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:

Admin ,

Ria Boger, French Teacher
Ria Boger, French Teacher, has been with Skinner for two years. Prior to joining Skinner, Ria was the French teacher at a Catholic Elementary school in Camas for eight years where she taught Preschool through eighth grade. Ria received her teacher education at a Belgian Catholic college. After graduating, she taught French and European history at the secondary level for over fifteen years prior to moving to the United States in 1999. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2008. While not teaching, Ria enjoys gardening, visiting her family in Europe, traveling to Hawaii, spending time with her friends and reading spiritual books. In addition to English and French, ria also speaks dutch and German.

Pema Chogyal, Primary Teacher
Pema discovered Montessori first as a parent and then took Montessori training. She has a B.A. in Human Studies from Marylhurst University. Pema believes Skinner is a great place to work. She enjoys the dedicated staff, supportive parents and wonderful loving children. Pema has been with Skinner for 15 years, as a parent, assistant teacher and now a primary teacher. She continues personal and professional develpment with workshops at Montessori Institute. Pema is also active in volunteering in the Tibetan community, walking, meditations and spiritual practice and development in her spare time.

Weber Drummond (Iago), Piano Teacher
Weber Drummond (AKA Weber Iago) is the new resident piano teacher at Skinner. Weber is an internatioanlly acclaimed professional pianist and 2009 Latin Grammy Nominee. Piano lessons are being offered at Skinner Elementary Montessori after school from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Gina Pinnelli Lefever, Primary Teacher
Gina Pinnelli LeFever, Primary Teacher, AMI has been with Skinner for 21 years, seventeen 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. She has headed up the school´´s Elementary Summer Camp for the previous two years. For the last three years, she has also worked part time as bookseller at Barnes and Noble in Vancouver. When she is not teaching she enjoys spending time with her three grandchildren, scrap booking, antiquing, and reading.

Rosanne Skinner, Librarian