MSPI Team

Elisabeth began her Montessori career upon her eldest daughter’s recommendation after her daughter had completed her three years of Primary education and was beginning first grade in her Montessori school. This excellent recommendation turned out to change the course of Elisabeth’s life for the best!
 
Montessori teaching has become a way of life for her, not just a profession. Elisabeth has loved the training and the experiences at each level of Montessori from Primary through Upper Elementary. When not in school she enjoys the beach, kayaking, all kinds of music, Zoom calls with her daughters in Seattle, and hanging out with her dog and two cats.

Elisabeth is thrilled to be a part of  Montessori School of Pawleys Island community!

Education: B.A., The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA; Master’s Degree in Education, Loyola College of Maryland, Baltimore, MD; Primary Certification, A.M.I., Montessori Institute Northwest, Seattle/Portland; Lower Elementary Training, A.M.S., Seattle; N.A.M.C. Upper Elementary Certification, British Columbia.

Brandis, or Brandy, was born and raised in Connecticut, where she received a BA in English from Western Connecticut State University. She has spent the past 20 years working in the Jewish community, primarily in a synagogue, where her role spanned from Administrative Assistant to Religious School Assistant to Media Coordinator and everything in between. Over the course of those 20 years, she has lived in Florida, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington, DC before settling in Surfside Beach a year ago with her husband and two children.

A true local, Regi Yonkers grew up in Pawleys Island and comes from a family of educators (her sister and mother are also teachers). She studied art at Brenau University in Gainesville, GA, after gradating from Waccamaw High School, then received her Montessori Infant and Toddler certification from the North American Montessori Center. She firmly believes that kindness is the most important virtue, it is felt in her classroom. In her spare time Regi likes to travel, cook, garden, and read.

Shauna moved to Pawleys Island 11 years ago to be close to family and fulfill her dream to live at the beach after retirement. Shauna started her journey with MSPI eight years ago as a substitute in the Infant Program, where she now works five days a week part-time. She loves to tell people that she gets her “baby fix” in the Infant room and loves watching them grow. Shauna enjoys playing golf, watching her grandsons play sports and spending time at the pool and beach.

LaQuanda is 36 years old, married with two kids and a dog. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education and has been in the field for 15 years. She loves children and being a part of their growth and seeing them reach their milestones.

Born and raised in California and Northern Virginia, Heidi received a BFA in Music Performance from Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, and did Masters Studies in Arts Management at AmericanUniversity in Washington, DC. After working for several arts organizations and performing as a cellist with various orchestras and ensembles in Washington, DC, Heidi moved to Pawleys Island with her three children, Camille, Liam and Wyatt. Heidi has worked as a music teacher with Coastal Montessori Charter School, the Waccamaw String Program, and MSPI. A few years ago, Heidi began working as a Teaching Assistant in the MSPI Primary class and this year is the Teaching Assistant in the Toddler 2 class. Heidi enjoys traveling, reading, swimming, acting, playing the cello and most of all spending time with her family.

Born in France, Myriam has two Montessori licenses from NAMC, Infant, Toddler and Two’s Programs, and Primary ages three to six. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine. Myriam taught Primary, was an Assistant Director and Director for 37 years before coming to MSPI, where she worked in the Infant, Toddler 1 and Toddler 2 programs. Two of her three grown children were Montessori educated from K-8th grade and three of her four grandchildren were Montessori educated in the country of North Macedonia. Myriam and her husband live in Pawleys Island with their 16 year old Lab and three year old “wild child”, a six-toed Hemingway cat. She enjoys many types of sports, traveling, and crafting.

Mandy is from a small town in Massachusetts where she graduated from Oliver Ames high school and worked as an after school Assistant Teacher at the YMCA program. She moved to South Carolina in 2021 and worked at a ranch caring for 30+ horses and taught riding lessons to children. In February of 2021 Mandy started at MSPI, working as an Assistant Teacher in the Toddler 2 class. As soon as she started she absolutely loved it! This led Mandy to want to pursue being a Lead Teacher for Toddler 2. In May of 2022 Mandy started her Montessori training with NAMC and will be certified January 2023! Mandy is so excited for her journey as a teacher with Montessori and loves working and teaching the amazing and bright two year olds. 

