The classroom teachers in the Primary Montessori program have a vast background in the Montessori teaching method. They are all AMI (American Montessori Internationale) trained and accredited teachers with a myriad of talents and interests. 

Biographies:

Ria Boger, French Teacher
Ria Boger moved from Belgium in 1999 after having taught French in Belgian high schools for 15 years. In 2000, she was hired by Pacific Crest Academy, an elementary school in Camas Where she stayed 8 years as the lead French teacher. It was an excellent opportunity for her to explore and implement French curriculum from Pre-K to eighth grade.

Michael Casavant, Piano Teacher
Michael Casavant is the new resident piano teacher at Skinner. Piano lessons are being offered Monday through Friday 7:00-8:00 a.m. and 3:00 (primary) or 3:30 (elementary) to 6:00 p.m. Contact me for lessons: (503) 281-4583 or cazzual@hotmail.com

Pema Chogyal, Primary Teacher
Pema Chogyal returns to Skinner to teach again.
Classroom Assistant: Katey Manninen

Lynette Miller, Primary Teacher

Classroom Assistant: Sandra Hovey

Gina Pinnelli Lefever, Primary Teacher
Gina Pinnelli LeFever, Primary Teacher, AMI has been with Skinner for 18 years, fourteen as a Primary Montessori teacher. She has a Masters of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Marylhurst University and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science with a major concentration in History and minor in Anthropology from Washington State University. Gina and her husband most recently completed a tenure of 21 years as caretakers of Lewisville Park. When she is not teaching she enjoys spending time with her three grandchildren, scrap booking, antiquing, and reading.
Classroom Assistant: Kathy LaShier

Kate Richardson, Primary Teacher
Kate (Youso)Richardson, Primary Teacher. Kate grew up in Wisconsin and went to Mount Holyoke College in western Massachusetts, where she studied Education and Psychology. Shortly after graduation, she moved to Portland with her fiancé, Brian, and began her journey of Montessori training. Before school starts again, Kate and Brian are going to Wisconsin to get married. Kate went to a Montessori school, much like Skinner, when she was a child and realized that those foundational experiences led her to become a Montessori teacher herself. In her free time, she enjoys running, watching basketball, playing tennis, doing ballet, and playing with her cat, Steven.
Classroom Assistant: Myla Gonzalez

Rosanne Skinner, Librarian

Alice Wegner, Primary French Teacher
Before settling in Portland, Alice lived for four years in Minneapolis, where she taught Kindergarten, Second and Third grades at the French Academy of Minnesota. Alice was born and grew up in Arras, in the North of France. There she earned a BA in English studies and French Language Education.