Current Faculty
Michelle Thompson: MA in Education, Instructional Leadership from Argosy University; Certificate, Montessori Theory, Montessori Center International – London, England; BA in Elementary Education and Business from Bethel University. Michelle has served over 20 years as the Founder, Executive Director, and Head of School of Hand In Hand Christian Montessori; current adjunct faculty member for Bethany Global University and former, founding adjunct faculty member for Sarasota University. She has served for over 20 years as the Co-Owner and Teacher at Kinderstudio of Musik, where she was introduced to the wonders of Montessori.
Christine Bredemus: BS in Elementary Education from Iowa State University and AMS Elementary II Credential. Currently teaching at Hand In Hand Christian Montessori since 2012 and holds the South Campus Director position; Served for five years as a teacher at Rochester Montessori School.
Lisabeth King: BA in English from the University of St. Thomas; Elementary I & II Montessori Credential from the College of St. Catherine. Served for six years as the Lead Elementary Teacher at Hand In Hand Montessori, and as a Lead Elementary Teacher for Ramalynn Montessori School.
Myra Arnold: MA in Early Childhood Education from the College of St. Catherine; Early Childhood AMA Montessori Teaching certificate from the College of St. Catherine; BA in Natural History and Communications from the University of Minnesota.
Patrick Kutzer: BA in German and European Area Studies from the University of Minnesota; Elementary Montessori Credential from St. Catherine University, MN State Teaching Licensure from the College of St. Scholastica. Lead Teacher at Hand In Hand Christian Montessori from 2013-2017. Currently Lead Elementary Teacher at Prairie River, St. Paul MN.
Sieglinde Schnellbacher: Early Childhood Degree, Germany; National Montessori Training, German(National Diploma); International Montessori Training – St. Louis, Missouri (AMI Diploma). Trainer at the AMS Training Center for 10 years. Served 35 years as the Directress of Children of Promise – Christian Montessori School.
Sue Shields: BA in Elementary Education from Northwestern College in Orange City, IA; Taught at Sheldon Christian School for 3 years; Taught at Calvin Christian School for 5 years; Started teaching at Hand In Hand Christian Montessori in 2009 and became the Central Campus Director in 2018 and still holds both positions currently.
Amie Beth Grubibdge: MA in Special Education from Bethel University; BA in Communication Studies from Bethel University; Licenses in Montessori Education, Academic Behavior Strategies, Emotional Behaviors, and Learning Disabilities; Over 15 years of different education experiences; Currently an Elementary Teacher at Hand In Hand Christian Montessori and an Adjunct Instructor at Bethel University in the Graduate School.
Christie Cheng: Master of Arts in Montessori Education from Sarasota University, a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Faith Baptist Bible College, a Associate of Arts in Applied Science from MRCTC. Currently, West Campus Director and a lead teacher at Hand In Hand Christian Montessori.
Hollie Bogue: BS in Elementary Education from University of Missouri, St. Louis; Early Childhood Montessori Credential from American Montessori Society, MOMTEP; Worked at Montessori Children’s House of Sedalia, Sacred Heart School, and Savannah Chatham School District.
Former Faculty
Marlene Lee: MA in Education from the University of St. Thomas; Bachelor in Music degrees in Applied Piano and Music Education from MacPhail College of Music; Early Childhood certificate from the Montessori Centre International – London, England. For many years, served as the founding Director of Music for Hand In Hand Christian Montessori; as adjunct faculty for Bethany Global University, University of Northwestern and Bethel University; served as Director of the KinderStudio of Musik in piano and Jubilate Choir.
Tina Stebbing: Degree in Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin River Falls; Montessori Certificate from the University of St. Catherine. Served six years as Lead Teacher of Children’s House at the Hand In Hand Christian Montessori.
Erika Schmidt: BA in Psychology from Metropolitan State University; Graduate of the Montessori Training Center of Montessori. Served one year as the Assistant in the Junior High Environment at Oak Hill Montessori; Five years as the Guide in the Primary Environment at Oak Hill Montessori.
Rebecca Dirks: Master of Counseling/Psychology from Trinity International University; Bachelor of Religious Education from Ambrose University College; Certificate of Montessori Theory from Bethany Global University. Rebecca served as the director for Bethany Children’s House; served as the General Manager of Bouari Clinic of Minnesota; and served two years as the program director for the Miracles of Mitch Foundation.