Lowcountry Montessori School Staff
Administration and Office Staff
Amy Horn, Director, Health Guide, AMSEI, MEd., SC Certification A.Horn@Lowcomo.com
Horn, previously a Montessori teacher at E.C. Montessori School in Beaufort, has dedicated her career to education. After receiving her Master’s Degree in 1996, Horn taught in a variety of settings including elementary and high school. In addition, Horn has been the LMS Planning Committee Co-Chair since the inception of the school in April 2013, and became the Board Chair after the school’s charter was approved in July 2013. Her love and passion for the school, extensive education background, and experience in the Montessori Method gives the school a leader who is dedicated to its vision paired with the knowledge to provide excellence in education. Amy Horn has a SC teacher certification in Health K-12 and Montessori Lower Elementary.
Sarah Fox, Assistant Director, B.S. Psychology, AMSA, S.Fox@Lowcomo.com
Sarah came to LMS from E.C. Montessori & Grade School. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, she promptly moved to the Washington, DC area to work on Capitol Hill. She then moved into a position at the National Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers to aid communities in their coordinated fight against child abuse. After a few years, she quit pursuing her dream of working in the theatre. During this time, she found the Tutor Training Program at the Lab School of Washington. Sarah fell in love with the arts-infused curriculum and the experiential and multi-sensory focus utilized at the school. She is thrilled to be at LMS, where those same principles are naturally incorporated in the Montessori Method.
Becky Shaffer, Special Education Coordinator and Guide, SC Certification B.Shaffer@Lowcomo.com
Becky loves working with the Lowcountry Montessori staff and students as a special education coordinator and guide. She earned her Bachelor's of Education Degree in Special Education from Columbia College and a Master's Degree of Education in Integrating Technology in the Classroom. She has been teaching for twenty one years and has taught in a variety of special education classrooms. Becky currently resides in Varnville, SC with her husband, Mayor Nat Shaffer and her three children; Parker, Banks, and Elizabeth. In her spare time she enjoys running, hosting at Hunting Island Campground, reading, camping, spending time with her family, and attending church. Her philosophy of education is every child has a love and joy for learning and it is her responsibility as a guide to provide her students an environment where they can foster their love for learning. She strives to provide her students with the highest quality of education that supports their physical, emotional, social and cognitive potential. She feels blessed to have the opportunity to teach at a school where people are committed to creating an environment that inspires children to be life-long learners and the whole child is being taught. Becky Shaffer has a SC teacher certificaiton in Special Education and Technology Education.
April Beall, Business Office Manager / After School Coordinator, April.Beall@Lowcomo.com
April has an Associate Degree in Marketing/Design from the University of Maryland. She used this education as Marketing Director for the South Eastern Division of HCA for a number of years. While stationed with her husband in Japan she attended the Tsuji Culinary Institute in the Osaka and Misawai, Japan. She graduated with a 3-year Advanced Culinary Arts and Management Degree which assisted her in opening a restaurant and catering company in North Georgia. She is also a 37 year veteran of National Girl Scouting. She has been with LMS for 5 years.
Michael Bell, Registrar and PowerSchool Administrator, M.Bell@Lowcomo.com
Michael, a seasoned student data manager is excited to work in the LMS setting. He has spent over eight years with Beaufort County School District managing the data of twenty-seven schools and two different calendars and most recently nearly five years at Jasper County School District. Mike is originally from Baxley Ga. and matriculated at Albany State University (Ga) where he received his B.Sc (Hon) Degree. He also attended Webster University. Mike moved to the area over thirty years ago to work as a Senior Planner charged with assisting the newly formed Town of Hilton Head Island in writing ordinances, developing policies and formulating land management goals. Mike has started and operated two businesses worked as a Development Consultant and as a Real Estate Executive. Mike has an extensive volunteer history throughout Beaufort County and especially on Hilton Head Island. As a life-long learner Mike is energized by the Montessori method of teaching. His passions include God, Family and Golf.
Rose Beck, Front Office Manager, R.Beck@Lowcomo.com
Rose is very excited to be part of The Lowcountry Montessori Family. Rose comes to LMS with an Associate Degree in Business and 12 years of homeschooling experience. Rose loves living in the Lowcountry and being a wife and a mother to two sons is an added sweet privilege. Rose enjoys serving in her community through her local church and enjoyed being a teacher to women and children there for many years. Rose is ready to serve and help students, teachers, and parents in the business office at Lowcountry Montessori School.
