Staff | St. Andrews Montessori School

Karen C. Mangham is a graduate of Mercer University with a B.A. degree in Elementary Education and a graduate of George Peabody College for Teachers (Vanderbilt) with an M.S. degree in Early Childhood Education. After teaching in public education in Jackson and Macon, GA, for over six years, she finally had the opportunity to study Montessori. She holds two certifications from Montessori Educational Programs International (MEPI)—primary 3-6 year and lower elementary 6-9 year. Her Montessori journey has spanned over 35 years to include being co-founder, director, and lead teacher of St. Andrews Montessori School; early childhood teacher trainer and program director for the Institute for Guided Studies; current board member of MEPI; conference presenter; and school consultant. She is the proud grandmother of six and enjoys all things related to nature.

Jeanette Davis (Co-Teacher, Lower Elementary, 19 years' experience)

IGS Montessori Paraprofessional Certificate

Jeanette Davis is a graduate of Saint Theressa's Girls College in George's Hill, Dublin, Ireland. Her work background began in pharmaceutical sales, which lasted close to 20 years. She emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1991 and began a career in retail at a managerial level in New York. She has 18 years’ experience in Montessori, all at St. Andrews. She has an assistant’s certification from the Institute for Guided Studies. She began by working in the primary II level with children ages 3 to 6 years. Now she can be found in our lower elementary class, where she co-teaches with our director, Karen Mangham.

Elena Buck (Assistant Teacher, Lower Elementary)

Elena Buck comes to us with a background in special needs adults and children as well as being a clergy wife. She has 10 years experience working closely with children on the spectrum in the classroom as well as acting as a liaison between parents, teachers, and day care providers as a behavioral health therapeutic staff support. With a BA in Religious Studies, she supports her husband's priesthood ministry at St. Innocent Orthodox Church which is what brought her to Macon in the first place. Elena and Fr. Buck's daughter attends St. Andrews Montessori School which was the impetus for enrolling in the Montessori assistant teaching program. She has been with St. Andrews Montessori now for 5 years.

Taibat Adeniyi (Assistant Teacher, 26 years' experience)

National Certificate of Education (NCE), Kwara State College of Education

Taibat Adeniyi is a native of Nigeria in West Africa. She came to the United States in 2001 with her husband and three sons. She has a National Certificate of Education (NCE) from Kwara State College of Education and has been teaching since 1991, where she began at Lerato International School in Lagos, Nigeria, and Marina International School in Banjul, the Gambia, West Africa. She has been a volunteer parent with her sons' schools, Ingram Pye and Alexander II, in Macon. She has been involved in the care of a child with special needs since 2007 and completed a paraprofessional course at St. Andrews in early 2015, where she has been a substitute teacher prior to becoming an assistant teacher. She is currently pursuing a Montessori Teacher Certification at the Early Childhood level through MEPI, and is a lead primary 3-6 yr guide.

Chhabi Rahman (Lead 3-6 Yr. and Kindergarten Teacher, 5 years' experience)

B.S. Biochemistry and Physiology, Queen Mary College

M.S. Bio Technology, Imperial College

IGS Montessori Paraprofessional Certificate

3-6 yr. MEPI Montessori credential

Chhabi Rahman graduated from Queen Mary College, University of London, with a BSc. degree in Biochemistry. She also has a MSc. degree in Biotechnology from Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, University of London. In 2018, she obtained her Montessori 3-6 year certification from MEPI. She moved to Macon from London, England, twenty years ago with her husband, with whom she has three children. She enjoys photography, reading, and crafts.

Sarah Fripp (Assistant 3-6 Yr. Teacher)

IGS Montessori Paraprofessional Certificate

Sarah Fripp is a graduate of Oconto Falls High School (2000). She moved from Wisconsin to Georgia 13 years ago and is married with two children who attend St. Andrews. She started the 201 Foundations of Montessori Philosophy and Educational Theory in 2016 and finished it in 2017, all while working at the school three hours a day, volunteering inside and outside the classroom and substitute teaching. She enjoys traveling, camping, reading, and learning anything related to natural and holistic health.

Toni Joseph (Lead Toddler Teacher, 10 years' experience)

IT Montessori Credential, NAMC

Toni Joseph is the lead teacher of the toddler program here at St. Andrew’s Montessori school. She began her teaching career ten years ago in the toddler building as a substitute teacher and is currently pursuing an IT certification from MEPI. As these wonderful years have progressed, so has her Montessori education. She holds an International Montessori Teaching diploma in Theory and Practice of the Montessori Method of Education for children birth to three years of age from the North American Montessori Center. She has close family ties to this school and the community. She considers this her home and cherishes every life touched and every child taught. She loves the Lord, moon-gazing, flowers, and doing new things. She has four grown children and six children who call her “NONI.”

