Administration
Christi Crittenden, Director
Christi has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Alabama (Huntsville) with a minor in math. She was the Director of the child development center at First Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, Alabama (First Place Development Center). She has also served on the Board of Directors for Yellow Brick Road, an early childhood center here in Lexington. She was a teacher in the education program at First Baptist Church in Huntsville, Alabama, but most importantly she is a graduate from the Children’s House of Montessori in Huntsville, Alabama, presently named The Montessori School of Huntsville. She has three fabulous children, Joseph(18), Condé(15) and Harrison(11). Christi is married to Tom Crittenden, the Rector of R. E. Lee Memorial (Episcopal) Church. |
 Misty Camden, Assistant to the Director
Misty is a graduate of the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina with a BS in Education and a minor in Early Childhood Education. She is a native to Rockbridge County and taught third grade at Fairfield Elementary for three years. Misty’s husband, Kris, is a general contractor and owns High Country Outfitters; they have a son and daughter, Zoe(6) who attends Waddell Elementary and Kohen(3) who is a current Montessori student.
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Teachers
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 Amanda McKemy, Lead Teacher, Pre-toddler
Amanda has been a Lead Teacher over the Pre-Toddlers and Infant age groups since 2001, both here at WCM and at another center. She received her RIE (Resources For Infant Educarers) certification in Florida during the summer of 2008. She and her husband Eddy are life-time natives of Rockbridge County and they have one son, Logan, who is 13 years old.
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 Kelley O'Connor, Assistant Teacher, Pre-toddler
Kelly grew up in Rockbridge County on her Grandfather's farm where she played with her younger sister and brother. She graduated from Rockbridge County High School in 1998, and in 2005 she married her husband Jarromy and moved to Missouri to be with his family. In 2007 they decided to return to Virginia to be closer to Kelley's family. She has worked at WCM for 2-1/2 years. Kelley started as an afterschool assistant for the Toddler and Primary in the spring of 2007 and then became a full time Toddler Assistant for summer camp. In the fall of 2007 Kelley moved to the infant room as an Assistant Teacher, and is currently the Assistant Teacher in the Pre-Toddler room. She has a daughter, Adalynn, who is currently a student at Montessori. |
 Chat Stroh, Lead Teacher, Toddler
Katharine “Chat” Stroh grew up in St. Louis but fell in love with the Lexington area when on vacation with her family. She attended Washington and Lee University, graduating in 1990 (the second class of women) with a degree in American History but a passion for archaeology. She worked as an archaeologist in the Delmarva Peninsula and moved West in 1993 where she met her husband, Dean, in a field camp in the middle of a desert in Nevada. Soon after their marriage in 1997, Chat and Dean moved back to Lexington where Chat worked as the Research Archaeologist at W&L. She “joined the Montessori family” when her son, Dylan, entered the toddler room in 1999. After the birth of her daughter, Gabrielle, in 2001, Chat left W&L to be a stay-at-home mom. Chat did a lot of volunteering at Montessori and when the toddler teacher decided to move, she urged Chat to take the Montessori Toddler training. Chat became the Toddler Lead teacher in August 2002 and received her Infant/Toddler Montessori Certification in June 2003. Chat loves being the toddler teacher and watching how much the toddlers grow and change while they are in the toddler room.
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 Corbin Morrison, Assistant Teacher, Toddler
I received a BS in early childhood & elementary education in 1980, with a preschool endorsement. I grew up in the North East. I attended the oldest girls school in the country for high school, Linden Hall in Lititz,PA. My graduating class was only 16 students! My husband and I moved here with our three children in 1990. Our children, Mackenzie 26 (now Mackenzie Mckenzie), Brittany 24 and Miles 23 are all grown and gone. My husband Mike, is the Manufacturing Manager for Munters-DesChamps in Buena Vista. He has worked for them since 1980!
