South Walton Montessori Academy Staff

  

Catherine Beall, Head of School, Elementary Lead Teacher

Catherine is the Head of School as well as the Lower Elementary Teacher. She graduated
Magna Cum Laude from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in
Information Technology. She worked as a Consultant in Houston, TX for Deloitte Consulting for 2 years.

While in Houston, she was introduced to the Montessori philosophy by a close friend who is a Montessori teacher. Catherine left Deloitte after 2 years, got married and moved to Spring Hill, FL (just north of Tampa) all within 3 months. Following her dream of becoming a teacher, she obtained a Montessori teaching position at Wider Horizons School in Spring Hill – taught in both the early childhood and lower elementary classes; also taught Freshman English and instituted a Manners class for the junior high and high school students.

She moved to Panama City in August 2003 for her husband, Kevin’s, new job with hopes to find a Montessori teaching position. Upon discovery that the closest Montessori school was in Ft. Walton, she decided to start a school. She happened upon a group of parents in Rosemary Beach already trying to start a Montessori School in their community. Everyone seemed to have the same vision for the new school, and Catherine was hired to be the Director of the South Walton Montessori Academy.

Catherine completed the academic phase of the AMS Lower Elementary credential at the Houston Montessori Center summer 2004 and received her credential upon successful completion in summer 2005. Catherine received her Masters of Education in Montessori Integrative Learning through the Houston Montessori Center and Endicott University in Boston in May 2006, with a thesis titled, “Montessori Elementary Education: Nurturing a Universe of Responsible Humans.”

Beth Brock - Assistant Director

Beth Brock grew up in Atlanta, GA and has enjoyed vacationing along the Emerald Coast her entire life. She attended Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, where she graduated on the Dean’s List with a BS in Early Childhood Education. 

Always one for adventure, she was a White Water River Guide in college and has enjoyed extensive travel. After graduation, she was the Assistant Teacher in the Toddler and Primary classrooms at the Montessori School in Breckenridge, Colorado. After trying out Restaurant Management and Real Estate, she is thrilled to be back in the field of Education.  

Beth enjoys fishing, hiking, snowboarding, skiing, and spending time on the beautiful emerald coast beaches.  Beth holds the title of Assistant Director and is the main point of contact for the school.  Beth joined SWMA in 2008.

Natalie Jobling, Primary Lead Teacher

Natalie grew up on the gulf coast in Pensacola and earned two degrees from University of West Florida; her Bachelor’s is in Anthropology and her Master’s is in Curriculum and Instruction for K-6. Before teaching Natalie was an archaeologist in Escambia and Ft. Walton and helped excavate the 1st Pensacola site at NAS.

Natalie was drawn to education when she first became a mentor in 1996. From there she continued in education by counseling At-Risk youth in Escambia County and doing research in the Educational Research and Development Center at UWF. She joined the Peace Corps and worked in West Africa on Agro/Forestry projects and with local women’s gardening and craft cooperatives.

Upon returning she began her master’s and completed student teaching at the Montessori of Pensacola. Her graduate thesis was a study of Yoga and 3-6 yr. Montessori students. After teaching in Pensacola for three years, she sailed to the Keys and lived on her boat while teaching reading recovery at a school on Key Vaca.

In June 2006 Natalie went backpacking in England and returned later in the year to live in Nottingham and travel the UK. Natalie was married to her English sweetheart March 2007 in Peebles, Scotland and they recently spent four months touring the UK and Europe in a VW Van. She is now studying Montessori 3-6 and will have her certification early 2009. Natalie practices yoga, chi gong, and is working toward her certification in Pranic Healing. Natalie joined SWMA in 2008.

 

Jessica Russ, Toddler Lead Teacher

Jessica is the Toddler Community teacher. Her Montessori journey began in 2000 when her then 2-year old daughter began attending a Toddler class at Montessori School of Anderson in South Carolina. Wanting to be better able to bring Montessori home, Jessica began volunteering at her daughter’s school in the infant/toddler community.

