Staff

Ms. Sharon

Owner

Ms. Sharon  is the Head of School and owner of La Bella Vita Montessori School. She has Bachelor Degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education and is a state certified teacher for Kindergarten through 8^th Grade. She has taught at every age level, including being the principal of an Elementary school. Sharon also holds a Bachelors’ degree in Business Management, a Master’s Degree in Management, and an MBA along with her Principal Certification. Children are her true passion and La Bella Vita is her “baby”. She always taught with “unconventional” methods and later discovered that her methods were Montessori. She then left teaching and was a site coordinator for another Montessori and audited her Montessori training. She then followed her true passion and opened her own school in 2014. Along with children, Sharon has a huge passion for dogs and is very active in multiple dog rescues. Sharon and her husband Scott have been married for 28 years and live on 10 acres in Missouri Valley. Together they have 3 labs, Sophie, Maya, Maggie and a feral kitty cat. They also have 3 labs that have passed on, Sara, Bailey and Molly who hold special places in their hearts. 

Ms. Amy

 Executive Director

Ms. Amy has worked in a Montessori classroom for 18 years and has been the Executive Directress for La Bella Vita since 2018. She attended UNO and graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with an Endorsement in Early Childhood Education and continues to hold her teaching certificate. She also has completed her Montessori Infant/Toddler certification from the Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training Institute. She has consistently worked with young children throughout her life. She has been married for 12 years to her husband Adam and has 2 children, Enzo and Neva, who attend La Bella Vita. She has a dog named Bruce and a cat named Mashmallow. When she has time she enjoys reading, sewing, working in the yard, traveling, watching too much T.V. and spending time with family and friends. 

Ms. Pam

Director of Community

Ms. Pam has been teaching in a Montessori classroom since 2009 and moved to Director of Community in 2020. She has always loved Montessori as it is similar to her own parenting style. She enjoys watching children learn organically, figure things out on their own, explore their environment and develop a natural love of learning. As Director of Community, she loves forming bonds with the children and their families and being a support system to staff. She graduated from Marian High School, attended UNO and holds her Infant/Toddler Montessori Certification which she received from the Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training Institute. She lives with her husband and high school sweetheart, Joe, their 4 boys (Riley, Seamus, Finn & Larkin), their dog (Peter), leopard gecko (Charlie) and guinea pigs (Pip & Freddy). Ms. Pam has a small obsession with Harry Potter. She loves coffee, enjoys cooking and baking, reading books whenever she can, crafting, knitting, photography, holidays and spending time with her family. 

Ms. Alice

Director of Operations

Ms. Alice was born and raised in Mississippi. She moved to Nebraska in 2012 and decided to call it home. She has been teaching in a Montessori classroom for the last 5 years. She attended Mississippi State University and graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences. She also has completed her Montessori Infant/Toddler certification from the Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training Institute. She has consistently worked with children of all ages throughout her life. She has been married for 4 years to her husband and has 2 children. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, traveling, playing guitar, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Ms. Tina

Toddler Directress

Ms. Tina has been teaching Toddlers as a Lead Teacher since 2010, but has been working in childcare since 2005. She got her start in Montessori in 2016 at La Bella Vita Montessori School. She has an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Metropolitan Community College and completed her Infant/Toddler Montessori Certification from the Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training Institute. She has a black lab, Levi (born in 2013) and a cat, Puck (born 2001). She spends a lot of time with her nieces, Joanie (born 2011), and Elise (born 2015). She enjoys reading, writing and has a close relationship with Netflix. 

Ms. Tammy

Toddler Directress

Ms. Tammy has been working in Montessori for over 30 years. She thoroughly enjoys observing children as they delight in new discoveries and guiding them through the learning process. She has a BA degree in Elementary Education from the University of Sioux Falls and a MS degree in Elementary Education through the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She took the Montessori Infant/Toddler Training through the Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training Institute in the early 90’s and recently took it again to update her Montessori certification. She has completed the Early Childhood Care and Education Management Training Course and has taken classes towards an Early Childhood Endorsement. She holds teaching certificates in both Nebraska and Iowa. She lives with her husband Chris in Council Bluffs. She is active at Walnut Grove Baptist Church, where she serves on the Board of Christian Education, the Board of Elders, teaches Children’s Church, and helps wherever needed. In her free time she enjoys music, movies, sports, taking pictures, crafts, going for walks, continuing her education, and spending time with family and friends.