Martha Watkins, Facilities Manager/RTI Assistant, M.Watkins@Lowcomo.com
Martha is married to her husband, Jonathan and they have three children, Uriah, Noah, and Meda, all of whom attend Montessori School. She owned Superior Cleaning Company for seven years and homeschooled her children for five years before enrolling them here at Montessori. She began volunteering at the school at first and then became a part of the Montessori team as an assistant guide three years ago in Upper Elementary. She also has been the overseer of the cleaning crew here at the school for two years. Martha enjoys tennis, cooking, flower arranging for events and spending time with her family.
Lonnie Elliott, LPC, Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Addiction Counselor, L.Elliott@Lowcomo.com
People have been seeking me out to talk with me since I was a teenager. While in graduate school at USC I was intrigued by Adlerian Counseling, also known as Individual Psychology based on the work of Alfred Adler, a contemporary of Maria Montessori. As I continue learning about Montessori I see more and more similarities to Adler’s beliefs about children, families, education. When our children completed Montessori kindergarten we wished they could continue learning using the Montessori Method through graduating from high school but no such option existed in Beaufort at the time so I was excited when asked to join the staff at LMS. I have since split my time between LMS and Beaufort Counseling Services, looking forward to going to work each day.
Meredith Fent, M.Ed, Counselor, SC Certification M.Fent@Lowcomo.com
After graduating from the University of South Carolina-Aiken with a degree in Psychology, Meredith moved to California for adventure and to become a Graduate Gemologist with the Gemological Institute of America. After earning her degree, and one big earthquake later, she returned to South Carolina to pursue her Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of South Carolina-Columbia. Meredith has been an Elementary school counselor for 18 years. She taught in the Lower Elementary Montessori classroom for two. She has a true passion for working with children. A few years ago Meredith had the opportunity to be part of the team that brought the Montessori program into the public school system. Meredith is a counselor here at LMS to all Primary, Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary Students. She goes into the classrooms and teaches guidance lessons about problem solving and friendship using Kelso's Choices and Second Step. Meredith also works with students individually and in small groups. She sees students about family changes, grief and loss, anger, social skills, being the best me, etc. While not in school Meredith spends her time with family kayaking, camping, and going to the beach. She loves to read, exercise, bake, and make pottery. She has lived in Beaufort since 1998 and is very excited to be part of the LMS team! Meredith Fent has a SC teacher certification in Counseling and Montessori Lower Elementary.
.jpg)
Nicole Borriello, Middle and High School Counselor, B.S. Psychology, MEd in School Counseling, n.borriello@lowcountrymontessori.com
Nicole recently moved to Bluffton from Staten Island, New York along with her husband and three children. After graduating with her Bachelors in Psychology, she started teaching at an early intervention school. From there, she decided she wanted a career in School Counseling. While pursuing her Master’s from Long Island University, she became a substitute teacher for the NYC Department of Education. She did most of her subbing in high school with District 75 Special Needs children. Nicole is so happy to be able to join the Montessori family and be part of the unique educational environment that the school has to offer.
Caitlyn Creamer, Staff Assistant, C.Creamer@Lowcomo.com
Caitlyn Creamer is originally from a small town in Massachusetts. She came to Beaufort in 2015 where she now lives with her husband and 2 daughters. She first came to our school when her oldest daughter started attending pre-K classes. She then started as a substitute teacher where she was swept off her feet by the upper elementary students and amazing staff. Caitlyn was made a full time member of our community as an Upper Elementary Assistant Guide and she is excited to help nurture and continue her students enthusiasm and love of learning.
Ronda McElveen, R.N., School Nurse, R.McElveen@Lowcomo.com
Ronda has been an RN for since 1994. She graduated from Tri-County Technical College in Pendleton, SC. She previously worked in the hospital setting,and in home health care. She has lived in the Beaufort area for over 20 years. She was part of the LMS founding committee and has worked at LMS since its inception. She has two children and multiple animals. She is an advocate for animal adoption and rescue.
