All of our teachers hold four year degrees and have completed AMS (American Montessori Society) training for the level they serve. This training ensures that the teacher is deeply knowledgeable about the developmental psychology of the children they serve in addition to how to invite and inspire the child’s interest in Montessori materials and classroom.
Director
Kristi Gault joined Montessori Academy in 2003. A native of Newburgh, Indiana, Kristi graduated from Castle High School. She earned her BS in English from the University of Southern Indiana. Kristi began her tenure at Montessori Academy as a classroom assistant. She later moved into the office, overseeing the training of new assistants and preparing the schedules for staff and daycare programs. Kristi earned her American Montessori Society Administrator credential from Seton Montessori Institute in Chicago and became the Head of School in 2021.
The Montessori principles of respect for individuals and recognition of each person’s needs and sensitivities reflect Kristi’s outlook on life. This philosophy helps lay the foundation of problem-solving for each new generation of children. It involves listening, reflecting on what happened, and discussing how to continue to respect one another. This in turn ensures that everyone has peaceful, meaningful experiences together.
Kristi and her husband Clint live in Newburgh with their two children, Carlie and Dean (also former Montessori Academy students) and their cat. The family of avid Cubs fans enjoy summer vacations in Wisconsin. Kristi loves cats, reading books, walking/hiking and Pilates.
Administrator
Sarah Spelbring joined Montessori in 1996, evolving through several roles as school secretary to classroom assistant to lead teacher to school administrator. Sarah graduated from the University of Evansville with a BFA in English Literature. She completed her AMS-certified teacher training at Montessori Teacher Academy in Mishawaka, IN. Sarah was a preprimary teacher from 1998 – 2021 and moved into the office to assume the role of administrator in 2021.
Sarah believes the three-year cycles of the Montessori philosophy provide a safe, encouraging, and engaging place for children to develop their social and academic skills. Montessori classrooms are little societies where the children learn grace and courtesy, how to work with each other to complete a goal, and to gain a sense of responsibility for their actions and the impact on the class as a whole. Sarah loves that Montessori Academy allows parent participation in classroom cultural events and whole school activities such as the Day of the Dead and the school plays, bringing that sense of community to the parent body.
Sarah is involved with community organizations, serving as president of the Evansville Tree Board and a longstanding member of the Greenway Advisory Board and Vann Park Neighborhood Association. Sarah enjoys matchmaking homeless cats with loving families, knitting, crocheting, and trying to become fluent in Spanish. Sarah and her husband, AKA Mr. R, are owned by many birds, cats and dogs.
Early Childhood Teacher
Mrs. Suzanne Theriac has been teaching since 1991 at Montessori Academy of Evansville. She graduated from Indiana State University with a degree in Elementary Education, and completed her AMS teacher training at Montessori Teacher Academy at Edison Lakes. She is originally from Vincennes, Indiana, and moved to Newburgh in 1991. Mrs. Theriac loves that the Montessori method provides children with high-quality instruction that meets the individual needs of each student. She is dedicated to helping children reach their full potential, and she hopes to guide her students to become lifelong learners.
Mrs. Theriac has two adult children who attended Montessori through the elementary level. Both of her children boast that their educational start at Montessori Academy impacted their success, Cameron’s as a CNC Machinist and Nicole’s as a Neuro Surgery, Ortho/Spine Trauma Nurse.
Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her husband, gathering with family, playing with her dogs, entertaining, cooking, camping and enjoying the outdoors.
Early Childhood Teacher
Mrs. Kimberli Corn began teaching at Montessori Academy in 1994. Originally from Elberfeld, Indiana, Mrs. Corn graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Elementary Education. She received her AMS-certified teacher training at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in New York. Mrs. Corn values the bond formed with her student families over the 3-year Montessori preprimary cycle and appreciates early learning milestones achieved by her students. Mrs. Corn shares her love of gardening with her class, regularly guiding the children through the planting season with appropriate, child-sized, meaningful activities.
Mrs. Corn’s daughter Petra attended Montessori through elementary and uses the time management strategies she gained to balance her college studies with extracurricular activities. Mrs. Corn volunteered her time as President and Secretary of Ballet Indiana. Mrs. Corn enjoys being with her family, watching her daughter train and perform ballet, playing with their family cats, and listening to audiobooks.
Early Childhood Teacher
Lori Salma is an alum of Montessori Academy of Evansville; she attended preprimary and elementary from ages 2.5 to 9. Ms. Lori graduated from USI with a BA in English Literature, and earned her Early Childhood Credential from the Maryland Center for Montessori Studies in Lutherville, MD. She has been teaching at Montessori since 1998 and loves that the Montessori method allows every child to have the opportunity to develop their unique personality and talents.
