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 Oscar Avila, Primary Assistant in a bilingual classroom and
Extended Day Assistant,
was born in
Guatemala
and completed his Music Education degree at the Jesus Maria
Alvarado Escuela Normale before moving to the
U.S.
in 2003. Before joining MSC in January 2009 he worked as
music teacher and Director of Musicians at the
Bethel
Worship
Center
in
Camden
. Oscar is certified in the Orff music method and is
implementing it at MSC, and
has completed the IGS Montessori Paraprofessional Course.
 Kenia Dayeh Bermudez, Toddler Assistant in a bilingual classroom, was
born in the
Dominican Republic
and attended the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Ureña-Santo
Domingo. Prior
to joining the MSC faculty in January 2009, Kenia worked as
a pharmacy technician, operations manager of a staffing
agency, and call center administrator.
She has completed the IGS Montessori
Paraprofessional Course.
Janet Calkins, Extended Day Assistant, has been a resident of
Ohio
and
Texas
prior to moving to
Camden
in 1994. She began working at MSC in January 1995. Janet has completed the IGS Montessori Paraprofessional
Course. Janet lives in
Camden
and enjoys her
computer and decorating shirts during her “spare” time.
Judy Christensen,
Upper Elementary Assistant, holds a BA in Mathematics
Education with a minor in Computer Science and Statistics
from Brigham Young University and an M.Ed. in Technology in
Education from Lesley University.
Before joining MSC in October 2009, she was a Math
teacher at Camden High School, Dent Middle School, and
Indian River State College.
Judy is a 1984 graduate of Camden High School and has
recently moved back to Camden with her husband and three
children.
She is also the President of the Young Women’s
Organization in the youth group of her church.
Judy enjoys spending time with her family and when
time permits, she enjoys reading, jogging, and riding her
Harley Davidson Sportster 883L.
Alice Clark, Upper Elementary Classroom Director, is certified by
the Montessori Institute of America. She completed her
training with the
North Carolina
Center
for Montessori Teacher Education
(American
Montessori Society) for ages 9-12.
Alice
began teaching at the Primary level in 1983 and moved to the
Upper Elementary class in 1989. Prior to becoming a teacher,
she had experience in health education at the Rusk Spinal
Cord Injury Rehabilitation Center.
Alice
attended the
College
of
William
and Mary and the
University
of
South Carolina
, and completed her BS degree in nursing from the University
of Missouri-Columbia. She served on the founding Board of
Directors  of
MSC for 4 years and has rejoined that group numerous times.
She resides in Lugoff with her husband, Jeff. Their two
college-graduate daughters are
Montessori
School
alumnae.
Brenda Barrett Coleman, Lower Elementary Director, holds a BA in Public
Affairs from
Columbia
College
and is working toward an MA in education from the
University
of
Phoenix
. She joined MSC in 2002 and is certified by MEPI at the
Lower Elementary level. Brenda’s son Barrett is an MSC alumnus.
 Kisa Flerx, Lower Elementary Director, holds a B. A. in American
Studies from the
University
of
Delaware
. She has been a member of the MSC faculty since 1992. She
is certified by MIA at the Early Childhood level and by MEPI
at the Lower Elementary level. Both her children attended
MSC. Kisa is also the
school Arborist.
 Wilton Hickman, Director of Facilities, joined the MSC staff in
August 2008. A 1991 graduate of
Bishopville
High School
,
Wilton
has worked as a warehouseman, custodian, and maintenance man
prior to assuming
his present position.
 Meredith Hines, Toddler Classroom Director, Extended Day
Director and Summer Director, is a native of
New York
, now residing in Lugoff. Meredith worked at The Montessori
School of Camden with the Toddler class and the Extended Day
program in 1996 through 1998, and rejoined the MSC faculty
serving as Director of Extended Day and Toddler Director.
Meredith has also lived in
Virginia Beach
where she worked at a Montessori school. She is certified
by MEPI at the Early Childhood level and is completing her
course at the Infant/Toddler level as well. Meredith is
enrolled at
Central
Carolina
Technical
College
in pursuit of her bachelor’s degree.
 John Moncure, Headmaster, was born in
Victoria
,
Texas
, attended The Citadel, and graduated from
West Point
in 1972. He served in cavalry regiments in
Germany
and
Texas
, and held
teaching positions at West Point,
Davidson
College
, the
University
of
North Carolina-Charlotte
, and the
French
Cavalry
School
in
Saumur
,
France
before retiring in 1997 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
John joined the Montessori school in
Camden
in 1998 and was an adjunct professor of history at
Coker College
,
South Carolina
. Beginning in 2004 he became Dean of the Apollo Institute of
Health Sciences in
Hyderabad
,
India
, then Principal of Eton Academy, a bilingual Montessori
school in
Beijing
,
China
, and Director of Operations of the International Montessori
Council. He has also served as a
member of the boards of directors of First Steps of Kershaw
County, the Kershaw County Historical Society, was a
founding member of the South Carolina Montessori Alliance (SCMA)
and was president of the Board of Directors of Montessori
Educational Programs International (MEPI). He currently
serves as Treasurer of the International Montessori Council
and member of the School Accreditation Commission and the
Teacher Education Committee of that organization, and
recently rejoined the Boards of MEPI and SCMA. John has
authored three books and numerous articles, graduated from
the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and holds a
Ph.D. in European history from
Cornell
University
.
 Chrissy Muehlbauer, Primary Assistant, has been a member of the
faculty at MSC since 2005.
She had 14 years of early childhood experience
including Lead Teacher and Childcare Center Director before
coming to MSC, holds certificates in Early Childhood
education from
Waukesha
County
Technical
College
in
Wisconsin
, and has completed the IGS Montessori Paraprofessional
Course.
Mariyam Petiwala, Primary Classroom Director, is an alumni
 parent
who resides in
Camden
with her family. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business
Management and Accounting from
Bombay
University
. Mariyam began her association with MSC in 1997 and became
classroom director in 1998. She is certified by MEPI at the
Early Childhood level and is an instructor for the Early
 Childhood
course offered by the Institute for Guided Studies. Her
daughter Aliza attended MSC.
Karen Porter, Administrative Assistant, was valedictorian at
Boyd
Anderson
High School
and attended
Broward
Community College
in
Ft.
Lauderdale
, FL. Prior to coming to MSC in 2007 she worked in
Indiana
as a teacher at Dixon Dance Studio, Manager of My Way LLC,
Internet & Computer Company, and Administrative
Assistant of Ruff Drug Task Force. Her hobbies include
dancing, sewing, and baking, and her favorite activity is
spending time with her three grandchildren.
She has completed the IGS Montessori Paraprofessional
Course.
 Sandra Tisdale, Receptionist, was born in
Atlanta
,
Georgia
and joined the MSC faculty in 2004 as a Lower Elementary
Assistant, moving to her present position in 2007.
She studied human biology at
Kaplan
University
, completed the IGS Montessori Paraprofessional Course in
2004, and holds a certificate as a Montessori Assistant. She
was a member of Montessori faculty in both Early Childhood
and Lower Elementary levels at Pine Tree Hill Elementary.
Sandra is a former Girl Scout leader and enjoys line
dancing. Her daughter Katy also worked at MSC.
Karen Tolliver, Primary Classroom Director, holds an AA from
Columbia
Junior College
and is enrolled at
Central
Carolina
Technical
College
working toward her BA in Early Childhood Education. A member
of the faculty since 2001, Karen is certified by MEPI at the
Early Childhood level. She enjoys singing and listening to
music.
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