Jennifer Doto, School Nurse, J.Doto@Lowcomo.com
Jennifer has been an RN since 2004. She graduated from Helene Fuld School of Nursing in Camden County, NJ. She has worked in the hospital setting as well as home health and hospice. She moved to SC in 2017 with her husband and three daughters, and her daughters started attending LMS in 2019. Jennifer loves to spend time with her family and care for others. She also loves to read, garden, and cook.
Learning Center & Special Education
Lynn Powell, Special Education Guide, B.A. in Special Education. MEd. Learning Disabilities., SC Certification L.Powell@Lowcomo.com
Lynn is very excited to be a part of the Lowcountry Montessori team as a special education teacher. She feels truly blessed to have the opportunity to teach at such creative environment. She earned her Bachelor's of Education Degree in Special Education from Clemson University and a Master's Degree of Education in Learning Disabilities from Furman University. She has been teaching for over twenty years. Lynn currently resides in Beaufort, S.C. with her husband, Jim, and all their fur babies. In her spare time she enjoys the beach, reading, camping, spending time with her family and friends. Lynn’s love for learning and helping others led her to go back to school at the age of twenty-six to learn to read. She realized early on that she not only had the ability to change her own life, but that she could change the lives of others. Her philosophy of education is anyone can learn and will learn given the right tools.
Debbie Yates, Reading Coach, SC Certification D.Yates@Lowcomo.com
Debbie has a long career as a Montessorian. She has her Primary, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary Montessori credential from AMS. She has also earned her Reading Coach Endorsement through the SCDE. She also holds a SC teacher certification in Early Childhood Education.
Nicole Klumb, Reading Interventionist, SC Certification N.Klumb@Lowcomo.com
Denise Vertucci, Secondary Special Education Guide, D.Vertucci@LowcountryMontessori.com
High School Level
Matt Russell, HS Math Guide, SC Certification M.Russell@Lowcomo.com
Mr. Russell graduated from the University of Cincinnati of Ohio while majoring in Education and Mathematics. Mr. Russell previously taught in the inner city schools in Cincinnati, Ohio and was the head basketball coach in a suburban town outside of Cincinnati for 3 years. He is passionate and nerdy when it comes to Mathematics. He throughly enjoys exploring math along side the students and, as he would say, loves to “get messy with the math”. He has inspired to be an educator since he was in the 3rd grade and is extremely excited to teach at Lowcountry Montessori. Matt Russell holds a SC teacher certification in HS Math and is working on his Montessori Secondary Education credential.
Heather Skinner, High School English Guide, SC Certification, H.Skinner@lowcomo.com
Heather Skinner is a National Board Certified English teacher, wife of Reverend George Skinner, and mother of five — the youngest, Julianna Joy (JJ), attends LMS in Upper Elementary. She has taught nearly all grades from first through twelfth during her 18-year teaching career in charter and public schools in North and South Carolina. Prior to education, Heather applied her University of South Carolina (Columbia) undergraduate degree in Public Relations in communications positions with the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance and the SC Department of Commerce.
In her free time, Heather enjoys reading, writing, and scrapbooking. She and her family love to travel, hunt, fish, participate in sports, and play games.
Stephen Myers, Science Guide, AMSSI/II, SC Certification,. Science, S.Myers@Lowcomo.com
Stephen Myers earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from the University of South Carolina. He held an internship with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Beaufort County, South Carolina where he was then hired as a finfish scientist. The fish; including Cobia, Red Drum and Striper Bass; were raised to be released in the waterways and off the coasts of Beaufort County. After leaving the DNR, Stephen joined a wildlife tour group and lead dolphin and river tours in and around the waters of the May River.Today, Stephen is a high school science teacher. He teaches Marine Science and has moved to the Saint Helena Sound Marine Estuary where he continually works to educate today’s youth about the importance of taking proper care of The Low Country’s salt marshes. In their spare time, Stephen and his wife Kendra work to expand their local farm, Myers Family Farms, in order to provide fresh food to the ever-growing, ever caring Sea Island community. Stephen Myers holds a SC teacher certification in HS Science and Montessori Secondary Education.