Born and raised in Murrells Inlet, SC, Anna attended all three St. James schools. After graduation from St. James High School, she went on to the University of South Carolina Beaufort. Anna graduated with a Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies and a minor in Education. She has always loved the idea of teaching younger children and is so blessed to be able to do it at MSPI and pursue the Montessori path.

Paget Graham began teaching in the 3-6 year olds primary classroom at MSPI in 2018 after starting at MSPI in 2015 as an assistant in the infant classroom. She graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL, with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, and worked in Bermuda, FL, and Washington, DC, before returning to her home state of New Jersey. She discovered a passion for the Montessori method of early childhood education while helping to care for her nieces (and future nephews) who were all Montessori students.

Pamela has been with MSPI since 1996, when the school was knows as Pawleys Island Montessori Day School and was located in what is now Landolfi’s. She started as an elementary assistant and primary assistant. In 2001, she completed her Montessori certification at the North Carolina Center for Montessori Teacher Education and has been a Lead Teacher in Primary since 2001. Pamela has lived in Pawleys Island since 1992, and enjoys traveling, gardening, walking, biking, reading, DIY projects, and spending time with my family.

Karen has been part of the MSPI family since 2010, as both a Toddler and Primary teaching assistant.  She was born and raised in Washington DC, and has lived in Pawleys Island since 1998.  Karen has two children and three dogs and loves being part of the MSPI community.

Born in France, Myriam has two Montessori licenses from NAMC, Infant, Toddler and Two’s Programs, and Primary ages three to six. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine. Myriam taught Primary, was an Assistant Director and Director for 37 years before coming to MSPI, where she worked in the Infant, Toddler 1 and Toddler 2 programs. Two of her three grown children were Montessori educated from K-8th grade and three of her four grandchildren were Montessori educated in the country of North Macedonia. Myriam and her husband live in Pawleys Island with their 16 year old Lab and three year old “wild child”, a six-toed Hemingway cat. She enjoys many types of sports, traveling, and crafting.

Sheila has been in Early Childhood Education since 1993 and loves it! Working as a volunteer at her children’s school in Ojai, CA, she was offered and accepted a position in the 3-5-year-old class. In 2001, Sheila and her husband, Steve, moved to Charlotte, NC, where he had taken a new job. Shortly after, Sheila went back to teaching and held a lead position in a 4-year-old class for 12 years. Growing up in Southern CA, Sheila and her family’s love for the ocean kept them coming down to the Hammock Coast area for vacations. They decided to make the move to their favorite get-a-way spot and are so glad they did! Sheila feels fortunate to have joined the MSPI staff and families in 2018.

Marianne has lived in the area since 2012. She loves working in the Infant Room and enjoys the time she gets with the infants. Marianne loves working at MSPI with all of her great co-workers. She has a twin brother and a wonderful rescue dog, Shellsea.

Arista found a new passion when she began working with MSPI in 2017 as a Teaching Assistant in the infant room. She has learned so much about Montessori theory and philosophy and enjoys working with a great team. Arista loves living by the beach and thinks that being raised on the East Coast is awesome! She enjoys spending time with her daughter and family. Currently, Arista is studying online for her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and plans to graduate next year!

Kaye graduated from Columbia College of South Carolina with a BA in Speech Therapy. Kaye began her Montessori career in 1998, and holds her Infant/ Toddler Certification from the American Montessori Society. “Every day is a new adventure working with our toddler children,” Kaye says. With three children, two grandsons, and a granddaughter on the way, Kaye stays busy caring for family and friends, including her many fur babies.

Anne have lived in North Litchfield Beach for the past 35 years and is a native South Carolinian. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, majoring in Elementary Education and Special Education. Two of her grandchildren attended the Montessori School of Pawleys Island and it was such a positive experience for their family that she became involved subbing here.