, Christal enjoys spending her downtime reading (a lot!), spending time with her longtime boyfriend, and being a devoted fur mom to her two dogs, Miley and Maple.

Yulisa Piedra Lower Elementary AssistantTeacher

Yulisa joined our team in August of 2026. She graduated from Daytona State College with a degree in Education.

More to come!

Autumn Verwys HeadTeacher

Autumn joined Children’s House Montessori School in August 2025 as the Lower Elementary Assistant Teacher. She has worked with children since 2014 and holds her Child Development Associate (CDA). She began her Montessori training so she could step into a Head Teacher role for the 2026/27 school year. With over a decade of experience, Autumn is committed to helping children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. She considers education to be one of the most rewarding professions and is proud to be part of a school that fosters both warmth and teamwork among its staff. Beyond the classroom, she enjoys paddle boarding, spending time at the beach, and making memories with her family and her beloved dog, Pluto.

Natalee Falcon-Ramos Lower Elementary AssistantTeacher

Prior to joining our community in August 2026, Natalee worked as a toddler teacher at another local Montessori school and that's when she fell in love with the Montessori method. She is very happy to be part of the Children's House community and loves how dedicated the teachers and staff are with the children. She received her degree from Broward College and studied at Le Cordon Bleu Miami.  She enjoys spending time with her family and exploring what Central Florida has to offer. 

Esther Jirka Head Teacher

Esther began her time at Children’s House in 2015 as an Education Specialist.  After working in various age groups, Esther became the Head Teacher in the Upper Elementary classroom in August of 2018. She made the choice to home school her children during COVID, and returned part time in the winter of 2023. In August of 2023, she resumed her full time teaching role in the Elementary Classroom, focusing on the Upper Grades.  She earned a B.S. in Exceptional Student Education from the University of Central Florida in 2001.  For 14 years, Esther worked in elementary schools teaching multi-age level students with varying ability levels.  Her experience is in developing individualized instruction to meet a variety of specific student needs.  Esther and her husband live in Orange City and have two children that attend Children’s House.

Cybil Buell Assistant Teacher

Cybil joined Children’s House in October 2023 as the Upper Elementary Assistant Teacher. She has worked in childcare since 2019 and aspires to become Montessori assistant certified. She brings both professional and personal experience as she is a parent to a wonderful Montessori student. She loves how Children’s House honors each child’s interests and curiosity. Stating it’s truly inspiring to watch children develop independence, take ownership of their own learning and be apart of such a beautiful community. Outside of the classroom walls, Cybil enjoys fishing, taking her sweet mini Dachshund Bohdi to the dog beach, and spending quality time with her family.

Jessica Flood Head Teacher

Jessica graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts, with a focus on theater and vocal performance. She came to the Children’s House community after spending the later part of her pregnancy, with twins, reading about different educational programs. She found the pedagogy of Montessori to be what she wanted for her children. They began here at Children’s House in the Toddler classroom and then Jessica started working in the Children’s House Gardens shortly after that in 2016. In 2023, she moved inside to the Elementary Classroom focusing on the Lower Grades. When we were ready to re-launch our Middle School classroom, she stepped up to become the Head Teacher in that classroom. Jessica enjoys reading and performing music in the local community. While she’s no longer actively involved in theater, she’s enjoying watching her sons begin to enjoy getting involved. She also loves gardening both here at school, as well as at home.

Jenifer Romero Assistant Teacher

Jenifer received her Associate's in Criminal Justice from Ashworth College in 2020, followed by her Bachelor's in Environmental Science from Southern New Hampshire University in 2024. Prior to teaching, she worked at an environmental testing laboratory and then as a  Water Quality Scientist for the city. She joined our staff in August 2026 and is thrilled to be part of our school community. Her three children also joined Children’s House in August 2026. In her free time, she loves to crochet and spend time with her children.

Sharon Pitts Garden Teacher

Before joining Children’s House is 2000, Sharon studied Photography and Computer Science at Rochester Institute of Technology. She completed the Children and Families Introductory Child Care Training Course as well as numerous DCF training enhancement courses. At Children’s House, Sharon has worked in all of the classroom environments and is now a Garden Teacher in the Primary Garden. Sharon loves the experiences students are offered, including the outdoor gardening and animal care. She also finds the grace and courtesy that is modeled by the loving staff to be an important part of Children’s House. When she’s not at school, Sharon enjoys spending time with her family, sewing, gardening and crocheting.

Mark LeBlanc Garden and Woodworking Teacher

Mark joined us in December of 2025 as a Garden Teacher. He has a passion for woodworking and sculpture, so it seemed a natural progression to add Woodworking to our special area classes in August of 2026.

More to come!

Sam Irineou Garden Teacher

Sam joined Children’s House Montessori School in August 2026 as a Garden Teacher for the Primary, Lower and Upper Elementary classrooms. She completed her Associate of Arts in Legal Studies at Daytona State College and is currently working toward her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at the University of Central Florida. Sam believes that time in nature is essential to healthy child development. Working with soil, plants, and weather gives children a hands-on way to build patience, responsibility, and curiosity. It also helps them concentrate, regulate their emotions, and feel connected to the world around them. In the garden, children learn to observe closely, ask questions, and care for living things. She loves watching students discover that their work matters, whether they are tending a bed, tracking the rain, or harvesting something they planted themselves. Outside of school, Sam enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, and spending time with her loved ones and her dachshund, Coco.

