HAVEN MONTESSORI SCHOOL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Toddler Assistant ( Juniper )
Hello! My name is Beth Wetzel and I am one of our Toddler Guides and the Curriculum Coordinator for the Infant and Toddler Program. I joined the Haven community as a substitute in the Fall of 2008 and became a full-time assistant at the beginning of 2009. Haven sponsored my training at the Montessori Institute and I have enjoyed my role as a Lead Teacher since 2010/2011.
I moved to Flagstaff from Central Ohio to attend Northern Arizona University in 1999 and received a Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology. Upon graduation, my husband and I settled into life in Flagstaff to raise our family. We have four boys, all of whom have attended Haven. The older boys are now thriving in middle and high school and the youngest is still a student here at Haven.
Hi! My name is Brena Kee. I am the Lead Guide for the Honey Locust infant classroom and this is my 7th year working with Haven Montessori! I grew up in Sweetwater, AZ and moved to Flagstaff over 7 years ago. After moving here, I completed my dual degree in Elementary Education and Special Education at Grand Canyon University. I am currently working on my Master's degree in Elementary Education at Northern Arizona University. I have worked in the education field for as long as I can remember and thoroughly enjoy my work. I am proud to be working with each new group of infants every year and look forward to watching them grow over the years.
I enjoy doing many things but cooking, crafting, sewing and spending time with my family are among my absolute favorite. My two children, Kaileigh and Noah, are always keeping me on my toes. Noah has been growing with Haven Montessori since he was 2 1/2 years old, and he is now thriving in his 3rd year at the Lower Elementary level. He is a testament to how wonderful the Haven community is! The Montessori philosophy was all very new to me when I started working at Haven Montessori but has made an impact on me in more ways than I can count. I truly enjoy my work here and those that I work with. I look forward to having the opportunity to continue growing with the Haven community.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of the Board
- Ex Officio
Hello! My name is Cristy Zeller, and I'm thrilled to say this is my 13th year working at Haven Montessori. I grew up in Richmond, Virginia and attended the University of Virginia, graduating with a double major in English and Government in 1994. My husband, Pete and I moved to Flagstaff in 1999 when he joined W.L. Gore out of graduate school as a Product Specialist. I have worked in grant writing and contract development, business management, and bookkeeping over the course of my career. I joined Haven in 2008 first as a parent when my two children, Max and Chloe, joined the primary communities. Shortly after I signed up for what I thought would be a part-time administrative position in exchange for tuition credit. Thirteen years later, I am proud to serve as the Executive Director of this amazing preschool and Charter School.
Job Titles:
- Special Education Teacher
Hello there! My name is Emma Zimmer and this is my 4th year as the Special Education Teacher at Haven. I graduated from NAU in 2016 with an Elementary and Special Education degree and am currently working towards my masters in Mental Health. I absolutely love working with, making connections and learning from my students daily!
In my free time, I like to play music, paint, be outside and be with the people I love!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Interim President / Secretary )
Job Titles:
- Acedemic Support Staff Member
- Speech and Language Pathologist
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- Member of the Board
- Ex Officio
Hello! I have served as the Assistant Director at Haven since 2017. Before joining Haven I spent 14 years working as a speech pathologist in public schools with children ages preschool-8th grade in Colorado, New Hampshire and Flagstaff. I graduated from NAU and then went on to the University of Colorado at Boulder to receive my Master's degree. Working with children in an authentic environment has always been a focus of the work I perform as a speech pathologist, and as part of the Administrative team at Haven.
When not at Haven I can be found enjoying one of the many trails in the surrounding area or spending time with my husband and two boys.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Staff Representative
My name is Kendra Hermann and I started at Haven Montessori in 2019. I grew up in Lawrence, Kansas where I attended the University of Kansas graduating with a BA in French in 2012. I took Montessori training shortly after at the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee. I fell in love with Montessori while working the after school program at Raintree Montessori in Lawrence. I worked in both lower and upper elementary as an assistant as well as working in the summer camp. After having worked in elementary school for a few years, I took Montessori Adolescent training. As we heard that the school where I was working would be closing, my husband and I decided to make a change and move out of Kansas. We found Haven and fell in love, so in June 2019 year we packed up our things and headed to Flagstaff. We absolutely love it here.
For hobbies, I love to cook, spend time outdoors, read, craft, write, hike, garden, travel, and spend time with my family. We have a dog and two cats who are very spoiled. I love teaching lower elementary and I am excited for many more years to come!
Hello! My name is Kim Avery and I have been at Haven since 2007 (where does the time go?). I entered the world of Montessori in 2002 during my final year at NAU where I earned a B.S. in Psychology. Upon graduating I immediately began the Primary level Montessori training and became certified to teach ages 3-6. I started at Haven in that age group and quickly joined forces with Cristy Zeller in administration. In that role, I oversaw the creation of the elementary program and our charter with the AZ State Board of Charter Schools. In 2014 I received my M.Ed. in School Leadership through ASU. In 2019 I was able to return to the classroom (the place I love most) in Upper Elementary and completed my Montessori certification to teach this age group the same year. Haven will always be a second home for me and both of my children who attended from the time they were babies through the elementary program (now they are teenagers!).
When I'm not enjoying all of the splendors Flagstaff has to offer, you may find me on my lavender farm in WA state with my family! It is a project we are so proud of and a place I can get my hands in the dirt. I also love reading, walking my dogs in the woods, and having my breath taken away by an AZ sunset. I am lucky to be one of those who can honestly say, I love my job! At the end of the day, there's nothing else I'd rather be doing.
Job Titles:
- Acedemic Support Staff Member
- Reading Specialist
Job Titles:
- Toddler Assistant ( Pinyon )
Job Titles:
- Acedemic Support Staff Member
- School Counselor
Greetings, my name is Todd Van Hoesen. I grew up outside of Boston, Massachusetts and graduated from Bridgewater State College with a B.S. in Sociology. I worked as a behavioral specialist in several schools before turning my interest to teaching. After the birth of my daughter in 2005, I became a stay at home dad and ran an in-home daycare for the next five years. While searching for a school to send my daughter to kindergarten, I discovered Haven and the Montessori Method. I did more research and knew this was my opportunity to teach children in a way that was considerate to the "whole child" and not just academics. I earned my Early Childhood Certificate in Boulder, Colorado at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies and returned to Haven in 2012 to lead the Aspen classroom. I still serve in that role and am also the Primary Program Curriculum Director.