We have a treasure in our Toddler Community Lead Teacher, Heather Dennis, who joined HTM in the fall of 2010. Heather’s Montessori journey began as a Montessori Elementary Student at Rising Star Montessori School in Lafayette, IN. While her time as a Montessori student was short, it made a huge impact on her. She realized her love of working with children and Montessori Education. 

Heather began Montessori Infant and Toddler Training straight out of high school. She simultaneously studied Montessori with the Center for Montessori Teacher Education and Child Development and Family Studies at Purdue University. Heather became a co-teacher (with her Mom!) at Rising Star. In 2001, Heather and her husband relocated to Nashville, and Heather received her Primary certification (3-6) and a Masters in the Art of Teaching (MAT) from Belmont University in July of 2010. She is a member of the American Montessori Society (AMS). Heather also serves as a field consultant for the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies.

Just as Heather enjoyed a Montessori education as a child, her son is also a student at Holy Trinity Montessori. Outside of her time at HTM, Heather enjoys going to Village Barre, gardening, and hanging out with her family

Ann joined the Holy Trinity Montessori family as a Classroom Assistant in our Toddler community in 2016. Prior to coming to HTM, she spent more than twenty years working with children in a variety of educational, non-profit, and ministry programs before taking time off to raise her own daughters. Ann earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Guilford College and recently discovered the Montessori approach to education, in which she plans to continue her training. When she’s not in the classroom, Ann enjoys kayaking, playing volleyball, and reading, but she is most passionate about her faith and her family. Ann’s calming and kind nature make her a perfect fit for her role in the Toddler classroom and she’s a wonderful asset to our school.  

KaToya Jackson brings a wealth of knowledge regarding early childhood education to Holy Trinity Montessori. She has been working with children in a variety of aspects for over 13 years, ranging from daycares to after-school programs in the Metro Nashville school system to now holding the position of Teacher in our Primary A Classroom. She completed her Montessori certification as well as her Masters in Teaching at Belmont University and is a member of the American Montessori Society (AMS). KaToya is a favorite among our students and families because of her loving, consistent approach and her patient and calm nature. We have been blessed to have her as a part of HTM from the very beginning!

Heather joined Holy Trinity Montessori in the spring of 2015 as a support teacher. During that time she developed a love and an appreciation for the Montessori way and in 2016 received her certification in Early Childhood from North American Montessori Center. Heather attended Garden City Community College and then Fort Hays State University, where she played college volleyball and obtained a BA in Music. When Heather is not teaching she is performing or singing, cooking in the kitchen, and/or cheering on her Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Priscilla Arjes joined Holy Trinity Montessori as a teacher in Primary B in August of 2012. As the daughter of a Montessorian, Priscilla knew at a young age she would someday follow in her mother’s footsteps to become a Montessori teacher. In 2009, Priscilla completed her AMI Montessori training at The Montessori Training Center of Minnesota. After completing her training she began her career at Children’s Workshop Montessori in Plymouth, MN where she taught for two years. Priscilla joined our staff after relocating to Nashville, and she has proven to be a wonderful addition to our community. Priscilla has a joyful spirit and a kind heart, and she brings light and happiness to our school. In her spare time Priscilla loves traveling with her husband (travel tips are always welcome!). Good food is her ultimate love language, so trying new Nashville restaurants with friends is always a must-do on the weekends. 

Brooke serves the Holy Trinity Montessori community as a teacher in Primary B. After receiving her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Auburn University, Brooke taught in traditional schools before choosing to stay at home full-time with her children for a season. While pursuing her Catechesis of the Good Shepherd certification in 2012, Brooke discovered and fell in love with the Montessori philosophy. This led her to obtain her Montessori certification from the North American Montessori Center in 2014, after which she taught in a Primary classroom at another Montessori school. Brooke also holds certification as a Positive Discipline Parent Educator. 

When she's not teaching, Brooke enjoys time at home with her husband and their four sons, singing, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. Brooke's kind and engaging spirit makes her a natural fit for our community, and we love having her as a part of Holy Trinity Montessori! 

