Our Team

Jaime obtained both a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and Child Development as well as a M.Ed. in Special Education from Vanderbilt University. She also holds a Montessori teaching credential from Montessori Educators International (MEI). Jaime has spent 2 decades teaching and directing Montessori programs in both Tennessee and Arkansas. She is also the Executive Director of the Montessori Alliance of Tennessee, a statewide group for nurturing and expanding Montessori in Tennessee. She, her husband, and their three children enjoy visiting bookstores, eating Colombian food, and playing card games.

Andrea had been at Amare since its inception, witnessing its founders turn vision into reality resulting in the incredible authentic Montessori school that we now call home. Having received her Montessori Elementary Certification (ages 6-12) through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, she spent eight awe-inspiring years as an Upper Elementary guide. Her love of travel and exploring new cultures inspires her to learn more, dig deeper and explore our world which melds brilliantly with the Montessori philosophy to support autonomy, interest, competence, and relatedness to our world. Transitioning to the role of Office Manager has provided the opportunity to support the greater Amare community in new ways and stay connected with incredible children that are the reason we are all at Amare. She is deeply grateful to be part of this incredible community. Married, with two adult children, Andrea enjoys traveling, hiking, gardening, reading and spending time adventuring with her family.

Morgan is originally from Vandalia, IL. She relocated to Clarksville after completing her Elementary Education degree from Illinois College in Jacksonville, IL. She is currently completing the adolescent program (7th-12th) through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. She was raised on what her mother referred to as a "toy farm" with lots of animals including horses, rabbits, sheep and many more. Morgan recently married and is a proud aunt of 5 wonderful nieces and nephews. She enjoys sports and staying active. Morgan believes strongly in education through hands on experiences and having an open mind to learning strategies. These ideals led her to Montessori and she has become an advocate for the philosophy.

Originally from Virginia, C.J. has lived in four states and three different countries over the course of her life. As an adolescent, C. J. attended a public school based on the Sudbury model of education from 7-12th grade. She attended New College of Florida from 1983-1987, graduating with a degree in Literature and Anthropology. From there she went to Arizona and then to Japan, where she learned to love languages and teaching. After her first two years in Japan, she moved to England and taught English there to college hopefuls and refugees from the Bosnian War. She was then able to transition back to Japan to continue her teaching career. Returning to the United States (upon finding out that her European teaching credentials would not allow her to teach in the US), she went into technical support, working as a desktop technician, and a network help desk technician, first for DARPA and then for the Pentagon. After 9/11 and the initial stages of the Iraq War, C. J. left the pentagon to raise her daughter, start a business as a freelance editor, and go back to school to get her teaching license. In 2004 she returned to her first love: teaching English. In 2017 she received her Masters from WGU in Curriculum Design. Now, after 14 years with CMCSS in various roles, she is ready to start a new adventure in Montessori, and is pursuing her secondary Montessori certification at the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Being the product of competency based learning programs and believing in the self-efficacy of each student, C. J. looks forward to guiding students to explore their interests, talents, and passions as they transition to higher levels of independent learning.

Susan relocated to Clarksville from Iowa where she and her husband Dennis spent the past few years restoring their historic Victorian home. Susan has Montessori training in both Elementary and Primary levels. Her prior Montessori experience includes guiding a classroom of 40+ Upper Elementary students with a co-teacher, leading Primary classrooms, supervising adult learners in Montessori training, and administrative work.

Darby was born in Lawrence, Kansas and raised in San Jose, California, where her love for dance took root. This passion led her to attend performing arts high schools and ultimately graduate with Honors as a ballet major from Nashville School of the Arts. Her journey into Montessori education began when her niece and nephew enrolled at Amare, sparking a deep interest that inspired her to pursue her own path in the Montessori world. Darby is currently working toward her Elementary certification and is excited to become the Upper Elementary Guide. Darby cherishes time with her daughter, Isla. Outside the classroom, she enjoys baking, solving puzzles, and making sweet memories with her little one.

Becky received her Montessori Elementary Certification for children 6-12 years old from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies and her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Memphis. In the past, she has taught in the public-school systems of Shelby and Montgomery Counties of Tennessee. She and her husband Eric have four adult children. Becky spent 16 years homeschooling their children while also enjoying teaching and leading in a variety of classes at her local homeschool co-op. One of her greatest joys is witnessing students’ excitement as they discover and learn new things. In her spare time, she enjoys walking, reading mysteries, watching older classic movies, volunteering, and spending time with her family and friends.

Hannah attended Western Kentucky University and received a BA in Musical Theatre. She went on to work as a children's theatre director for a decade and opened a professional performing arts school for youth ages K-18. After the pandemic Hannah chose to sell her portion of the theatre and move into early childhood education. All the while she observed the growth and joy of her two daughters at Amare and knew that Montessori education was the next step for herself. She is ecstatic to currently be enrolled in the Lower Elementary program (1st-3rd) through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Hannah has always deeply believed in supporting a child’s growth and independence with a respectful approach that treats them as a whole person. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and writing and has authored eleven children's books.

Maria is a certified Early Childhood educator through the American Montessori Society (AMS). She has worked with children for over 20 years, 10 of which here at Amare. Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of South Florida, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is a retired military spouse, having lived in South Korea and in CONUS. Maria lives in a multigenerational household, caring for her father, and has a soft spot for dogs. She also has two teenagers who went through Amare from Primary/LE to adolescents. Maria believes in fostering a lifelong love of learning, providing delayed gratification, and instilling a sense of responsibility. She wants each child to feel loved, gain independence, and have a reverence for nature.

