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OUR
TEAM
ADMINISTRATION
Edward
Jackson, head of school. B.B.A., Kennesaw
State University; M.Ed., Loyola College, Maryland; AMI
Primary Diploma, Montessori Institute of Atlanta; AMI
Elementary Diploma, Washington Montessori Institute.

Jackson
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Edward
Jackson
is Charles Towne Montessori's Head of School, a position
he has held since 2006.
A
former primary and elementary teacher at Charles Towne
Montessori, he was a lead-teacher in the primary program
at First Montessori School of Atlanta, Ga., and headmaster
of Pawley's Island Montessori School in Pawleys Island,
S.C.
Jackson
holds Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)
diplomas at the pre-school (primary) and elementary
levels, as well as a bachelor's of business administration
degree in finance from Kennesaw State University and
a master's degree in education from Loyola College
in Maryland.
Before
embarking on a Montessori career, Jackson distinguished
himself for more than seven years in the Atlanta business
and arts communities. His involvement included: tour
director, rehearsal assistant, alumni secretary and
development/public relations director for the world-renowned
Atlanta Boy Choir; assistant to the managing principal
of Towers Perrin Consulting; and credit/financial
analyst for Trust Company Bank and ITT Commercial
Finance.
Jackson
maintains memberships in the Association Montessori
Internationale (AMI), the North American Montessori
Teacher's Association (NAMTA), and the Pi Sigma Epsilon
Business Fraternity. He is also certified in Musikgarten
and Orff-Schulwerk Level 1 music training.
A
member of the Rotary Club of Charleston, he is active
in civic and community affairs. He and his family
live in Mount Pleasant, S.C.
FACULTY
Elementary
Program (more)
Virginia
Wannamaker, lead teacher. B.A., Marquette
University; AMI Elementary Diploma and M.Ed., Loyola
University, Maryland.
Wannamaker
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Ms.
Virginia holds a bachelor's degree from Marquette
University in Milwaukee, WI. She received her elementary
AMI diploma from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee.
Her student teaching was in the Milwaukee Public Montessori
School system and at Paula Polk Lillard's Forest Bluff
Montessori School in Lake Bluff, Ill.
New
to Charles Towne Montessori in 2009, Wannamaker was
first introduced to Montessori 20 years ago as a member
of a primary class in Pawley's Island, S.C. Now as
a teacher, she says she is very excited to be a part
of the CTM team.
Primary
Program (more)
Jennifer
Cerny, lead teacher. B.S., University of
Cincinnati; AMI Primary Diploma, Montessori Institute
of Atlanta.

Cerny
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Lead
primary teacher Jennifer Cerny, who holds a bachelor's
degree in materials science engineering, started her
career as an engineer who worked with fiberglass, cutting-edge
medical device technology, and aerospace research and
development.
But
she found that something was missing - that engineering
wasn't challenging or fulfilling in the right ways.
"I was thinking about working with children,
since it was something I really enjoyed, but was not
sure I could work in traditional schools since I did
not believe it was a good model/method of teaching.
Luckily around the time I was contemplating my career
path, a friend introduced me to Montessori theory
and practice and I absolutely fell in love, deciding
right then and there that I had finally found my calling.
"
Cerny
earned her AMI certification from the Montessori Institute
of Atlanta in June 2007 and joined CTM two months
later. In her free time, she enjoys reading and the
outdoors. She is an enthusiastic traveler and thrives
on seeing other cultures so she can bring what she
learns to her students.
Karmelah
Grevan,
lead primary teacher. B.A., Arizona State
University; M.A. in counseling/ psychology, University
of Humanistic Studies, Phoenix, AZ; AMI Primary Certification,
Certified in
Early Childhood Programs, Univeristy of WI Extension.

Grevan
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Ms. Karmelah, a lead primary teacher at Charles
Towne Montessori, holds
a bachelor's degree in humanities from Arizona State
University, a master's degree in counseling psychology
from the University of California and an AMI primary
diploma from the Montessori Institute of Atlanta.
Grevan
has more than 15 years of experience as an educator
of young children, holding positions such as lead
teacher, academic director and administrator. She
also has served as Montessori teacher trainer in geography
and cultural studies at the New Gate School in Sarasota,
FL.
Choosing
to be an educator after years of conducting a counseling
practice in Phoenix, Grevan says she is excited to
be part of the 'Montessori' solution to so many issues
our global community poses.
Infant/Toddler
Program: (more)
Rigel
Whytsel, toddler lead teacher.

Whytsel
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Mr. Rigel is a Montessori Certified Toddler Teacher
with six years of Toddler experience. He is currently
attending classes at Trident Technical College in pursuit
of a business degree so that he can open his own Montessori
School. Rigel moved to Charleston in September 2008
from Tucson, Ariz., but he has been visiting family
in the area for the last 10 years. Rigel also has done
volunteer work in the past helping relocate families
and he loves to travel. In addition, he has a construction
background and doubles as our maintenance man.
Barbara
Shuman, infant/toddler coordinator.

Shuman
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Ms.
Barbara has been working with infant and toddlers
for the last seven years as a Montessori Certified
Teacher. Originally from France, Barbara began her
career with children when she moved to the United
States in 2000. Three years later, Barbara received
her AMS Montessori credentials and has worked in several
Montessori schools as an infant and toddler directress
in Florida and Charleston. Over the last years, Barbara
has participated in multiple national conferences
as a presenter and has been to Europe several times
to study the Pikler Approach. As an RIE Associate,
Barbara has been working in multiple socioeconomic
backgrounds implementing the RIE / Montessori principles
in Center Based Care. In addition from serving as
infant and toddler coordinator at CTM, Barbara is
a toddler trainer at the Center for Montessori Teacher
Education in North Carolina. Barbara will be graduating
in December with a bachelor's degree in Psychology.
Mary
Karen Davis, toddler lead teacher, B.S., College
of Charleston.
Davis
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Ms.
Mary Karen grew up in High Point, N.C., but moved
to Charleston to attend the College of Charleston,
from which she received a bachelor's degree in sociology.
At the college, she was introduced to Montessori through
a part-time job as an assistant Montessori teacher
and after-school director. She's been teaching in
Charleston-area Montessori schools for the past 12
years.
Ms.
Mary Karen earned her infant-toddler training from
the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in North
Carolina and her certification for 3- to 6-year-olds
from the North American Montessori Center in Canada.
She lives in Mount Pleasant with her husband and two
dogs.
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