Kelly Godwin, High School Social Studies Guide, Entering the PACE program for initial State of SC certification K.Godwin@lowcomo.com
Quitman Marshall, HS Journalism Guide, SC State Certified secondary language arts/English, Q.Marshall@Lowcomo.com
After nearly 20 years of teaching at various educational levels (poet in the schools in NY and across SC, middle school language arts teaching in Beaufort, and college English instruction) Quitman (Mr. Q) came to Lowcountry Montessori following two of his children. He received his Montessori training in Houston and Charleston, and looks forward to growing as a teacher with the LMS community. Quitman Marshall holds a SC teacher certification in HS English and attended Montessori Secondary Education training.
Middle School Level
Chad Rentz, MS Guide, ASMSI/II, MA Teaching, SC Cert. Science, C.Rentz@Lowcomo.com
Mr. Chad is a graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor of science in environmental and natural resources and a concentration in conservation biology. He possesses a masters of arts in teaching middle school science from the College of Charleston and The Citadel. He considers himself a creative thinker with an entrepreneurial spirit. Mr. Chad has spent the last few years teaching for two different magnet schools in Charleston and he oversaw the middle level science program at Coastal Montessori Charter School on Pawley's Island. When Mr. Chad is not teaching, you can find him with his family, at the beach, or at a live music event. Chad holds a SC teacher certification in MS and Montessori Secondary Education.
Camella is a Middle school teacher who teaches General Education courses for seventh and eighth grade students at Lowcountry Montessori School including Language, Science and Mathematics. Camella believes that Montessori education can teach the adolescent how to ground themselves in thinking about thinking (metacognition) skills, while honing an unprecedented manner of finding their internal voice; and that both prepare them for using critical thinking skills to navigate life choices. In addition to studying Montessori philosophy and taking it to actionable levels, she has manifested and conceptualized her own business in the behavioral health field entitled Soaring Dragonfly Institute. Camella is currently getting her Montessori teaching credential with Houston Montessori Institute. She enjoys playing the guitar, writing songs and any outdoor activity including hiking and cross-country skiing. She holds a BA in Liberal Studies at Armstrong State University and a master's degree in Professional Communication and Leadership at Georgia Southern University in Savannah, Georgia.
Upper Elementary Level
Deborah Savage, Upper Elementary Guide, SC Certification,AMSEI/II, D.Savage@Lowcomo.com
Deborah's first teaching job was at the age of 16, teaching English as a second language in Brazil. She received her SC teaching certificate in the 1980s. Previously, she owned and operated a private nationally accredited (NAEYC) preschool/kindergarten for 10 years. She taught music at Coosaw Elementary and enjoyed producing all of the school performances. She is a Certified LE and UE Montessori Teacher. Deborah loves her students and enjoys her time with them. In her free time she enjoys travel, spending time outdoors, fishing, gardening, and making art. Deborah holds a SC teacher certification in Early Childhood and Montessori Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary.
Peter Verbrick, Upper Elementary Guide, P.Verbrick@Lowcomo.com
Mr. Peter Verbrick has been in education for over 20 years. He has been an administrator as well as a classroom guide.
Carolyn Owens, Upper Elementary Guide, Working on transferring her certification to the State of SC. C.Owens@Lowcomo.com
Lisa Langley, Upper Elementary Assistant, L.Langley@Lowcomo.com
Lisa was first introduced to the writings of Maria Montessori in 1991, when she obtained a copy of The Absorbent Mind. Her fascination grew as she observed Montessori’s principles unfold in the development of her own growing children. Although an artist in training and practice, Lisa has been a student of Maria Montessori’s thought and philosophy for decades, and believes in providing children with a contemplative and creative place to foster their spirit of wonder and independence. Lisa holds degrees from both Rhode Island School of Design and Providence College. She has worked with clients in interior design projects as well as fine art commissions. Aside from her passion for education and the visual arts, Lisa is interested in America’s Slow Food movement and supporting sustainable agriculture in the Lowcountry.
Angie Desylva, Upper Elementary Assistant, A.Desylva@Lowcomo.com
Angelina was born in Staten Island, New York and was raised in Bluffton, SC. She lived in a few states and attended many different schools. In 2019 her family moved back to SC and she went to LMS with all her siblings. Being a former student she was able to witness the beautiful energy that flows within LMS and she fell in love with the relaxing environment. She loved it so much that she decided to come back and become an upper elementary assistant guide.