Princess Koletsky Literacy Specialist

Princess completed A.M.I. certification as an elementary teacher at the Montessori Institute of North Texas in 2010. She joined Children’s House in 2005 as an assistant in our Upper Elementary classroom for four years while pursuing her Montessori training. She holds a B.S. degree in Marketing and Management and has extensive experience in financial arenas. She has also completed her certification as a Literacy Specialist through the Orton-Gillingham training. She and her husband, Barry, have one son, Zachary and make their home in Glenwood.

Noemi Rodriguez Spanish Teacher

Noemi joined us in August of 2021 after teaching English as a foreign language in Puerto Rico. She is a certified elementary school English teacher in the public school system of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Bayamon Central University. Noemi has been a teacher for seventeen years, ten in the private school system and seven in the public school system. In the current school year, Mrs. Noemi (as our kids lovingly call her) has won the hearts of all the students with her fun and candid teaching system. She was married over the summer of 2021, and she now resides in DeLand with her family.

Sylvie Watkins Music Teacher

Sylvie joined Children’s House in August of 2025. Prior to joining our community, she studied Music Education and completed her Bachelor of Arts at Jacksonville University. She will be starting her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction at Western Governors University in the summer of 2026. Sylvie loves the nurturing feel of Children’s House and the fact that everyone has a common goal of creating a space where students feel comfortable and confident in who they are. She loves to spend time with her dog, Cami, and her boyfriend, CJ. She loves visiting Jacksonville to spend time with her family and friends. Sylvie has a passion for using music to help with student’s mental health, overall development, and, of course, for fun!!

Sunny Tomlinson Yoga Teacher

Sonjaday, Sunny, graduated from a Creative and Performing Arts high school in Philadelphia with honors. After that, she did her Vishada Yoga Training at Precision Alignment, and her Yoga Teacher Training with Emma Tranter. Sunny joined Children’s House in 2002 as the Yoga Teacher, and has worked in each environment as a substitute teacher. She loves the environment here, the children, the community, and the Maria Montessori method of teaching. After living in DeLand for many years, she moved to DeLeon Springs with her four children, Skyler, Zion, Sequoyahday, and Matteo, who all attended Children’s House.

Diane Farley Art Teacher

In May of 2016, Diane joined Children’s House as the Art Teacher for the Upper Elementary and Middle School. Diane loves that the children are taught to respect the outdoor environment at a very young age, and that it is fostered as they grow into independent thinkers. She feels they will help to influence others in the community, and eventually the world. When she is not at school, Diane lives in Lake Helen and has a small animal rescue as well as backyard chickens. She enjoys growing food producing plants, creating art, and outdoor experiences.

Ryan Sick Physical Education Teacher

Coach Ryan first joined Children's House Montessori in the spring of 2026, leading an exciting field day filled with games and competitions. He officially joined the staff that August and now leads the school's Physical Education program for all ages. Ryan holds a B.S. in Sport & Exercise Science from UCF and is a Certified Trainer with over 20 years of coaching experience. His philosophy centers on building children from the inside out. He emphasizes character development through sportsmanship, resilience, teamwork, and building a kid's confidence. Ryan teaches values that extend far beyond the playing field and into every aspect of life. Through creative games, sports and activities, Coach Ryan strives to make learning about fitness and nutrition fun and exciting for every student.

Dani Fitzsimmons Floating Support Teacher

Dani joined the Children’s House family in 2018 as a parent, and in 2019 as an Administrative Assistant. In November of 2022, she began helping in the Toddler Classroom, and assumed the role of Co Head Teacher in February of 2023. In 2025, Dani moved into her current role as the Floating Assistant. She helps in classrooms, in the garden, and in the office. She was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and spent her last 10 years there working in a secretarial position. The Fitzsimmons clan moved to DeLand during the summer of 2018 to be closer to extended family. When she is not on the CHMS campus, or spending time with her family, Dani enjoys exploring new places, trying new foods, listening to live music, and watching football.

Noah White Floating Support Teacher

Noah came to Children’s House in 2026 after working at a school for neurodivergent children. His calm and steady personality is well suited for children who may be experiencing some big emotions, are having trouble focusing, or children who just need to get their wiggles out. He completed the Handle with Care training in 2024.  Noah will not only be helping children, but with some tasks around the school as well. Noah lives in Orange City and enjoys game nights with his family. 

Bonnie Player Playground, Nap Room and After Care Teacher

Bonnie has been a member of the Children’s House community as a parent and a staff member. Her three sons attended Children’s House, and she started out as a substitute in 2018. She has worked in the Garden, the Toddler Classroom, and now helps with Play Time, watches over the Primary children while they nap, and is an After Care teacher.

Alyssa Nicholson After Care Teacher

Alyssa joined our school as a parent in 2025 before joining us in the After Care program in August of 2026.

More to come!