Melinda Murphree (Assistant Toddler Teacher, 7 years' experience)

IGS Montessori Paraprofessional Certificate

Melinda Murphree is a graduate of Gilead Christian Academy and has completed training with The Institute for Guided Studies for Montessori paraprofessional. She has worked with children for 29 years. Her experience includes work in daycare, substitute teaching, a position as a nanny for 11 years, therapeutic foster care for troubled youth and children, and a facilitator in the Nurturing Parenting Program for adolescents with mental health disorders and their families. She currently serves as an assistant teacher in the toddler house and oversees our Early Care Program. She is the mother of four and enjoys nature and all of its inhabitants.

Christy Kerr (Assistant Toddler Teacher, 11 years' experience)

IGS Montessori Paraprofessional Certificate

Christy Kerr is an assistant teacher for Upper Elementary, as well as coaching the PE program at St. Andrews Montessori. It suits her passion for fitness and educating children, and she's tremendously excited to come “home.” She holds a paraprofessional certificate from The Institute for Guided Studies and has 11 years’ experience educating children and 14 years' experience coaching. She holds a Level 1 Crossfit certificate, is an avid Crossfit enthusiast, and enjoys homeschooling, hiking, family, and Jesus.

Joshua Wedlund (Spanish teacher, 3 years' experience)

Josh is originally from Alberta, Canada and has also spent many years in Tijuana, Mexico. While working as a missionary in Mexico, he met his wife, a Macon native, before they got married and settled here in Macon. His favorite things to do revolve around sports. Josh says "My Canadian bones make me a hockey fan. However, I very quickly have become an avid SEC football fan. Go Dawgs!"

Deloras Moon (Administrative Director, 50 years' experience)

B.A. English, Eastern University

M.A. Religious Edu. Palmer Theological Seminary

Deloras Moon came to St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in 1986 as Director of Children’s Ministries for St. Andrews Presbyterian Church and Montessori School. She graduated from Eastern University in St.Davids, PA, with a Bachelor of Arts in English and from Palmer Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA, with a Master’s Degree in Religious Education. Before coming to Macon in 1982 with her husband and two children from East Lansing, MI, she was employed by People’s Church Interdenominational as Director of Christian Education. Deloras currently serves as Administrative Director for St. Andrews Montessori School. She enjoys reading, being at the beach, and spending summers with extended family in the mountains of Pennsylvania.

Tiffany Brennan (Administrative Assistant, 14 years' experience)

Tiffany Brennan is a native of Monroe County, having graduated from Mary Persons High School in 1999. She is married to her high school sweetheart, with whom she has two children. She currently resides in Monroe County and enjoys going to church, crocheting, reading.

Randi Ferina (Assistant Teacher)

I first began helping at St. Andrews Montessori School while I was still in high school to earn community service hours. Once I graduated, I began to volunteer and substitute in the classrooms as needed. I enjoyed it so much that I found myself being here quite often, even when I wasn’t “needed.” 😊 I completed the Foundations of Montessori Philosophy and Educational Theory training course to achieve my Montessori Teacher’s Paraprofessional certificate that was from Institute of Guided Studies in 2017. I love working with children and my husband and I have four beautiful girls of our own! I have grown to love this school, it’s teachers, and students so passionately, and look forward to a wonderful year working side by side with the little ones.

Gena Howell (Lead Upper Elementary Teacher)

Gena Cummings Howell is the lead Upper Elementary teacher and has over 20 years of educational experience. She holds an associate degree and Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood Education and an associate degree in Cabinet Making. She was a Librarian at Stratford Academy, worked at Mary Persons High School as a Special Education Co-teacher, Librarian at Monroe Academy and College Tutor for Central Georgia Technical College. She loves working and sculpting with clay, painting, sewing and crocheting. She has traveled the world and loves learning different cultures. She is currently pursuing the Upper Elementary Montessori Certification from the North American Montessori Center NAMC).

Rafat Karim (Primary, Assistant Teacher)

Rafat Karim serves as an assistant teacher in the primary class. She received a Montessori Parapro certificate from the Institute for Guided Studies. She is a former Montessori parent and substitute teacher. Rafat received a BS in Chemistry from Maghad University in Patna, India and taught first grade at International Academy in Patna, India.

Ellen Wilson (Lead Primary Teacher)

Ellen Gifford Wilson is a native of Reading, PA. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA in 1973, and a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester in 1976. Since moving to Macon in 1979, she has served several churches as organist and choirmaster, currently having been at St. Francis Episcopal Church for well over 20 years. She also taught Kindermusik for several years. Her oldest child was in the first class at St. Andrews, and she began Montessori training and started teaching in 1993. Until her retirement in 2017, she was lead teacher in the room now occupied by the lower elementary class. Since then, she has taught music and recorder to the kindergarten and elementary classes. She is happy to be back in the classroom this fall.