Lower Elementary Level
Heather Pottenger, Lower Elementary Guide, SC Certification, AMSEI/II, H.Pottenger@Lowcomo.com
Mrs. Heather begun her career in education as an assistant in the Upper Elementary classroom. She has a degree in biology. She then was sent to training for Lower and Upper Elementary Montessori Training. She completed her training and is now SC certified in Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary. She is currently a Lower Elementary Guide.
.jpg)
Boston Hulth, Lower Elementary Guide, MEd. in Education and Elementary Education, SC Certification in Early Childhood Education, AMSEI (Summer 2020) B.Hulth@Lowcomo.com
Boston and her daughter are so excited to be joining our Lowcountry Montessori family. Boston has been teaching first and second grade at Lady’s Island Elementary for the past thirteen years. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Political Science from Lander University and a Master’s of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina. As a life-long learner, the pursuit of a Montessori Certification was an easy choice. She has one daughter who is a Montessori student. They love spending family time together.
Kelly Collins, Lower Elementary Guide, Working on renewal of SC Certification. K.Collins@Lowcomo.com
Jessica Gonzalez, Lower Elementary Assistant, J.Gonzalez@Lowcomo.com
Devra Williams, Lower Elementary Assistant, D.Williams@Lowcomo.com
Ms. Devra is originally from York, Pennsylvania but she and her husband, John, relocated to the lowcountry in 2015. They have been married for over 30 yrs and have 3 adult daughters and 8 grandchildren. Ms. Devra has worked with children in some capacity for over 30yrs, including being a Girl Scout leader, a preschool teacher and a Headstart UPK teacher. She also ran a licensed home daycare in Western New York for 7yrs. prior to her relocation. Ms. Devra has her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development and Family Studies from American Public University. Over the past 5yrs she has been a familiar face at LMS working as a substitute guide in all classrooms. In her free time she can mostly likely be found with a child or two in tow, crafting, traveling or being creative in some way.
Tanya Rentz, Lower Elementary Assistant, T.Rentz@Lowcomo.com
Primary Level
Amy Feaver, Primary Guide, AMSEI, SC Certification,“Highly Qualified,” B.A., M.A.Ed. A.Feaver@Lowcomo.com
Originally from Northern Illinois, Amy received her BA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago. She began working in Montessori schools as an assistant in 2001 and became fascinated with the Montessori method of educating the whole child. After receiving her Primary certification in 2008, Amy taught children from the toddler level through elementary. Amy is very excited to be teaching in Primary, and looks forward to seeing all of the new faces this year. Amy joined LMS with her daughter, who is in the Upper Elementary program, and loves to see how happy she is every day. Amy looks forward to watching your children flourish and find their happiness. In her free time, she enjoys exploring this (new to her) region of the country, and spending time with her family.
Emily Moore, Primary Guide, B.A. Education, E.Moore@Lowcomo.com
Emily recently began her Primary Montessori training. Her past educational and work experiences will help her enrich the lives of all the children in our classroom. She was born and raised in a small town called Barnesville, Ohio. Graduating from Muskingum College in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Moderate to Mild Intervention Specialist degree for ages 3-21. After college, she worked in Ohio as an intervention specialist for six years. She and her husband moved to Beaufort in 2010. Here, she taught at an excellent Catholic School and earned Teacher of the Year 2014-2015. She has been with LMS in the role of Assistant Guide, PE Teacher, and Cross Country Coach.
Lindsay Neese, Primary Guide, SC Certification, L.Neese@Lowcomo.com
Lindsay is originally from the coast in NC. She graduated from East Carolina University in 2001, with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, concentrating in Textile Design. She was led to teaching soon after graduating but wasn’t being fulfilled teaching Middle School Art. She decided to go back to school and took the path of becoming a massage therapist, yoga teacher and a year ago began an Ayurvedic Health Counselor training. She found Lowcountry Montessori, as a parent, the first year it opened in 2014 and began teaching Art to all ages until 2017. It is the community of this school, her love of the Montessori classroom and being able to weave all her knowledge together that led her back to teaching in a primary Montessori classroom. She began her Primary Montessori training this past summer and is currently continuing her training throughout this 2019-2020 school year. In her free time, she enjoys being in nature, taking walks on the beach, and spending time with her two daughters.
