Our Teachers

Barbie Bentley Lower Elementary Classroom Teacher		Barbie joined Bozeman Summit School in 2008. She came to us from Little Tree Education Center, a Montessori-based infant and toddler program in Bozeman. She graduated with an Associates degree from NNU in Nampa, Idaho. Barbie attended a Montessori overview course in Portland, Oregon during the summer of 2008. She attended the Montana Montessori Teacher Education Center in Kalispell, Montana during the summer of 2009 and completed her training in June 2010. Her many years of teaching experiences include Montessori, private school, 4-H and homeschooling.
Jenny Conrad Music and Band Teacher		Jenny joined Bozeman Summit School in 2011. She has a Bachelor of Music Education from Montana State University. She has been a K-12 music instructor in the public school system since 2003 and has owned a private music studio since 2007. She has conducted band, orchestra, and choir at all grade levels with additional experience as the current choir director at Bozeman United Methodist Church.
Tamela Irons Upper Elementary Assistant Teacher and Spanish Teacher		Tamela joined Bozeman Summit School in 2002 as a Lower Elementary Classroom Teacher where she taught full-time for seven years through the spring of 2009. Tamela received a Bachelor of Science degree with Honors from Montana State University in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish. She holds a Montana State Teacher Certification in Elementary Education K-8 and Spanish K-12. She attended the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Boulder, Colorado and received an American Montessori Society Elementary I Credential. Tamela has traveled extensively and has lived in various countries around the world. Additionally, she is an instructor at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Boulder, Colorado.
Sonja Severson Van Driver		Sonja joined Bozeman Summit School in 2008. In addition to providing safe transportation between Bozeman Summit School and The Learning Circle Montessori School early childhood program, Sonja extends a warm “grandmotherly” touch that the children often appreciate at the beginning and end of each day.
Whitney Shafer Upper Elementary Classroom Teacher		Whitney joined Bozeman Summit School in 2009. She received a Bachelor of Science degree with Honors in Elementary Education, an endorsement in Reading Education, an Honors Degree and a Minor in Coaching Science. She holds a Montana State Teacher Certification in Elementary Education K-8 with an endorsement in K-12 Reading. Whitney’s extensive teaching and volunteer experience includes time with Big Brothers and Sisters, MSU Sports Camp, Whittier School and Bridger Ski Foundation. She began her Montessori training during the summer of 2009 at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in New York and earned her American Montessori Society Elementary II Credential upon completion of her training in the summer of 2010.
Joris “Jo” Van Cutsem Health Enhancement Teacher		Jo joined Bozeman Summit School in 2009. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and Recreation from Katholieke Hogeschool in Brussels, Belgium. Jo’s teaching experiences include being a physical education teacher, snow sports instructor at Bridger Bowl and fifth grade teacher. Additionally, he is a certified cycling coach and fluent in Dutch, English and French.