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 Catherine Lueptow, Lead Teacher, Primary I
After teaching International Relations at LeMoyne college in Syracuse, NY for eight years, Catherine and her daughters (Rebecca, Claire and Martha) moved to Lexington in 1995. She was hired as the school’s Administrative Director in 1996. She held that position for three years as she grew into her current role as the Lead Teacher in the Primary 1 classroom. She finds working with this age group as challenging as college age students, but much more rewarding. She loves spending time outdoors, hiking, gardening, bicycling, motorcycling, horseback riding, and kayaking. She has tree daughters, three grandchildren, two horses, two dogs, 3 cats and a beloved partner, Doug.
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 Claudia Cutler, Assistant Teacher, Primary I
I am a Montessori certified infant and toddler teacher and have been teaching for ten years. I have been at WCM as a Primary Assistant for four years this year in Primary I. I have two daughters and four grandchildren. I am an artist and kayaker and naturalist who will never be able to retire!
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 Becca Mann, Assistant Teacher, Primary I
Becca is from a small town in Minnesota, and she moved to Virginia in 2006. She graduated from SVU with a BA in Physical Education, and she met her husband out here in Virginia where they were married in December of 2008. They now live in Buena Vista with their puppy Roxy. Becca loves animals, sports, kids, and being outside.
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 Dawn Antigua, Lead Teacher, Primary II
Originally from the Denver, Colorado area, Dawn moved to Rockbridge county in 2001 to pursue a BA in Family Life with a minor in Early Childhood Education from Southern Virginia University. Following college, Dawn began working at Woods Creek and began to fall in love with the Montessori philosophy. In 2007 Dawn received her M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver, following which she returned to WCM. In 2009 Dawn received her favorite diploma, the Montessori Credential from Northern Virginia Montessori Institute. This is her second year as the lead teacher in Primary II. Dawn resides in Buena Vista with her husband Vladimir, a current SVU student.
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 Alessandra Dickovick, Assistant Teacher, Primary II
Alessandra Dickovick has two daughters who are currently enrolled at WCM. A couple of years ago, she fell in love with the Montessori method and became deeply inspired by her daughters’ teachers. So much so that she decided to attempt a career change and joined the School as an assistant in the Primary II classroom this year. Alessandra holds a Masters in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University.
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 Blythe Belmont, Afternoon Staff
Blythe Belmont is a recent graduate of Southern Virginia University where she studied her passion and received a degree in Fine Art. As a fifth grader, when posed with the question "What do you want to do when you grow up," Blythe was thoughtful about her defining answer. Choosing an occupation was too hard but her life's objective was clear! She admitted her goal was to be an inspiration to others no matter her occupation. At Montessori she's getting that opportunity like never before. Blythe is newly married and is receives her own inspiration daily from her husband, Ezra, who is currently studying Spanish and Family and Child Development at SVU. Although Blythe's family has California roots, she grew-up in Lynchburg, Virginia, but now calls Buena Vista home.
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 Cindy Hall, Afternoon Staff
Hi, my name is Cindy Hall. I am originally from Church Hill, Tennessee but after getting married have made Buena Vista my home. I am currently attending Southern Virginia University earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Child Development and a minor in Early Childhood Education. I am graduating this school year and hope to have a career working with children. I have enjoyed many opportunities with children throughout my life with family, friends, volunteering, and several different paid jobs. Since I have learned about the Montessori philosophies I have been interested in them and am now thrilled to be in a Montessori program. I love children and am excited to spend time having fun and learning with them.
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 Paige Henson, Afternoon Staff
My name is Paige Henson. Recently, I graduated from Clover High School in South Carolina and am now enrolled at Southern Virginia University. I plan to major in Business Management and Leadership. For the last two summers I have been a Youth Camp Leader at Camp Swannanoa and I also spent a summer working at Allison Creek Church Preschool. When I’m not working I enjoy spending time with friends and family, playing with my two Boston Terriers, and of course, shopping. I am looking forward to working with your children at Woodscreek Montessori and getting to know each of them. We are sure to have lots of fun together but our most important goal is to learn and grow. |
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