Ms. Lori’s two children followed in her footsteps, attending preprimary and elementary at Montessori Academy. Outside of the classroom she enjoys spending time with her husband and children, studying Finnish and Spanish, and playing music (vocals, keyboards, saxophone) with others.
Early Childhood Teacher
April Bishop has been with Montessori in two eras of her life: during her college years, Ms. April worked as an assistant, then returned in 2016 as a Preprimary Teacher. Ms. April graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Psychology, then worked as an Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist in her hometown of Henderson, KY. She received her AMS-credentialed teacher training at the Greater Cincinnati Center for Montessori Education. Ms. April is passionate about the Montessori method and how it nurtures the child. She values the main goal of utilizing the child’s natural internal drive to help them develop a love of learning they will carry with them throughout their lives.
Ms. April and her husband Brian are lifelong Henderson, Kentucky natives and very involved in community activities, including the W.C. Handy Festival and fundraising events for the Boys and Girls Club. They are St. Louis Cardinal fans, and of course, are rooting for the Kentucky Wildcats. April and her husband are owned by their two dogs. She enjoys decorating, crafting, cooking/baking, and spending time at the beach.
Early Childhood Teacher
Corie David joined Montessori Academy of Evansville in 2019. Ms. Corie worked as a classroom assistant, then as an intern for two years. She completed her teacher training over 2020-2021 at Greater Cincinnati Center for Montessori Education. Ms. Corie views her role in the classroom as a Montessori guide, helping the children discover the world around them, following their interests, and connect them to appropriate learning activities. She loves the innate order present in the prepared environment of a Montessori classroom – everything has a place – along with the intuitive sequence of the Montessori curriculum as the children first work with concrete, real objects that lead the learner toward abstraction.
Ms. Corie is originally from Avon, Indiana, and graduated from Franklin College with a degree in biology. She loves Disney/Pixar movies, baking, and camping. Recently married in 2020, Ms. Corie and her husband are owned by two kittens and beginning their journey into parenthood
Lower Elementary Teacher
Eric Ridenour (AKA ‘Mr. R’) joined Montessori in 1986 in the Lower Elementary classroom (grades 1 – 3). A graduate of Harrison High School in Evansville, Mr. R studied art at Indiana University and the University of Southern Indiana and received a Fine Arts degree. He completed his AMS-certified teacher training at the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies in Silver Springs, Maryland.
Mr. R views the three-year cycle as one of the greatest benefits of the Montessori classroom. Daily he sees first graders learn from their older classmates, and third graders gain confidence and practice by helping the younger ones. It also allows for good habits and traditions to live in the culture of the room from year to year. Above all, a Montessori teacher gets to know the students three times as well as those who only have them for a single year.
Mr. R is the impetus behind the Montessori-supported and city-wide celebration of Day of the Dead, and also wrote, recorded, directed, and constructed all things that are the famous Montessori spring plays. Outside of the classroom he enjoys many creative outlets, including chainsaw carving, art, playing music, and traveling. Mr. R is happily owned by a menagerie of dogs, cats, and birds.
“Montessori teaches children the fun and love of learning itself. It is the only school that allows children to learn at their own pace. The results are astounding and surpass what children are doing in a traditional school setting. My six year old daughter requested chapter books for her birthday and reads simply because she enjoys it! We have no doubt that Montessori gives children a solid educational foundation that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.”
“Montessori Academy encourages children to find joy in learning. They provide an education that encourages children to be self-disciplined with an internal sense of purpose and motivation. Montessori is a warm and supportive community for children. The children are happy, intellectually simulated and secure. Montessori works!”
“Montessori provides a dynamic, encouraging learning environment. Students strive for independence through consistent, direct sensory experiences. They are encouraged to think creatively, constructively critique their own work as they develop, be collaborative and observe, experience and engage. Montessori asks them to challenge themselves enough to fail at times and helps them celebrate their many successes. The commitment of the teachers is second to none. Students leave with a lifetime appreciation of and intreats in learning, a sense of community and a better understanding of the world.”
“Montessori Academy is a school that individualizes education based on students’ abilities and performance levels, learning strengths, as well as their personal interests. Montessori develops and inspires excellence in academic, leadership and entrepreneurial development.”
4611 Adams Avenue
Evansville, IN 47714
Phone: 812-479-1776
