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As a child, I always loved the act of teaching. I loved helping others and seeing them succeed. I felt confident when I could teach them successfully because I struggled in school. 

I’ve always had a special place in my heart for those that learn differently. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a young girl. I want to make an impact on my students the way my teachers did on me. I believe that an education filled with enthusiasm, movement, and curiosity led by mentors that care is the pathway to success. 

I grew up in the rural town of Gardnerville, Nevada, and loved school. I graduated from Idaho State University in 2013 with a B.A. in Physical Education and received my Master’s in Special Education from the University of Idaho in 2015.

I first became interested in Montessori while I was pregnant with my now 5-year-old son. I lived in Juneau,  Alaska where I was able to witness these environments in person. It immediately resonated with me and what I believe childhood is about; freedom, play, and choice. I strive to build such an atmosphere at home. I am so excited to be a part of the PCM because of what it has to offer children from all walks of life.

I taught elementary special education in Moscow, Idaho for two years after moving back to the lower 48. We recently moved back to the Palouse from Carson City, Nevada where I was a secondary special education and adaptive PE teacher.

I look forward to mornings reading with tea, taking advantage of the bike paths everywhere again, sunsets, and spending many hours outdoors with my family and dogs in this beautiful countryside.

Bio Coming Soon!

With great anticipation, as I relocate from Connecticut to Washington State, I look forward to joining the Pullman Community Montessori School.

I love working with youth! I believe in the investment of love, transparency and consistency of character within them. I began working with youth as a volunteer basketball coach at my elementary school alma mater. It was the foundation I needed to begin my career with youth. I developed an ear for their "emotional" cry, along with much, much patience. I then joined AmeriCorps National Service as an AmeriCorps member serving in an elementary school and working with children grades K-6. A year later I was chosen to be an AmeriCorps National Service Leader and relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, working in a high school. I was blessed to have the privilege of having worked at a Montessori Magnet School for 11 years. Over those 11 years I worked as a Special Education 1 to 1 paraprofessional, a lower and upper elementary classroom paraprofessional and as an after school program director. It was then that I fell in love with the Montessori hands-on, experiential pedagogy. The beautifully crafted manipulative aids to learning were very intriguing to me. The flow of the classroom is poetically beautiful, as of the lead Guide conducts a masterful orchestra of young absorbent minds that paint curiosity on a blank canvas, upon the colorful soul of the wondrous experience we know as life.

I have also been Program Director of two family resource centers. I am extremely passionate about educating and empowering parents. Wellness of the family is a key component in our youth excelling or failing. I believe partnering with parents is a priority when working in an educational setting. The "we" is greater than the "me" in alignment with collaboration. Teamwork truly makes the dream work and the parents are valuable assets in making the dream work, in inspiring successful children.

Fun facts: I am a self published author of two poetry books. I love to write poetry and occasionally short stories. I also love mystery and kung-fu movies.

My wife Mary and I, both WSU alums, moved to Pullman in 2018 from the Seattle area in search of a better pace of life and to attend more Cougar sporting events.  I taught for four years at Palouse Prairie Charter School in Moscow, and loved that experience, but couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work at start-up charter school in Washington.  I previously taught in a traditional public school in Kenmore and at a homeschool resource program in Edmonds, Washington.  I’m especially excited to learn the Montessori method of teaching in a multi-age classroom.  My goals as an educator are to cultivate learning experiences for students that emphasize critical thinking, creative problem solving, and collaboration; and to help students discover their strengths and interests in order to become life-long learners and contributors to building a better world.  One of the best things Mary and I have done in our life is walk the Camino de Santiago in 2017.

I am new to Pullman and am originally from Virginia Beach, though I also lived in the mountains of Appalachia for nearly seven years while I attended college at Virginia Tech. I graduated this past spring with a Master’s degree in Material Culture and Public Humanities, and before that with Bachelors’ degrees in Art History and International Studies, and a minor in French. While in school, I picked up two and a half years of experience teaching undergraduate art history and visual arts courses as part of a small team of graduate teaching assistants and tutored in academic and technical writing and research methods. I also have years of volunteer experience working with kids as a swim instructor and coach. I have always found helping others to learn and succeed to be very fulfilling work, so I am delighted to be joining the PCM team this year! Though I am new to the Montessori method, I value its hands-on approach and I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to help create and support this dynamic learning environment!

Some fun facts about me are that I drove across the country twice to move here, and have seen 31 U.S. States altogether! I love to travel and I have a personal goal of visiting every National Park in the country - and then hopefully also the ones not in the U.S.!

I go by Mr. DJ and am a seasoned educator starting my journey about 30 years ago. During that time, I’ve worked in a younger elementary Montessori classroom as an instructional assistant, as well as had my own younger elementary, older elementary, and Montessori middle school classrooms. In addition, I have served as a head of school and done a lot of work in funding schools and programs.

I attended younger/lower elementary and older/upper elementary training through National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) New Mexico, and NCME Sacramento (aligns with American Montessori Society). My middle school training was done through an American Montessori Society training center with with Dr. Betsy Coe in Houston. I have a Master’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in educational psychology. Additionally, I have a graduate degree in law. I’m half finished writing a book on Montessori education in the 21st century.

