Staff bios: Learn more about our highly-qualified and experienced staff.

James Farwell, jfarwell@msfortmyers.com

Mr. James grew up in Woodbury, MN attending several Montessori schools throughout childhood including Woodbury Montessori (3-4 years old), Nokomis Montessori School (Kindergarten), J.J. Hill Montessori (1st grade) and Valley Crossing Community School (5th – 6th grade).  A lifelong learner and teacher, Mr. James has served for three years as a Sunday school teacher (1st - 3rd graders), six years as a snowboard instructor (11 – 13 year olds), one year as a teaching assistant at the University of Florida, has served as an occasional guest speaker at Florida International University several times from 2009-2013, and taught financial analysis courses.  Mr. James enjoys finding ways to better serve our students, families, and staff.  In his free time, he enjoys working on the school facility, playing soccer, weight lifting, growing fruit trees, reading, and discussing self improvement. 

Credentials

• Head of School since 2013.
• Montessori Administrator Credential - September 2016.  Seton Montessori Institute, an American Montessori Society (AMS) affiliated teacher education program.
• B.S.B.A. in Finance and minor in Spanish - University of Florida.  Significant college coursework in early childhood education at Nova Southeast University.
• Florida Department of Children & Families - Staff Credential, Director Credential, Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Director Endorsement, 40 hours of child care training, numerous continuing education courses
• Certified Instructor of 15 Hour Redirecting Children's Behavior Course
• Published contributor to Montessori Leadership magazine published by the Montessori Foundation.

Terri Shippey, officemanager@msfortmyers.com

A native of Houston, Texas, Ms. Terri began her career in Montessori right after high school. She worked in a small Montessori school as a summer job. This summer job lasted 10 years. During those 10 years, she obtained her Montessori Diploma.  Ms. Terri was given the opportunity to become a Director of Montessori School in Amarillo, Texas. It was there that Terri gained experience managing a Montessori school. She moved to Fort Myers, Florida in 2008, where she and a few of her co-workers spent the next 8 years transforming a small childcare center in the Dunbar area into a beautiful Montessori school that offered quality education to lower income families.  Ms. Terri loves the outdoors and spending time with her two horses and photography. She enjoys all sports. She loves the Houston Astros, Rockets and Texans. 

Credentials

• 10+ Years school administration experience
• Spent a summer at the University of Texas 
• Montessori Diploma – Texas Montessori Education Center
• Florida Department of Children & Families - Staff Credential, Director Credential, Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Director Endorsement, 40 hours of child care training, numerous continuing education courses
• Certified Instructor of 15 Hour Redirecting Children's Behavior Course
• American Heart Association - Infant & Child CPR, AED, First Aid, and Blood Borne Pathogen training
• ALICE training
• A.S. in Early Childhood Education- Rasmussen College
• Working on Her B.S. in Early Education- Rasmussen College
• Infant and Child CPR and First-aid certified

Ms. Sarah

Ms. Sarah was born in Hialeah, FL and relocated to Cape Coral, FL when she was young. She has had many years’ experience working with children, including 6 years as a Sunday school teacher working with ages 2-6, and helping to take care of younger members of her large family while growing up. She has also had 2 years’ experience as a lead teacher in a toddler level classroom. She is currently working on obtaining her Associate’s Degree in psychological studies at Florida Southwestern State College. In her free time, Sarah enjoys reading and writing, drawing, and spending time with her family, friends, and dogs. 

Credentials

• 8+ years of childcare experience
• Florida Department of Children and Families – 45 hours Child Care Training
• Infant & child CPR and First-Aid certified
• ALICE training
• 15 Hours Redirecting Children's Behavior Course certificate

Ms. Wendy

Ms. Wendy came to us from Fort Wayne, Indiana along with her son and daughter. She  grew up on a lake vacationing in Florida. While raising her 3 children, Wendy was also a foster parent. She currently holds another position working as a paraprofessional in the Lee County Public Schools.  Ms. Wendy loves all things in nature and anything related to music, art, water activities, the beach, and ocean life.