Jiara was born in Canada, and moved to the U.S. when she was 9 years old. She enjoys dark green and loves to sing, especially with children. Jiara has worked with children for as long as she can remember, always finding a sense of peace when in their presence. Jiara's sense of peace and calm beautifully supports the 3-6 year olds as they grow in the Primary Classroom.

Emily Snipes. Emily is thrilled to be a part of the Amare community again after 5 years away. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a master's degree in Reading Education, and her Montessori Primary Certification (ages 3-6) from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Emily began her teaching career in public education, but after becoming a mother, she found the Montessori method and discovered it complemented both her teaching and parenting styles. Her spark was ignited in 2019 right here at Amare and continued to grow as she assisted and then led a Primary classroom at Beach Park School in Tampa, FL, until June 2023. Emily and her family have been living in South Korea for the last two years, thanks to an opportunity made possible by her husband Tony’s job. She has been Montessori homeschooling their two sons, Grant and Ben, and has used their time in Korea to travel and enjoy the beautiful cultures of Asia. Emily is excited to bring her experiences back into the Primary classroom and believes strongly in meeting every child where they are and creating a welcoming space that will foster a love of life long learning and a desire to explore, inquire, and appreciate the world around them. Please see the attached pictures of Emily and her family.

Jessica is a "retired" homeschooling parent and has recently completed the Montessori Assistant's Training course. Jessica has served as a sub many times throughout her time at Amare and is excited to join the Amare team full time as the Primary West Assistant. Jessica's peaceful and patient manner is the perfect fit for Amare. Each day she helps to guide children towards new discoveries and independence.

Connie was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, where she worked for several years teaching English as a second language to children and adults. After finishing her bachelor’s degree in general psychology in 2014, she worked as a Human Resources Manager. She married in 2016 to her university boyfriend, lived in New York and New Jersey for two years and then moved to Clarksville to be closer to family. Connie discovered the Montessori Method while working in a school in NJ, where she was a toddler assistant and then the Lead Teacher in the Infant room, obtaining a Montessori Infant/Toddler training during this time. When she moved to Clarksville, she decided she wanted to keep working in a Montessori environment and found Amare. Connie worked as a Primary Assistant for three years, then transitioned to the Toddler environment, where she has been since 2021. She enjoys spending time with her husband and cooking and baking with her two daughters while singing and listening to music.

Alexis was born in Clarksville, Tennessee, but as a military child, she had the opportunity to live in many places before eventually putting down roots in her home state. After three years of experience as a Toddler classroom assistant, she earned her AMS Infant and Toddler certification through the Montessori Training Center of Brentwood. She also holds a bachelor’s degree from APSU, along with certifications as a Childbirth Educator, Doula, and Parent-Infant and Child Facilitator. With over a decade of experience working with children, Alexis brings a deep respect for the young child to all she does. She is passionate about honoring children as whole humans from birth and advocating for the critical importance of the first three years of life. Committed to diversity and inclusivity, she strives to create a welcoming environment for all families. Alexis is currently continuing her studies in herbalism and enjoys weaving nature into every part of her life and work. She is expecting her fourth child with her husband, James. In her free time, she enjoys creating art, reading, spending time with her family, and supporting others through pregnancy and early childhood using Montessori principles.

Nancy taught in both public and private Montessori schools for over 36 years before joining Amare as an Aftercare Guide in 2022. She holds a BA in elementary Education from Eastern CT State University, an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Hartford and both an AMI and an AMS credential for ages 6 thru 12. Her past 11 summers have been spent running her own small vegetable farm or working on small farms. in the past year she has enjoyed guiding the older primary student sin Nature Study and developing the primary gardens. She loves being able to share her passion for gardening and exploring the beauty of Amare's natural surroundings with both children and adults. She highly values Amare's emphasis on community and outdoor education.

Julie graduated from Martin Methodist College with an AA in Liberal Arts, then following her adventurous spirit, she traveled to Anchorage, Alaska and received her BA in Humanities, Arts and Communication from Alaska Pacific University and then to Seattle, Washington for design courses at Cornish College of the Arts. Julie has worked as a professional in the Creative Arts field as a Graphic Designer and Creative Director for more than 20 years. She discovered her passion for children’s art education when she volunteered to teach art once a week in her son’s kindergarten class. She continued this practice until given the opportunity to teach art regularly at Pleasant View Montessori. Julie has also served as the choir director at Port Royal UMC and has been actively involved in Community Spirit Inc., a local Theatrical organization. Julie lives with her family on their "Century Farm" in Adams, TN.

Courtney was a special needs facilitator and nanny for 12 years in the Washington D.C. area. She returned to school to study special education in 2003. She graduated from Austin Peay State University with her Bachelor of Science in Special Education in 2005 and her Master’s in Instructional Technology in 2007. Courtney taught in the public school system for seven years and has been with Amare since its opening in 2015. In 2017, Courtney started working on another Master’s degree, this time in Dyslexia Therapy. In 2018, she left the Toddler Community to become the Student Services Coordinator. In 2019 Courtney completed her Master’s degree in Dyslexia Therapy and became a Certified Academic Language Therapist from ALTA (Academic Language Therapy Association). Courtney loves spending time with her son, Ivan, her dogs, and her cat. She is an avid photographer and reader and cross-stitches in her spare time.

Stephanie attended the University of Northern Iowa to study Elementary Education and later received a Master of Science in Psychology. The positive changes observed in her daughter, Charlie, while attending Amare sparked an interest in Montessori philosophy which led to her to enroll in the Primary Montessori Certification program at the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Stephanie believes children deserve freedom and movement in their environment to grow. Stephanie taught in the country of Panama at an English-speaking school years ago. While there, she met people from all over the world and they still keep in contact today! In her free time, she enjoys playing board games and spending time outdoors with her husband and daughter.

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