Jessica Martin –Preschool/Kindergarten
Jessica has been a teacher at DVMS since 2001. She graduated from St. Mary’s College in 2001 with a bachelor degree in Child Psychology. She then received her Montessori certificate in 2005 from the Montessori Teacher Education Center, San Francisco Bay Area. Jessica is a native to the Bay Area and enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her family.
Shirley Bachus – Preschool/Kindergarten
A native of Southern California, Shirley moved to San Francisco in the 60’s and then to Santa Cruz. When she and her family were assigned to UNESCO she had the good fortune to travel and live in Asia, Africa and Western Samoa. Returning to the United States in 1985, she soon joined the DVMS family and loves being at DVMS for all these wonderful years. In her spare time Shirley is a food, art, music and museum devotee.
Krista Cain – Outdoor Classroom
Krista grew up in Lafayette with her parents and her brother. She first began working at DVMS in 1997 as an assistant teacher and has worked with infants/toddlers and pre-school age children. She completed Montessori training in 2000 and worked as a head teacher until shortly before the birth of her first daughter. She now has two young daughters and returned to DVMS in the fall of 2011 to head the Outdoor Classroom. Krista loves to spend time doing art with her two daughters and playing outdoors with her family.
Christine Edson – Preschool/Kindergarten
Christine began her association with DVMS as a parent. After substituting at DVMS, she decided to return to school to complete her Montessori certificate for ages 3-6 years. Christine has worked as an assistant, taught Kindergarten Enrichment and Outdoor Classroom. She co-head teaches the Full-day/Expanded-day class. When she is not at DVMS Christine enjoys gardening and is a member of a community garden. She also plays Bocce Ball on the “Rolling Blunders” and enjoys taking her dog for walks.
Marilyn Ragan – Extended Care and Kindergarten Enrichment
Marilyn was born and lived in Berkeley for 19 years before relocating to Concord as a young wife and mother. DVMS was the school of choice for her two children, Jason and Kris and later her two grandsons Sean and Simon. Her Pre-Primary Montessori teaching credential is from St. Nicholas Training Center in London along with her Lower and Upper Elementary training. Marilyn has spent her entire 34 year career at DVMS, also working in the Full Day Two’s, Pre-K and Elementary programs, and as former Administrator.
Lori Sciacqua – Preschool/Kindergarten
Lori lives in Concord with her wonderful husband Jon, her beautiful daughter Grace and their Labrador Retriever Milo. She enjoys playing with her daughter, baking, running, camping, backpacking and working in her garden.
Lori graduated from CSU, Hayward with a bachelor degree in Business Administration. She later returned to school and earned her Montessori Certificate in Early Childhood Education from St. Mary’s College in 2005.
Michelle Siegel – preschool/kindergarten
Michelle Siegel is currently co-head teacher of the Full day/Expanded Day Preschool/Kindergarten class at DVMS. With a love for the Montessori philosophy, the end of the 2010/2011 school year marks Michelle’s 8th year at DVMS. She has worked with children of many age groups including infant/toddler, preschool, elementary and high school age children, both in the formal classroom as well as extra curricular activities.
Michelle had a calling to work with children right out of high school and began her education in the area of early childhood development. She attended both LMC and DVC earning her credential in early childhood education in 2005. It wasn’t long after that Michelle sought out a way to enter into the Montessori Credential program and earned her AMS credential in 2010.
Michelle and her husband are beginning their own family starting with their 2 dogs, Lacy and Izzy, and will soon welcome the arrival of their first child in June 2011. The child will undoubtedly attend DVMS.
Sharon Tye – Preschool/Kindergarten
Born and raised in the Central Valley, Sharon moved to the Bay Area and has lived most of her life in this beautiful place. Not until she had a daughter of her own did she realize how much she loved children. After being a room parent at DVMS, she took Montessori classes at St. Mary’s College and received her Montessori certificate from Fountainhead Montessori. Sharon has been with DVMS since 1988, loves dancing, concerts, local theater, horseback riding, cattle drives and nature!