Credentials

• Licensed Foster Care Provider in Indiana
• Paraprofessional-Lee County
• First Aid and CPR certified
• 18 years Home Educator
• 5 years Teaching Assistant in Montessori/Public School
• Florida Department of Children and Families- 45 hours Child Care Training

Ms. Cristina

Ms. Cristina is a Cape Coral native.  She is now attending Florida Southwestern State College working towards her Bachelors in Elementary/Early Childhood Education. She has previous experience working with children in various ages of the Early childhood age levels. She has also worked with high school aged students with special needs in the Baker Buddies Program.  Ms. Christina enjoys working with young children in the Montessori environment!

Credentials

• Associate Degree
• Florida Department of Children and Families - 45 hours Child Care Training

Ms. Ana 

One of most experienced staff members, Ms. Ana completed her Early Childhood (3-6 years) Montessori Teacher Training in 1984 and taught for several years at Alexander Montessori School in Miami, FL.  She then opened her own school, Christian Montessori Children's House in Miami, FL,  for 3-6 year old children which she ran for 10 years.  She moved to Cape Coral and soon began work as a lower elementary school lead teacher (grades 1-3) from 1996-2001 at Michigan Montessori Elementary School, the first public Montessori school in Fort Myers, FL.   After Michigan Montessori Elementary School shut down, Ms. Ana worked as an elementary school teacher at James Stephens Intentional Academy, an international baccalaureate school, before joining Renaissance Montessori school in 2010 where she was an elementary lead teacher until 2015.  After a short retirement, Ms. Ana rejoined the Montessori community at our school.

Credentials

• AMS Early Childhood (3-6 years old) Montessori Teacher credential, Montessori Teacher Training Institute (MTTI), Miami, FL
• AMS Lower Elementary Teacher  credential, Barry University, North Miami, FL
• Master of Science Degree in Montessori Education, Barry University 
• Bachelor Degree in Human Resources and Management, Trinity University, Miami, FL
• Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education, Miami-Dade Community College, Miami, FL
• Primary Teacher (PreK-grade 3) Certification, University of South Florida
•  Florida Department of Children and Families- 45 hours Child Care Training 
• Infant and Child CPR and First-aid certified
• 15 Hourse Redireting Children's Behavior Course certificate

Ms. Rita

Ms. Rita grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota but still visits her hometown in Colorado every summer. She moved to Cape Coral, Florida after high school. She previously worked as a childcare provider in an abused women’s shelter for 3 years, and was also a kids jiu jitsu coach for 2 years. She is the oldest of her siblings and has been babysitting since she was 12. She is currently working towards getting her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. In her free time she likes to spend time with her family and try new fitness classes. 

Credentials

• Florida Department of Children and Families - 45 hours Child Care Training
• 5+ years of childcare experience

Ms. Livia 

Ms. Livia has a long career in teaching starting with first lamaze (childbirth) classes from 1987-1993, as a certified substitute teacher and teachers aide in the early 1990’s working with elementary, special needs, and high school students, in 1991 as a Head Start program working with 4 and 5 year olds, in 1992 as an administrator in a early education childhood program, in a preschool classroom from 1994 – 1997, and since 2000, Ms. Livia has served the Montessori School of Fort Myers where she earned her Infant/Toddler Montessori Credential.  Ms. Livia loves spending quality time with her family and her granddaughter.  She likes reading, gardening trying new foods, and is very active with her bible classes.

Credentials

• American Montessori Society (AMS) Infant/Toddler Credential (0-3 years old) - Summit Montessori Teaching Training Institute
• North American Montessori Center – Infant/Toddler Montessori Credential, 2004
• Florida Department of Children and Families – 45 hours of childcare training, many years of continued education
• American Heart Association – Infant & Child CPR, AED, First Aid, and Blood Borne Pathogen training
• 15 Hour Redirecting Children’s Behavior Course certificate

Ms. Pam

A life-long Montessori teacher, Ms. Pam began teaching at Florence Foster Montessori School in Chicago, IL in 1986 where she taught until 1989 when she moved to Fort Myers.  Ms. Pam has taught at Montessori School of Fort Myers since 1990 as an assistant teacher and is a strong presence in the classroom.  She loves working with our children and is very skilled in keeping her classroom running in good order.