Julia Diver, Primary Assistant, J.Diver@Lowcomo.com
Julia was raised on the south shore of Long Island, NY. Starting her Montessori career early as an Assistant Montessori teacher for infant through primary, while putting herself through college for Art. Always wanting to live in NYC, she moved to Queens with her husband and became a nanny for two lovely children . After having her first daughter Ruby, she and her husband Brian decided to add more adventure into our lives and move to Costa Rica. After two years of running a successful homemade ice cream shop, exploring the rainforest with all of its creatures and beauty, and giving birth to their second daughter Clover, they decided to move back to the states and landed in Bluffton, SC. She now lives on Lady's Island and has been working at LMS since it opened in 2014. She is happy to share her love of culture, food, and adventure with her new LMS community.
Leah Way, Primary Assistant, L.Way@Lowcomo.com
Leah has been with LMS since it opened in 2014. She has been a Primary Assistant for the last 2 years in Ms. Kate’s room. Ms. Leah has had formal and informal training in the Montessori methodology. She holds a Paraprofessional Guide certificate from IGS and hopes to go through the remainder of her Montessori training in the summer of 2019. Leah is very enthusiastic about Montessori and enjoys working with and educating children in a Montessori setting.
Laura McKeown, Primary Assistant, ASMEC, LL.McKeown@Lowcomo.com
Laura Lopresto-McKeown has been involved in Montessori education for almost 20 years. She has served as a primary and elementary Montessori guide, as well as a school leader. Laura is a wife and the mother of a four year old girl. She is studying Developmental Psychology and School Development with a focus on building communities of learners at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Integrated Arts Teachers
Cabell Heyward, Practical Life, Art, and Drafting Guide, C.Heyward@Lowcomo.com
Raised in Richmond by parents who were both career educators, Cabell loved learning but not being educated. He found himself in engineering school trying to make the best of it when he discovered Industrial Design, a program where engineering was not a set of abstract concepts, but rather a hands-on endeavor involving materials derived from nature and end-users that are human, with all their needs, vulnerabilities and frailties. He remained at Georgia Tech for nearly a decade designing and building unique equipment for people with disabilities. He then fell into a deep dark hole, but later resurfaced in Athens where he was among his own kind and received his MFA in painting and drawing. Marriage brought him to Beaufort and the birth of his son focused his concerns around those things that make for an enduring sense of contentment. After a ten year stint in the home renovation field, Cabell discovered the Lowcountry Montessori School, an unexpected concentration of very dedicated yet open-minded and inquisitive people, for whom education is never routine, but an ever-evolving series of experiments toward the lofty goal of a self-made graduate.
Suzane Gonzalez, Athletic Director/PE Guide - S.Gonzalez@Lowcomo.com
Ms. Suzane was born and raised in Portland, Maine and moved to Beaufort in 2020. She went to Colby-Sawyer College for Sport Management with a focus in Recreational Leadership. Ms. Suzane serves part time in the Army National Guard and is in Officer Candidate School (OCS). She played soccer and basketball through high school and then picked up rugby in college and played for 7 years.
Elise Pates, Theatre/Music Guide, E.Pates@Lowcomo.com
Elise Pates (mezzo soprano) graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music with her Master’s degree in Voice Performance in May of 2020. Pates was delighted to have her operatic debut as Enfant in L’enfant et les Sortilèges in the fall of 2018. She has since performed in roles such as the Son in The Juniper Tree, Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte, and Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel. Pates has performed as the contralto soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria, and the alto soloist in the Zelda Symphony of the Goddesses tour. Pates also has a background in musical theatre productions where she has performed as Elizabeth Benning in Young Frankenstein, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, and The Lady of the Lake in Spamalot. Pates’s true passion is found in teaching. Beginning her career in 2013, she’s been teaching piano and voice to students of all ages and backgrounds. Learning should be a FUN experience where we work towards making progress, not making perfect! Her voice students have received top marks at district and state competitions.
