Acorn Montessori School

2008-2009 Teaching Starting Line Up

Site Director Acorn Main:
Cynthia Johnson

Site Director Acorn West:
Mrs. Dawn Grantham

PreSchool 6:30a - 6:00p, Room W6
Lead Teacher - Sheryl Sullivan
Maria Garcia, Jodi Free, Doreen Bishop

Pre-K 6:30a - 6:00p, Room W4
Lead Teacher - Araceli Orozco

Early Start 8:30a - 1:30p, Room W4
Lead Teacher - Lacey Peterson
Christina Maddox

Kindergarten 8:30a - 2:45p, Room W5
Lead Teachers - Kristin Cobb/Renee Ill
Megan Ayres

Kindergarten 8:30a - 2:45p, Room W2
Lead Teacher - Kendal Healey
Nancy Godinez, Anthony Dexter

1st Grade 8:30a - 2:45p, Room W1
Lead Teacher - Linda Neville
Bertha Ramos, Summer Henry

1st Grade 8:30a - 2:45p, Room W3
Lead Teacher - Wendy Daughetee
Carla Morales

2nd Grade 8:30a - 2:45p, Room M1
Lead Teacher - Kristin Healey
Jackson Campbell

2nd Grade 8:30a - 2:45p, Room M3
Lead Teacher - Sandra Ehlert
Terri McCracken

3rd Grade 8:15a - 3:00p, Room M4
Lead Teacher - Denise Antonio
Jacklyn Read

3rd/4th Grade 8:15a - 3:00p, Room M2
Lead Teacher - Wendi Akins
Samantha Bethany

4th Grade 8:15a - 3:00p, Room M8
Lead Teacher - Whitney Reiten
Gus Patrick, Renae Henze

5th Grade 8:00a - 3:00p, Room M10
Lead Teacher - Marjorie Cowart
Jennifer Lattin

6th Grade 8:00a - 3:00p, Room M6
Lead Teacher - Karisa Reed
Karen Fisher

6th/7th Grade 8:00a - 3:00p, Room M7
Lead Teacher - Beth Dunn
Dawn Johnson

Enrichment 8:00a - 12:00p, M5
Zandra Dillon

LC 8:00a - 3:00p MODA
Karen Willis, Alex Millard

SEC - 7:30a - 4:00p MODB
Cheryl Detemple, Melissa Fields/ Intervention Testing Coordinator

Interventions: Main
Michelle Simmons, West - ?

Music
Sky Conwell

Nutrition Program
Food Service Director - Keith Johnson
Kitchen Assistant: Vicenta Ferrari
Debbie Widrick, Theresa Olson

While children take a break from school enjoying their summer vacation, our Acorn teachers prepare for the new school year beginning with refresher courses in Montessori training, Reading Institute, and Specialized Gifted Education.

In addition to teaching the Montessori philosophy; Acorn also uses Saxon (a traditional curriculum that focuses on mathematics). Both Montessori and Saxon are currently taught from Pre-K through 7th grade, in a low teacher-to-student ratio.

Acorn Montessori offers a State-approved curriculum with NCLB approval that also specializes in the Gifted Program, Spanish, Technology, Computers, and Physical Education. Students “experience” their studies by participating in many field trips to explore science and the arts.

Our staff looks forward to further professional development throughout the school year.

Our Preschool teachers undergo ongoing training and professional development in Montessori education. All our charter lead teachers are Arizona Certified and highly qualified. Our teachers take a comprehensive educational approach to:Ý

Help students experience the excitement of learning;
Motivate a natural curiosity from within;
Cultivate a desire to learn.

The American Montessori Society states:

"Montessori teachers know that children learn more by touching, seeing, smelling, tasting, and exploring than just by listening. Teacher training prepares them to create dynamic interactive learning environments that encourage each child to reason, cooperate, collaborate, negotiate, and to understand."

All our Charter teachers are Arizona State Certified
CPR and First Aid certified staff
Montessori trained staff with 16 yrsexperience
Specialized training in Early ChildhoodEducation
Child Development background

Teachers receive ongoing quarterly training

Student ratio meets State of Arizona requirements

Certified Arizona State Standards

Acorn Montessori Charter Schools, in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Education, provides Gifted Education

Member of the National Center of Montessori Education since 1988