Primary Half Day Community

Shih-Ping Harper – Lead Teacher
Shih-Ping received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science in Taiwan.  She finished her AMI Montessori training at Washington Montessori Institute in Maryland in 2005 and then continued with her master’s degree in Montessori Education at Loyola College in Maryland.  After earning the AMI diploma, Shih-Ping worked at a Montessori school as an assistant before joining VMS. She is also a VMS parent. Shih-Ping’s hobbies are outdoor activities and cooking.

Primary All Day Community

Yoshi Hansen – Lead Teacher
Ms. Yoshi is originally from Japan and has lived in the United States since 1983. She graduated from U.C. Berkley with a degree in Psychology and began her first teaching job at a Japanese/English bilingual school in San Francisco. In 1994, she, her husband, and newly born son, relocated to Georgia and has lived in Roswell for the last 17 years. Since her son turned three and began attending a primary classroom at Village, she has been fascinated with Montessori philosophy. When the opportunity to assist in a toddler community arose, she eagerly took it. Her journey continued by leading her to work as an assistant with Primary age children. This eventually led to her take the Primary AMI training. After working as a Primary teacher for 5 years at Village, she led a classroom a Japanese speaking pre-school program. Ms.Yoshi returned to VMS in 2008 as an assistant in Ms. Siobhan in her lower elementary class for last 3 years before she accepted a teaching position once again. Her vast experience with many different age groups is evident in the classroom. She is also certified in Orton-Gilingham for children with language difficulties. With her spare time, Ms.Yoshi enjoys going camping and baking.


Dixie Schrock – Lead Teacher
Watching her nieces and nephews blossom in the Montessori classroom, Dixie sought the same experience for her son. This led her to her own journey into the Montessori philosophy. First as an assistant for three years in the primary classroom, after which time she chose to pursue her Montessori degree. Dixie received her primary certification from MIA in 2005. For the past five years she has been a Montessori guide in one of the all day communities at Village Montessori School.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Psychology from North Georgia College and State University. She enjoys incorporating her love of these two subjects in the classroom. Her connection with nature and the outdoors is evident throughout her teachings. Dixie’s interests include photography, gardening and pottery. She is very dedicated to Montessori teaching and philosophy.


Lower Elementary Community

Siobhan Medina – Lead Teacher
Siobhan combined her love of science with her love of children by studying zoology, botany, geology, chemistry and math at University College Dublin before transferring to Sion Hill College of Education.  There she spent her final three years studying for her Primary and Elementary Montessori certification.  Siobhan also holds the Benincasa Special Education diploma, recognized by AMI and the Department of Education in Ireland. Siobhan’s teaching experience includes 1 year with Toddlers, 1 year at a traditional school, 11 years at the Primary level, and 14 years at the Elementary level. 

Siobhan’s interests include hiking, reading and nature studies. She also has a love of languages, especially Spanish, which she shares with the children. 

Siobhan is a former Montessori student and the mother of two.  She is a VMS parent.

Upper Elementary Community

Jason Kleiber – Lead Teacher
Jason received his AMI 6-12 Elementary Certification and a M.Ed. in Montessori Education from Loyola University in 2003. Jason also holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Maryland. Jason enjoys spending time with his family and still plays soccer regularly. Jason is a VMS parent.

Jason plays soccer, golf, and occasionally still Skateboards.  Jason also maintains an interest in photography and practices yoga, incorporating both into his classroom.  Jason’s lovely wife Ginger, a Lower Elementary teacher, works at the Arbor Montessori School.  Jason joined VMS in 2003 as the Upper Elementary Teacher. Jason is a VMS parent.

Office Staff

Cara Friedline – Director of Education
Cara Friedline has been educating children using the Montessori method since 1990. She has had experience working with toddler, primary and the elementary levels. Cara joined the staff at VMS as a lead primary teacher in the fall of 1998. She held this position for eight years. Cara has also worked as an assistant, the primary consultant, and a Montessori adviser here at VMS. She currently enjoys working as the Director of Education. This allows her to work closely with the teachers, the parents, and the students to create a vibrant, diverse Montessori community.

Cara is trained in both AMI and AMS Montessori, as well as, having her public teaching degree. She has a Bachelor in Early Childhood Education from Xavier University and a Masters in Education from Loyola College. Cara is also an Educational Trainer for the state of Georgia. She is the proud mother of three amazing VMS student. Cara serves on the Board of Montessori Administrators of Georgia (MAG).

Annmarie Gever – School Coordinator
Annmarie has degrees in Early Childhood Education, Business Administration, and Nursing.  She taught pre-school through kindergarten in Coral Springs and Plantation, Florida.  She was a surgical nurse in Boca Raton Florida from 1982 through 1988.After the birth of her second child in 1989, she became the office administrator and clinical coordinator of surgical and gastroenterology practices before moving to Georgia in 1995.

Annmarie conducted “Mommy & Me” classes at Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta, Georgia.  She has been a member of our staff at VMS since 2003.  Annmarie makes sure all aspects of the school runs smoothly.


Catherine Carlisle – Office Manager
Catherine Carlisle has spent most of her life surrounded by children of all ages. Her background is in early childhood education. Catherine was a nanny to a VMS family prior to her employment with us. Her curiosity with the Montessori philosophy brought her to Village in 2006 as a primary assistant. Catherine led a primary cooking class. While working as a primary assistant in 2009, Catherine also took on the afternoon front office assistant position. Her creativity and interests in publications led her to enroll in an Adobe InDesign class.

Catherine enjoys reading, cooking, antiquing and spending time with her family, especially her 7 year old niece and 3 year nephew, the joys of her life.