A native of Argentina, Andrea was a traditional kindergarten teacher for many years in her home country. After meeting and marrying her husband, Sean, she moved to Ohio where she began volunteering in a local Montessori school. As a result, she went on to earn her Bachelor of Liberal Arts, Ohio Teaching License, Master in Montessori Education, and AMS certification for Primary Guide from Xavier University. During her time in an early childhood class, she has successfully incorporated Spanish TPR (Total Physical Response), creating a dynamic and safe learning environment which supports each child as an individual. 

Andrea and Sean live in White bluff with their two daughters, Mara and Ana. When she’s not in the classroom, Andrea enjoys spending time with her family, exploring Nashville, and making crafts. Her family travels to her home country once a year to visit friends and family, practice Spanish, and enjoy Argentinean culture.

Sarah Mixon serves as a support teacher, floating between Upper Elementary to Primary and overseeing naptime. A Tennessee native, Sarah was a Montessori child herself – in fact, her mother started and ran a Montessori school in their rural hometown. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Emory University, Sarah moved to Nashville and began working in a Montessori environment. During this time she met her husband Bo, an Army officer, and after they married they moved frequently due to his military position. By the time they were ready to start a family they returned to Nashville, where Sarah has kept the home fires burning through her husband’s multiple deployments to the Middle East. She first came to HTM as a substitute teacher and accepted an offer for a permanent position soon after. Sarah’s daughter Meredith is now in high school, and her son Drew attends HTM. When Sarah's not at school, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and coaching girls’ gymnastics.

Britney Bussell has been a teacher for 12 years in a traditional setting, working with both special and general education students. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Austin Peay State University and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Trevecca University in Nashville. Britney completed her Early Childhood Montessori Certification from North American Montessori Center and joins our Lower Elementary teaching team at Holy Trinity Montessori. Britney lives in Bellevue with her husband Eddie and their three children, Lane, Macy, and Nora Kate. When she is not teaching, Britney enjoys running, hiking, and camping with her family. 

Jaime joined our Lower Elementary community as a teacher in the fall of 2014. Prior to that time, she served HTM in numerous ways, most significantly as a Support Teacher. During this time, Jaime developed our gardening and cooking programs, two areas that have become vital and thriving parts of our school. When the opportunity arose for Jaime to take a permanent position in a classroom community, it was a natural fit. 

Jaime graduated with degrees in both Biology and Dietetics from Central Michigan University, and after working in the food industry for some time, she found her true passion in working with children. Jaime then received her Lower Elementary training from Northern American Montessori Center. Along with her husband Todd and their three children (two of whom attend HTM), Jaime resides in Bellevue. When she's not at the school, Jaime always has time for a good book and loves to play volleyball whenever she gets a chance.

Jessica began her HTM journey as an Upper Elementary teacher, and she will be joining our Lower Elementary teaching team for the 2017-2018 school year. A native of Brentwood, Tennessee, Jessica began her own educational experience in a Montessori school and says she was “over the moon” about becoming a Montessorian herself. She received her Early Childhood Education (K-3) degree from Middle Tennessee State University in December of 2011, then taught preschool and substitute taught for a public school system before re-discovering the Montessori philosophy. She was so inspired by everything she learned that she decided to become a Montessori teacher. 

Jessica obtained her Lower Elementary certification from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in 2014 and returned to earn her Upper Elementary certification in 2016. Jessica is a nurturing and caring teacher who challenges her students to explore their interests with a passion. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys hiking, photography, playing music and hanging out with friends and family. 

Sam first joined the HTM community as a Classroom Assistant and is completing the transition to the role of Support Teacher for the 2017-2018 school year. Prior to working at HTM, Sam worked with children in a variety of fields. She always knew she wanted to make a difference by positively shaping the future for children, and she is certainly on the right track to make those dreams come true. Sam received her Bachelor degree in Early Childhood: Child and Family Studies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. 

