Purpose
Cedar Tree Montessori, established in 1999, is a state and federal nonprofit elementary school with the following goals:
- To aid each child in his or her unique academic, emotional and social development through Montessori education,
- To provide individualized instruction and materials appropriate to each child’s level of development,
- To provide a warm, safe, social atmosphere,
- To inspire children to become lifelong, independent learners,
- To develop strong relationships between parents, teachers, students and community members through parent education, social activities, volunteer opportunities and school projects.
History
The demand for Montessori elementary education has increased in Whatcom County with the addition of several Montessori preschools. Many families wished to continue with Montessori through elementary school. Cedar Tree Montessori Elementary School opened in 1999 to accommodate these families and families with no previous Montessori experience. Cedar Tree operated for eight years at 2224 Yew Street Road. In the spring of 2007, we moved to 2114 Broadway in Bellingham, Washington.
Amy Silver, Upper Elementary
Cedar Tree opened with one teacher and eight students on the site of Woodside Church in 1999. In 2004, we opened an upper elementary classroom. Students can now attend kindergarten through sixth grades. We currently serve 38 students, with two lead teachers, three assistant teachers and specialist teachers in Spanish, music, art and drama.
Staff Biographies
Kim Feerer
Kim, the lead teacher in the lower elementary classroom, has taught in private and public settings, here and in Mexico City, since 1979. In 1983, she was Teacher of the Year at a public elementary school in Imperial Beach, California and subsequently became a teacher trainer in technology for the same district. Kim has an undergraduate degree in Spanish, and a masters in teaching languages. She holds a Washington State certification in elementary education, bilingual education and ESL instruction as well as preschool-kindergarten and lower elementary certificates from the American Montessori Society. She worked as an assistant teacher at Childlife Montessori for four years before starting Cedar Tree Montessori in 1999. She has a fifteen year old daughter and enjoys ballroom dancing and hiking.
Amy Silver
Amy, the lead teacher in the upper elementary classroom, has a background in psychology, philosophy and computer science. Before moving to Bellingham in 2004, she spent three years working with 9-12 year-olds in a public Montessori classroom in Colorado. In her free time, Amy enjoys playing in the mountains, reading, and music. She most recently discovered that she likes biking to school in the rain.
“I love coming to work in the morning. Each day guarantees something interesting and unexpected... I continue to find myself surrounded by unique individuals who challenge me with their curious minds and boundless energy. It has been wonderful to watch them mature before my eyes into confident, conscientious adolescents. I'm lucky to be a part of this Cedar Tree community. The parents, children, and staff have created an amazing environment!”
Marybeth Chappell
Marybeth, an assistant teacher in our lower elementary, has enjoyed working with children her whole life. She was first introduced to Montessori education in 1986 while attending college at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. She completed her Bachelors of Social Work degree at the U of I in 1988, with children and families as her focus. Though she considered attending Montessori training at that time, she opted to join the Peace Corps instead. She traveled to Honduras and worked with children there.
After returning to the States, Marybeth worked as a social worker for the next 10 years. She worked as a Children’s Advocate, Children’s Day Treatment Counselor, and as a Legal Advocate during this period. Her next step was to take on the challenge of stay-at-home-mom, which she has had the real fortune of doing for the past 6 exciting years.
Marybeth is thrilled now to be working at Cedar Tree. She shares this joy with her husband, Dan, and two children, Rowan and Hanna. Rowan and Hanna both attend Cedar Tree and love it! As a family, they like playing together, reading aloud, and dancing. Marybeth is happy to find time for walking, baking, gardening, and reading. She has a strong commitment to making the world a sager, better place for children.
Michael Korner
Michael, an assistant teacher in the lower elementary, has been working with children since 1980. After earning a degree in psychology from U.C. Berkeley, he moved to southern California. There he worked for the Gerber Children’s Centers for ten years – starting as an aide, then a kindergarten teacher and subsequently as a director of a center. After going back to school for a K-12 teaching credential, he taught second and third grades for four years in the Long Beach School District.
Michael moved to Bellingham in 1994 with his wife, Lynn. After receiving his Washington state teaching credential, he taught grades K-5 in the Bellingham and Skagit County School districts. In 2002, he joined the staff of Cedar Tree, where his sixth-grade daughter, Jaime, has attended since kindergarten. Michael teaches in the lower elementary classroom and enjoys cooking, collecting odd items, bike riding and spending quality and quantity time with his tolerant family.
Testimonials
Here are some comments from parents about Cedar Tree teachers and school:
"We are so grateful for you and your beautiful school/learning environment that you have created for my son and daughter. Cedar Tree is a magical place."
"You are a great teacher...the children shine because of you and your love of teaching."
"You do a marvelous job of educating children and [have] won the respect of a tough customer...my daughter!"
"Thank you again for the time you spent writing: narratives to go with the children's report cards and newsletters. I cannot believe that you did this so consistently and so well...time consuming, but informative!"
"You give us insight into our child and bring out the best qualities in all of us. We are very happy with how our son has grown this year. It reflects greatly on all your hard work and patience with him."
"You have created a school that suited my boy perfectly and allowed him to mature and gain confidence in himself. I think of him up at Cedar Tree in a cocoon of love and safety, nestled in a grove of Nature's finest....you have continually earned our trust, our admiration and our respect."
"My daughter loves school so much and we are so grateful."
"We would like to thank you for quickly and swiftly addressing any social problems among the children. Your response has made [my son] feel safe at school so he can concentrate on playing and learning."
"My son has a wonderful foundation to build on and all your patience and support makes [my son's] future so bright."
"I am glad my mom put me in Cedar Tree."