Ms. Mia

Toddler Teacher

Ms. Mia began working at La Bella Vita Montessori in 2019 and has over 7 years of experience working with children as a nanny. Her commitment is to provide loving care and guidance, to encourage education, and to promote physical, emotional, and social development to children in partnership with parents.  She currently attends UNO and is working towards her BA in Psychology, focusing on child development with a minor in Spanish.  She comes from a large family with whom she spends much of her time. Outside of school and work, she loves anything involving music and art, going to shows and supporting local artists whenever she can. Most evenings, she enjoys crafting, researching a variety of topics, and watching tv.

Ms. Courtney

Toddler Teacher

Ms. Courtney has always had a love for children and and the want to help them learn and grow. She began working in early childhood education in 2017. She worked at an In-Home childcare center as both an infant and toddler teacher where they implemented individual learning and friendship skills. She graduated from Northeast Community College with an Associates of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education. She recently moved to Omaha to live with her boyfriend and begin a new chapter in life. She is excited to continue her career in the Early Childhood field and looks forward to continuing her education by receiving her Montessori Infant/Toddler certification. She grew up outside of Norfolk with her parents and older sister that has cerebral palsy. Her family has two dogs, Cooper and Lady. In her free time, besides babysitting for multiple family friends, she enjoys camping, going to concerts and hanging out with family and friends.

Ms. Mona

Early Childhood Directress

Ms. Mona has over 20 years of experience as a Montessori teacher. She knew she wanted to be a teacher since the second grade and she began her Montessori career in 1999 as an assistant. Having discovered her passion for the Montessori way, she enrolled in an Early Childhood training program a few months later.  She spent the next 18 years teaching ages 3-6 and has loved every minute of it! She has four grown children: Ben, Zack, Liz, Abby, and an amazing 10-year-old granddaughter, Kaelynn. Ms. Mona enjoys spending her free time with family and friends, exploring new places around town, reading, writing, and playing the ukulele. She is very strong in her faith and believes in the power of prayer.

Ms. Susie

Early Childhood Directress

Ms. Susie joined our LBV Montessori family in the summer of 2017 when she moved back to Omaha.  She was born in Kansas City, MO but moved to Omaha, attended Arbor Heights then graduated Westside High School in 1975. She attended UNL and UNO, then found Montessori. Ms. Susie completed her Montessori Primary training in 1982, in the subject areas of Math, Language, Cultural, and Practical Life.  She relocated to Denver, CO in 1986 and remained there until June 2016, working as a Montessori Early Childhood teacher. During her free time she enjoys playing card and board games, reading, needle work, and spending time with her dogs and family. 

Ms. Claudia

Early Childhood Teacher

Ms. Claudia started at La Bella Vita Montessori in 2021 as an assistant in our Early Childhood Class but has previously working in Montessori for over 10 years both as an Assistant and Spanish teacher. She fell in love with its philosophy that’s filled with care and attention to each child. She loves the respect towards kids and helping them reach their maximum potential that Montessori provides. The method reminds us that each child is unique, has their own feelings, personalities, and is full of teachings that we as parents often forget. 

Later in her career she was given the opportunity to apply the Montessori method, but with even greater responsibility in teaching Spanish in Montessori classes.  From there she realized that the best way for these kids to learn Spanish is by ensuring they’re having fun while doing it. In this was it becomes an extension of their own curiosity and thirst to learn more. Being able to teach them in this style has been one of her passions since she started working as an assistant and Spanish teacher.   She looks forward to bring her experiences and style of teaching to LBV. 

Ms. Amelia

Early Childhood Teacher

Ms. Amelia started her Montessori journey in 2018, where she worked in a Nido room for 1 1/2 years, then as an EC teacher where she has truly found her passion! She attended Asbury University in Kentucky and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and a minor in Literature. Although her degree doesn’t line up with childcare, her life is flooded with experience in caring for children  – from babysitting, to in-home respite care for families with children with disabilities, to Montessori schools, and nannying. She was born in Wisconsin, but spent majority of her childhood and teen years growing up in Indonesia and attending an international school. She has been living in Nebraska and married to her husband, Curtis, for 5 years. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games, reading, watching T.V, visiting her family out of state, and tending to her ever-growing collection of house plants. 