With a background in education, sociology, and psychology, Jessica earned a degree in Integrated Studies from Lipscomb University. After completing her undergraduate studies, she began to realize a passion for Montessori education as she worked in a Montessori community for several years. Jessica is completing her Lower Elementary certification from Montessori Education Center of the Rockies and looks forward to a career working with children in a Montessori setting. We are happy to welcome Jessica to the HTM family!   

Originally from Maryland, Elissa Pugh has called Nashville home for almost seventeen years. She has a vast background in education, including over fourteen years experience teaching in Montessori early childhood, elementary, and middle school classrooms. She has also taught both English and English as a Second language to adults in college and community education settings. Elissa holds a BA in English and Creative Writing from Sweet Briar College and an MA in English from Belmont University. She has received her Montessori training in ages 6-9 and started her adolescent training in Cincinnati through CMStep. Elissa lives in East Nashville with her three children, who are all very excited about joining the HTM community. 

Lisa became a familiar face around our school as a parent when her oldest son was enrolled in our Lower Elementary community. Lisa loved the Montessori method so much that she decided to officially make a career change, and began her Lower Elementary Montessori training during the summer of 2016 at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. She returned to complete her Upper Elementary training and certification in 2017.  

Prior to shifting her focus to Montessori, Lisa built a career as a brand manager in the music industry, helping her clients find and express their voice. She also moonlighted as a photographer after earning her Bachelors degree from the Art Institute of Minneapolis. Both of Lisa's sons attend HTM, and she loves spending time with them at home; she also enjoys art, reading, and yoga in her spare time. Lisa has a patient and kind spirit and loves to be creative and have fun with her students. We are happy to have Lisa as a part of our teaching staff at HTM. 

HTM is blessed to have Karla Loftus on board as our Catechesis teacher! Karla has enjoyed an outstanding career in education, serving in both public and private schools for over 30 years. Her previous roles range from Kindergarten Teacher to Enrichment Coordinator to High School Counselor, so she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our team at HTM. Karla holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Indiana University, has completed Level I certification for “Catechesis of the Good Shepherd,” and is currently working to complete Level II.

Karla is a mom of 4 daughters (including Head of School, Kate Riley!), grandmother of 9, and surrogate grandmother for every HTM child. In fact, you’ll probably hear our students call her “Nanny,” the term of endearment from her own grandchildren that we’ve all adopted. We all love Karla - there’s no one we’d rather have caring for the spiritual and moral development in the hearts of our young friends at HTM!

Anadara became part of the HTM family as our Music Teacher in the fall of 2011. As a child in San Diego, Anadara was fortunate to attend a Montessori school during her Primary and Lower Elementary years. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Vocal Performance from Syracuse University, with a minor in Theater. Since then, Anadara has released two solo albums and received numerous songwriting awards, but her favorite song is still the official school song she wrote with the help of the Lower Elementary class of 2012/13, called “We Are All Friends Here.” 

Prior to coming to HTM, Anadara also taught for The Music Class in Nashville, a music education program designed to unleash the musical potential of young children. She is passionate about sharing her love for music with children, and is especially grateful to be part of the HTM community!

Anadara lives in the Bellevue area with her husband and their two young sons, both of whom attend HTM. She enjoys taking vocal jazz classes with the Nashville Jazz Workshop, leading worship at her church, and spending time with family and friends. 

Whitney recently joined the HTM family as our Admissions Coordinator, and she also provides general administrative support for the school. She fell in love with HTM during her very first visit for a Parent Tour, and she decided since she can’t enroll as a student herself, working here was the next best thing! Whitney brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from her years in the music industry, where she worked in artist management, booking, tour management, and as an Executive Assistant for the president of a major record label. We love that she manages to stay organized, calm and collected while injecting humor into almost every situation. When she’s not in the office, Whitney loves to go on adventures and make memories with her family. Whitney lives in Nashville with her husband and four children, all of whom now attend HTM.