Credentials

• Florida Department of Children and Families – 45 hours Child Care Training
• 25+ years of in-service training courses in a variety of early childhood education topics
• American Heart Association – Infant & Child CPR, AED, First -Aid, and Blood Borne Pathogen training
• 15 Hour Redirecting Children’s Behavior Course ceritficate

Ms. Irene

Ms. Irene is a native from Fort Myers, Florida. She is studying at  Florida Southwest College for education. She has previous experience working at Early Childhood Centers around town. Ms. Irene's family is from Belize. 

In her spare time, Ms. Irene enjoys relaxing, watching television and movies.

Credentials

• Florida Department of Children and Families- 45 hours Child Care Training
• Infant and Child  CPR and First-Aid Certified
• Working on Associates Degree in Education

Ms. Melanie

Ms. Melanie studied in Michigan prior to relocating to Cape Coral, Fl.  She has previous experience working with infants and children in Michigan. In her free time, Ms. Melanie enjoys spending time with her three teenage children and her husband, boating and going to the beach.

Credentials

• Florida Department of Children and Families- 45 hours Child Care Training
• Fire Extinguisher Trained
• Infant and Child CPR and First-aid certified
• 15 Hours Redirecting Children's Behavior Course  certificate

Ms. Briana

Ms. Briana is an Early Childhood Education major at Florida Southwestern State College.   Prior to joining our school, she volunteered at a child care center in Northfield, IL. 

Credentials

•  American Montessori Society (AMS) Infant/Toddler Credential (0-3 years old) - Summit Montessori Teaching Training Institute 
• Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education (In progress)
•  Florida Department of Children and Families- 45 hours Child Care Training 
•  Certified Instructor of 15 Hour Redirecting Children's Behavior Course 
• Infant and Child First Aid, AED, and CPR certified
• Certified Instructor of 15 Hour Redirecting Children's Behavior Course 

Ms. Joyce 

Ms. Joyce was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil where she studied Bio medicine. Soon after moving to Florida she found her love of teaching at a small Montessori school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She joined our school in 2013. Her nurturing spirit and love of young children makes her a wonderful addition to our Infant program. In her free time Joyce enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Credentials

• Infant/Toddler Credential (0-3 years old), Summit Montessori Teaching Training Institute.  SMTTI is accredited by Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) and affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS).
• Bachelors Degree in Bio medicine from Centro Universitario de Maringa in Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Florida Department of Children and Families –  Staff Credential, 45 hours Child Care Training
• Infant and Child CPR and First-aid certified
• 15 Hours Redirecting Children's Behavior Course certificate

Ms. Jody

Ms. Jody comes to us from Cincinnati, OH.  In 2004, she relocated to Cape Coral, Florida with her husband and three sons.  Ms. Jody loves working with children and has twenty years experience working in the Early childhood education field. In her spare time, Jody loves to travel, spend time with her family and dogs.

Credentials

• Florida Department of Children and Families- 45 hours Child  Care Training
• 15 Hours Redirecting Children's Behavior Course certificate
• 20 years experience in childcare

Ms. Mikayla

Ms. Mikayla is a native Southwest Floridian with many different experiences working with children including 10 years as a church nursery volunteer and Sunday school teacher for 3-4 year olds, a summer music camp leader, and a Home Depot Kids Workshop volunteer.  Ms. Mikayla is currently pursuing an education in Elementary Education at Florida Southwestern State College.  She loves the concept of independence that the Montessori method provides to students.

Credentials

• 10+ years of childcare experience
• Associates Degree - Florida Southwestern State College
• Florida Department of Children and Families- 45 hours Child Care Training
• 15 Hours Redirecting Children's Behavior Course certificate