Ms. RiLee

Nido Directress

Ms. RiLee has been teaching in a Montessori classroom since 2013 in both the infant and toddler classrooms. Growing up she always liked working with the children in her mother’s preschool room. She has studied under many great Montessori directresses that have shaped the way she teaches now. She recently completed her Infant-Toddler Montessori Certification in 2020. Her family means the world to her. In her spare time she enjoys reading, creating art, people watching, and spending time with her friends.

Ms. Sara

Nido Directress

Ms. Sara first started working in Montessori at La Bella Vita School in August of 2017. She has also worked with her Church teaching Vacation Bible School and Christian Dicipalship Training for 2^nd & 3^rd graders for 4 years. Ms. Sara has 2 years experience working with children with behavioral issues at Brook Valley (ESU#3), most of whom, were non-verbal. Prior to working with children, she was a CNA certified by the State of Nebraska through Metropolitan Community College. Sara then obtained an Associates of Applied Science through ITT TECH, working in private security for 6 years. She recently completed her Infant-Toddler Montessori Certification through Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training Institute. She’s a dedicated mother of two, Benjamin (age 16) and Lillian (she 12). She recently married her husband, Nathan, in May of 2021. Sara enjoys Power Lifting, HIIT training, hiking in the woods, swimming in lakes, painting, shooting targets, and cooking. Sara has a love for animals, has 7 fresh water tanks and one 190 gallon salt water tanks, two cats, Barbara and Cecilia and one dog, Alistair. She also has a million plants! 

Ms. Jenni

Nido Directress

Ms. Jenni has been teaching in a Montessori classroom since 2017. She comes to us with an additional 12 years of experience working in Early Childhood Education in a traditional childcare setting. She completed her Montessori Infant/Toddler certification from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies training institute in March of 2021. Ms. Jenni has two children that are ages 22 and 6. Her six year old son Remmy attends La Bella Vita. She has a corgi named Delilah that she considers to be her third child. Jenni enjoys health and fitness, cooking, hiking with her dog, road trips, and trying new things!

Ms. Roshi

Lower Elementary Directress

Ms. Roshi is a fully certified Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) directress at the Early Childhood and Elementary levels (children 3 – 12 years of age). With close to 30 years of classroom experience. Roshi has taught in Sri Lanka, Ireland, New York and now in Omaha. She is a wonderful addition to our teaching team. Ms. Roshi has been married to her husband for over 20 years and has a 20 year old son, Jali. Outside of work Ms. Roshi enjoys cooking, traveling and reading.

Ms. Valerie

Lower Elementary Directress

Ms. Valerie has been a member of our Montessori family for three years. She has her Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education from the University of Northern Iowa and holds her Nebraska Teaching Certificate. She has her Elementary Montessori certification from the University of Nebraska in Kearney. She comes to us after working with ages birth to 5 in an Early Head start program for the past 7 years. She enjoys seeing the children’s eyes light up with new discoveries of how the world works around them. Her family consists of her husband, Jeff, and three children, Matthew age 14, Jennifer age 12, and Rebecca age 8. Her family enjoys going to amusement parks such as Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun together. She also enjoys running and has run the Omaha Marathon twice.

Ms. Angeline

Support Teacher

Ms. Angeline has been with La Bella Vita Montessori since 2018 and has worked with children of all ages. She is our “floater” who helps out full time in all the classrooms as needed. This helps her to continue her passion for broadening her knowledge of teaching methods, such as Montessori, to strengthen herself as an educator.  She received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance and Theatre from Doane College in 2014 and has since been a private vocal instructor to students in the Omaha area.  She is the youngest of 5 in her family and loves spending time with her 9 nieces and nephews.  Angeline and her husband Michael love grocery shopping, playing music, walking their dog Pearl, and being creative in any way they can.  She recently had a baby, Lars, in 2020 and can’t wait for him to come to school and join the LBV Family!

Ms. Madi

Support Teacher

Ms. Madi is one of our substitute teachers and has been teaching in a Montessori classroom since 2020. Previously, she’s worked at traditional daycare settings as well as at-home care. She currently attends UNO as a full-time student and is getting her bachelor’s degree in gerontology and nursing. She has one chocolate lab Winston, who just recently turned 6. When she has free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, country music, spending time with friends and family, and concerts.