Miss Connell grew up attending one of the original AMI Montessori Schools established in the early 1960s in Houston, Texas. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas. After a lively and varied career in the Washington DC area, fond memories of her Montessori days led her back to the Montessori classroom and AMI training. She trained at the Washington Montessori Institute under the direction of Hildegard Salzabacher and Janet McDonell. Miss Connell received her AMI Primary Certification in 1995 and taught in Northern Virginia for seven years before moving to our area in July 2003 when she began her tenure as a directress at Highlawn Montessori. "I interviewed and observed in schools over a three state area for just the right one, a Montessori environment that had a feeling of home. Highlawn was my favorite, with its cheerful classrooms, friendly staff and beautiful materials. I was thrilled to join the Highlawn staff, and after years of working with the Highlawn families, I have not been disappointed. Highlawn is home." Karen Connell

After graduating with a B.A. degree in Elementary Education, Mrs. Doolittle completed her Montessori training through the American Montessori International training center in St. Louis. Mrs. Doolittle was part of AMI's first satellite training class held right here at Highlawn Montessori. She gained valuable teaching experience working as a directress in the Kansas City Missouri School District at one of the three Montessori magnet schools. As one of the few public Montessori schools in the nation, Holliday Montessori became a model for modern public Montessori education. In 2004, after teaching at Holliday Montessori for 14 years, Mrs. Doolittle happily moved to Highlawn. "I have loved this school since I took my training here 18 years ago. Two of my own children graduated from kindergarten here and my son Ian continued on in the elementary program. There is a wonderful sense of family in our Montessori community that I really enjoy." Nancy Doolittle

Mrs. McEachen has been working with kids for many years. A graduate of Highlawn herself, she ran her own day care before starting as a teacher assistant at Highlawn. She worked as a teacher assistant for nine years before starting her own classroom. Mrs. McEachen completed her AMI Montessori training at the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis. Mrs. McEachen is also our Before School Care teacher daily. "I have been surrounded by the Montessori way since childhood. I attended Highlawn as a child with my two brothers and my son Kai graduated kindergarten from Highlawn. I can honestly say that Highlawn is truly a family affair!" Ricki McEachen

Mrs. Smith learned about the joy of Montessori education through her children who attended the Montessori lab school at Avila College under the direction of Miss Lena Wikramaratne. She decided to enter the training program at Avila and received her AMI diploma in 1984. She then taught for two years at Belmont Montessori. While teaching there, she also began working as a Parent Educator for one of the model Parents as Teachers Programs. She continued this work for five years while also teaching. She substituted at Highlawn for one year before becoming a directress in 1987. Mrs. Smith also holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from UMKC. “I began substituting at Highlawn to help out a friend. I quickly knew I wanted to teach full time at this wonderful school and I’ve always been thankful I made that decision. I appreciate the opportunity to truly ‘follow the child’ as Dr. Montessori directed. There is such a sense of community among the staff, children, & parents.” Linda Smith

Mrs. Smith grew up in the Kansas City area and graduated from Olathe North High School. She came to know Highlawn as a parent. She fell in love with Highlawn watching her daughter thrive in Children’s House. In 2016, when a classroom position opened up, she jumped at the chance to join Highlawn’s staff and learn everything she could about the Montessori classroom. In 2018, she received her AA in Liberal Arts and began the Primary AMI teacher training program at the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis, under the guidance of Dr. Larry Quade and Lakshmi Shekhar. She took over the full day Children’s House program, as Directress, starting in 2019, and loves how Montessori theory awakens a love of learning in the children she teaches. Her daughter still attends Highlawn and is thriving in the elementary program. “The minute I joined the Highlawn community, it immediately felt like family. I knew that I would never want to leave. I am honored to work alongside teachers who truly understand a child’s heart and mind, and thrilled to be a part of this wonderful community for years to come,” Mary Smith