Our Staff
Dedicated to authentic Montessori education, the administration and staff at Cascadia School are highly trained, talented, and love working with children. We believe that great teachers are our best asset.
Administration & Support Staff
Danielle Benge (she/her)
Head of School
Danielle Benge
has been involved in Montessori education since 1987 and loves not only the hands-on materials, but particularly the philosophy of students’ hands and minds working together to gain understanding. Danielle has AMI primary certification, a BA in history/minor in Broad Field Social Studies with an emphasis on Secondary Education, and all 3 levels of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training. She enjoys cooking, entertaining, reading, hiking, and binge watching series on Amazon/Netflix.
Susan Szewczyk (she/her)
Office Administrator
Susan Szewczyk
has been involved in Montessori education since 2009 and, as a Montessori parent, deeply appreciates the way it has taught her children to be independent, creative, and inquisitive. She has been active in the Cascadia community as a member of the PTO, Development Committee, Shopper, Chaperone, and Auction team. Susan holds a BA in Psychology from Pacific University and has worked in the field of children’s mental health. She enjoys adventures with her family, history, astronomy, coffee, and chocolate.
Alicia Ginardi (she/her)
Admissions Coordinator, Reading Support, & Billing
Alicia Ginardi
has been involved in Montessori for over 25 years. She values the community and relationships her family has found within Montessori schools and the freedom the children have to explore their individual interests. Alicia holds an AMS primary certificate, studied Biology in Durango, Colorado, and has taken Orton-Gillingham training to support students with dyslexia. Alicia enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, woodworking, reading, and learning new skills.
Helen Anderson (she/her)
Music & Curriculum Support
Helen Anderson
has been involved in Montessori education since 2014, when she began work in an international Montessori school near Vienna, Austria. In 2016, she received her AMI elementary diploma from the Montessori Institute of Prague, where she fell in love with the many ways in which the Montessori materials open up a world of learning to people of all ages. Helen has taken an Orff-Schulwerk teacher training and holds a BA in transcultural communication from the University of Vienna. Helen enjoys music, books, good food and time outdoors in the beautiful Northwest.
Laurie Adams (she/her)
Aftercare
Laurie Adams fell in love with the Montessori philosophy while her three daughters were in primary classrooms, beginning in 1993. They each attended Cascadia and the strong sense of community that continues today has always been deeply valued by her and her family. Laurie was a Toddler Guide for 13 years, receiving her AMI Assistance to Infancy certification in 2007. When she is not working, Laurie enjoys camping, her dogs and her granddaughter.
Lower Elementary Faculty
Patricia DeCorsey (she/her)
Larkspur Guide
Patricia DeCorsey
has been involved in Montessori education for over 10 years and her goal is to encourage an independent, self-motivated community of children who are excited about learning and work. She holds an AMI elementary diploma from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, has taught in London and Atlanta, and spent 22 years directing the Early Childhood Music and Dance program at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. She loves reading, watching films, hiking in this beautiful part of the country, and going to museums.
Brooks Sparling (he/him)
Larkspur Assistant
Brooks Sparling has been involved with Cascadia School for almost a decade and is a Cascadia School Alumni (Class of 2009). Brooks loves the hands-on nature of Montessori and the love for learning it instills in children. He studied computer science at Western Washington University and plans to pursue a degree in early childhood education in the near future. Brooks enjoys the visual arts, playing music, and exploring the Pacific Northwest. He also enjoys spending time at Lake Merwin with his dog, Piper.
Joya Hastings (she/her)
Lupine Guide
Joya Hastings
has been involved in Montessori education since 2011. She believes the work of Montessori is highly relevant to kids today and enjoys coming alongside students to share their excitement for learning and exploring nature. She is an AMI certified elementary guide and has a Masters of Education in Montessori Education. Joya enjoys reading, learning new things, and spending time outside with her family.