I have been out of education the last five years working in the private sector. By far, the most rewarding and important thing I have ever done in my life is act as a guide in Montessori classrooms. Everything else pales in comparison. I like to have fun with my students as well as move them forward by fostering an environment that is developmentally responsive to both academic needs and their growth as people.

In my spare time, I’m an avid runner, both marathon and unsupported wilderness running. I also Alpha read, provide initial feedback to a successful novelist, and occasionally write chapters with them.  We’ve started working on our 6th book together. I love to travel, and I speak really poor Spanish, French, Polish and Ukrainian. Arabic is next!

I look forward to meeting you and your LEADERS and supporting the mission and vision of Pullman Community Montessori.

I graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Science in Communication.  After graduation I became a long term substitute at the school where I did my student teaching practicum.  I was then hired at the school district and I spent a decade as a World Language and Speech Communication teacher until I became a mom. I transitioned to being a parent volunteer helping with the parent teacher organization, fundraisers, class projects, tutoring students, chaperoning field trips, helping with community service projects and working as a substitute.  I have worked with children from PreK-grade 12.  I chose education because I want to help students develop skills for academic and personal success which can lead to life long learning.  A strong education system is an investment in and foundation of our community.

I enjoy spending time with my family, friends and learning about wellness, mental health, child advocacy and much more. 

 A fun fact about me:  I had coffee and donuts with a Senator.

I am excited and thrilled to have the opportunity to move to the Northwest and teach in Pullman. Currently, I live in Florida and am originally from Connecticut. 

I enjoy traveling and experiencing new opportunities. I began working with children the second semester of my senior year at Morehouse College which is where my passion for guiding young minds began. I returned home and began working as an assistant at a public Montessori school in Connecticut. Although I had no idea about the Montessori teaching, the more I was a part of the culture the more I became interested in the philosophy. I made the commitment to receive both AMI Primary and Elementary Montessori Certifications and began teaching Elementary Montessori in 2010 and have appreciated every moment and lesson learned since embarking on this journey. Allowing young minds the opportunity to be the authors of their learning while the Guide is merely a shadow, is one lesson I look forward to experiencing every year of teaching.

A few things I enjoy doing are traveling anywhere and at every opportunity I can. I was also an on-air personality for 89.9 WQTQ FM (a radio station in CT) and in my spare time like to practice deejaying so that I can host events and parties in the future. Is it safe to say I enjoy music?? 

I have chosen education as my career path because I know the impact that it can have on a life. I had a series of wonderful teachers who cared deeply about me, and believed in me, and today I want to give back to students.

I have numerous years of daycare experience, as well as time volunteering in classrooms around Pullman. I've spent time working one on one with students who need additional help with classroom work, as well as leading whole classes in activities. In August I will graduate with my degree in education, with plans to continue my education and earn my masters degree.

Fun fact about me: I have a pet hedgehog!

I grew up in northern California and spent most of my life there before moving to Pullman with my husband and two daughters in 2019. We were in search of wide open space and a slower, more intentional lifestyle, and we found it here in the beautiful Palouse region. While growing up I had a strong desire to work with children after watching my mother positively impact the lives of children and families as an elementary teacher. I had a natural love for young children and a desire to invest in their growth and development. 

This passion led me to pursue my Elementary Teaching Credential with an emphasis in cross-cultural language acquisition development.I was first introduced to Montessori by my sister-in-law who was pursuing a masters degree in Montessori Education. I watched in awe as she worked with my young daughters, and gave them the freedom to engage with materials independently. I was fascinated by my children's ability to concentrate and become fully absorbed in learning for themselves. I quickly realized that the multi-sensory, whole child approach was an extremely effective form of education. I began to study the Montessori method, make my own materials and guide my children at home from the ages of 2-6.

I have over 10 years of elementary teaching experience along with providing literacy and math intervention. I hold my Washington State Residency Teacher Certificate with an endorsement in English Language Learning. I am currently pursuing my Montessori Early Childhood full certification through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the team at PCM and bringing high quality public Montessori to the Pullman community!

I love shopping with my teen daughters, camping with my husband, cooking, yoga, dark chocolate and strong coffee!

My name is Christina Brandt and I am very excited to join Pullman Community Montessori. I have a passion for teaching and developing young children. I understand the incredible impact that a good teacher can have on the life of a child. I have always wanted to be a teacher because of the positive influences my teachers had on me. PCM aligns well with my personal values and mission.

I attended Iowa State University where I studied education and theatre. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Performing Arts. I went on to attend the University of Idaho where I received my Master of Fine Arts degree in Directing, specializing in Children’s Theatre.  After graduating I taught drama as well as kindergarten at a private school in Seattle. It was there that I was first introduced to a teaching philosophy based on Montessori principles. I was immediately drawn to this method of teaching and learning. When I found out that I would be moving back to the Palouse for my husbands’ job, I knew that I wanted to teach in a school that emphasized the educational values that were so close to my heart. After moving to Pullman, I had the privilege of working as a lead teacher at a private Montessori school.  I am thrilled to continue my journey by joining PCM as the lead teacher for a kindergarten community! My goal has always been to foster life-long learners that are excited to come to school day after day.

When I am not in the classroom I enjoy drinking coffee, hiking, running, and snuggling my 10-month-old baby girl!  I cannot wait to get started with PCM and meet our PCM students!

Coming Soon!