Francy Johannan, Spanish Guide, SC Certification, F.Johannan@Lowcomo.com
Mrs. Johannan is originally from Colombia (S. America), a graduate from La Salle University in Modern Languages, also has a Masters degree in Education and various Professional development in ESL/EFL at the National University. Since early age to her 16 she was involved in escenic arts and dance. She has coordinated language immersion programs back in Colombia where her students traveled with her to Canada and London to engage in the culture and practice the language (English). She has dedicated her career forging a bond with students, one that will foster a love of language and the value of cultural diversity, respect and appreciation of the difference. Her teaching career in Bogotά, includes 25 years of experience teaching EFL k-11 in Bilingual schools and as a University professor for forming teachers at La Salle University. She has been part of global exchange teaching programs and has worked as ESL,Dual Immersion-Spanish and Dance teacher in the United States. She loves living in the Lowcountry and loves even more the opportunity to be part of the great family at LMS.
Samantha Campbell, Ecology Guide, BS. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Master Naturalist Certification from Lowcountry Institute. Winner of Keep America Beautiful's "Excellence in Education" award. S.Campbell@Lowcomo.com
Samantha Campbell is a naturalist and educator who loves sharing her love of the natural world with others. She has worked with LMS students to create outdoor classrooms where they garden to attract wildlife, raise native butterflies, conduct scientific research, as well as grow food. She has worked on South Carolina’s beaches with the SCDNR Marine Turtle Conservation and Genetics Project for the last 13 years. Additionally, she has worked internationally with sea turtle protection projects, wildlife hospitals, and environmental education centers. She holds a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Miami and completed a thesis on Community-based Sea Turtle Conservation in Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania. In addition to serving as the Ecology & Gardening Educator at Lowcountry Montessori School, she co-leads eco-tours to Costa Rica every Spring and gives summer presentations on native wildlife for the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island. She lives in historic downtown Beaufort with her husband, Moon Longo, and their two cats, Eddie & Talula.
Janine Cole, Art Guide, SC Certified in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, J.Cole@Lowcomo.com
Janine grew up in New Jersey and studied Early Childhood, Human Services and Art at Montclair State University. She has worked with children in many diverse settings for most of her life. Her family of 3 moved to Bluffton, SC, in 2009 and shortly after her family became 4. Several years later, Janine began teaching Art to children. In 2019 she joined the LMS community and is thrilled to be here.
Communication Directory
For Matters Related to the following, Contact Lead Teacher:
Child’s progress
Classroom activities
Specialist’s Class procedures
Behavior and discipline
Field Trips
For Matters Related to:
Facilities (Administrator of Facilities Martha Watkins, M.Watkins@lowcomo.com)
Legal matters (Director, Amy Horn, a.horn@lowcomo.com)
Fundraising (Director, Amy Horn, a.horn@lowcomo.com)
Public relations (Director, Amy Horn, a.horn@lowcomo.com)
Pedagogical issues (Director, Amy Horn, a.horn@lowcomo.com)
Communication (Assistant Director, Sarah Fox, s.fox@lowcomo.com)
Policy (Administrators Amy Horn: a.horn@lowcomo.com, Sarah Fox: s.fox@lowcomo.com or Becky Shaffer: b.shaffer@lowcomo.com)
Staff (Administrators Amy Horn: a.horn@lowcomo.com, Sarah Fox: s.fox@lowcomo.com or Becky Shaffer: b.shaffer@lowcomo.com)
For Matters Related to:
Early/After School (April Beall, april.beall@lowcomo.com)
After School Schedule (April Beall, april.beall@lowcomo.com)
Daily Scheduling (Data Administrator, Michael Bell m.bell@lowcomo.com)
Student Records (Data Administrator, Michael Bell m.bell@lowcomo.com)
Observations (Director, Amy Horn, a.horn@lowcomo.com)
Registration (Data Administrator, Michael Bell, m.bell@lowcomo.com)
Admissions (Assistant Director, Sarah Fox, s.fox@lowcomo.com)
For Matters Related to:
Parent Volunteering (Rose Beck, r.beck@lowcomo.com)
Billing/Account (April Beall, april.beall@lowcomo.com)
For Matters Related to:
Testing Info & Schedules (Becky Shaffer, b.shaffer@lowcomo.com))
High School Transition (Nicole Borriello, n.borriello@lowcomo.com)
For Matters Related to:
Special Education (Becky Shaffer, b.shaffer@lowcomo.com)