Jennifer Adams (she/her)
Lupine Assistant
Jennifer Adams
has been involved in Montessori education since 1993 when she began attending a primary classroom as a student. She appreciates the freedom of the Montessori classroom and the opportunities for children to follow their interests and learn at a pace that is comfortable to them. She has a BA in English. When not at school, she enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with her family.
Upper Elementary Faculty
Micaela Argueta (she/her)
Trillium Guide
Micaela Argueta
has been involved in Montessori education since 2012 and loves the way Montessori gives attention to the independence and individual needs of each person, its commitment to peace and global citizenship, and the development of learner ownership. She is an AMI certified elementary guide, has a Master of Art in Teaching Elementary Education (Bilingual and English as a second language), and has spent time teaching in Argentina and Ecuador. When not at school, Micaela enjoys tea or coffee with her husband and biking around Portland with her family.
Brandi Nester (she/her)
Trillium Assistant
Brandi Nester learned about Montessori in college and has been involved ever since. She loves the independence and opportunities to learn life skills that Montessori provides for the children. Brandi has an AA degree in Early Childhood Education. She is very excited to be at Cascadia and to be working with the upper elementary age group. When Brandi is not at school, you will usually find her spending her afternoons walking and playing with her two dogs.
Kim Kuhle (she/her)
Willow Guide
Kim Kuhle
has been involved in Montessori for over 20 years. She appreciates the freedom that Montessori gives kids to move around their space, ask questions, be in tune with their own bodies, and explore what excites and fascinates them. Kim has a BS in Education from The University of Portland, an AMI elementary diploma from Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, and a Washington state teaching certificate (elementary and secondary). She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, gardening, and bird watching.
Amy Lilly (she/her)
Willow Assistant (mornings) & Reading Support
Amy Lilly
has been involved in Montessori education since the mid 1990s and has always been interested in the way Montessori gives children a concrete foundation upon which to build their knowledge. She has Primary Training through the Montessori Teacher Preparation of Washington and recently completed Orton-Gillingham training to be a tutor for students with dyslexia. Amy’s hobbies include trying new arts and crafts projects, designing succulent gardens, canning (especially unusual flavors like peach/sage, strawberry/vanilla, and pear/ginger), and textile arts.
Emery Hutley (they/them)
Willow Assistant (afternoons) & Student Support
Emery Hutley
has been involved in Montessori education since 2007, and has worked in both Primary and Elementary classrooms. They have degrees in Elementary and Secondary Education, AMI Primary certification from the Maria Montessori Institute in London, England, and AMI Elementary certification from CISM in Bergamo, Italy. They are currently completing an AMI Adolescent course through Train Montessori. Emery loves how the Montessori pedagogy allows students to follow their interests and learn at their own pace! In their spare time, Emery enjoys cross-stitching, walking, cooking, and listening to podcasts.
Middle School Faculty
Amy Renae Crocker (she/her)
Middle School - Cedar Guide
Amy Renae Crocker has been involved in Montessori education since 2010 and is fascinated by the way Montessori conceptualizes breaking large ideas down into small parts to stimulate student learning. She has a BA in mathematics, an AMI adolescent certificate, and has spent most of her teaching career at international schools in both West and East Africa working with students from around the world. Outside of school, Amy Renae likes to celebrate nerdy holidays, preserve and culture food, make music, and spend time outdoors.
Lars Sandåker (he/him)
Middle School - Cedar Guide
Lars Sandaker
has been involved in Montessori education since 2011 in both elementary and adolescent programs. He has completed the AMI adolescent orientation and started a thriving Montessori adolescent program just outside of Oslo, Norway. He is very enthusiastic about the way the Montessori method allows for more freedom, agency, and curiosity in the way that children learn. Lars enjoys reading, writing, playing music, playing sports like basketball and running, being out in nature, hiking and camping, and producing the podcast "Lars og Pål" (mostly in Norwegian).
If you think your child would thrive in a Montessori environment, give us a call or schedule a tour online. We would love for you to visit our school and learn more.