She immediately fell in love with the practice and philosophy and accepted an assistant position. After reading The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori she was hooked and decided to enroll in the Infant/Toddler 0-3 program at The Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. Upon completion of her summer training she accepted a self-directed internship teaching the infant class.

The Montessori School of Anderson’s program celebrated 30 years that year. Wanting to be part of a smaller school and fresh with new ideas Jessica looked for the ideal school. After a phone conversation with the director, Catherine Beall, Jessica knew that South Walton Montessori Academy had the vision she was looking for. Jessica has been teaching at SWMA since our first year in 2004.

 

David Hopkins, Upper Elementary Lead Teacher

Mr. David grew up in Gainesville, GA the second of four boys where he graduated from high school in 1991. He lettered all four years in swimming and performed in countless plays. David also earned his Eagle Scout at this time. He then went on to Auburn University where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1995.

After graduation, he was offered a fellowship in the Fine Arts program at the University of Florida. While earning his Masters Degree, he taught Oral Interpretation, Introduction to Acting, and Speech. While at UF, he also had the opportunity to travel and perform in plays in countries such as Russia, England, and Greece.

From there, David and his wife Milla moved to New York and lived in midtown Manhattan for several years. While in New York, David auditioned and performed in plays, movies, commercials and soap operas. He was also selected to workshop an experimental play in Sweden, “Einstein’s Dreams”. After September 11th, David and Milla felt they had had enough of the city and decided to transition down to the beach. David, using his theatrical design experience, began working with Bohlert Massey interiors and helped to open their new retail showroom.

In 2005, the position for an Upper Elementary teacher at the Montessori Academy presented itself. David immediately immersed himself in the Montessori Philosophy and began his training to be an accredited Upper and Lower El teacher at New Horizon Montessori Training center in Tennessee. David has been teaching at SWMA since 2005.

 

Cam Ray - Upper Elementary Teacher Assistant, Music Specialist

Cam was born and raised on Amelia Island in Northeast Florida.  He attended the local Montessori school through kindergarten.   Cam began piano lessons at age 6, studying classical music for 12 years, and then began studying jazz. 

He has scored top ratings at numerous competitions as well as received many scholarships and awards for both classical and jazz piano.  He graduated from the University of North Florida in 2002 with a BM Degree in Jazz Studies/Piano Performance.  After college, Cam was the instrumental director at Christ’s Church in Jacksonville for 3 years, and following that he became a full-time music instructor/performer. 

Cam has been playing piano professionally for 17 years and has been a private music teacher for 12.  He has played keyboards for numerous off-Broadway productions as well as many Big-Band Theme Cruises with the MSC line.  

He has had the privilege of performing with the “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin as well as opening for "Earth, Wind, and Fire."  While he loves performing in a variety of settings and styles, Cam is equally as passionate for teaching and sharing knowledge with others.  He loves seeing the moment when something “clicks,” and a student understands a new concept for the first time. 
 
 

Debbie Ward - Toddler Teacher Assistant

Debbie Ward has been working with young children for many years. After observing the SWMA Toddler environment three years ago, she fell in love with the Montessori philosophy and joined the staff. Debbie graduated with high honors in 1996 with an Associate of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from Okaloosa Walton Community College. Debbie joined SWMA in 2005.



 

Cynthia Mendez - Primary Teacher Assistant and Spanish Language Specialist

Cynthia is the Spanish teacher as well as the Primary classroom assistant. Her first language
was Spanish because her family is from Uruguay. From a young age she visited Uruguay every year and is excited to share her background with the students at Montessori. She swam and played basketball throughout her school career. She graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2006. After college she decided to move to the beach, where she met her awesome husband and relocated to Orlando. After moving back last July, she found the posting for a teaching position at Montessori. She was very excited because she really enjoyed working with kids. She tutored less fortunate children in Bay county and found the work quite rewarding. Cynthia joined SWMA in 2008.
 

 

Rebecca Russell, Lower Elementary Teacher Assistant, Art Specialist

Rebecca is from Niceville and has lived in the area for most of her life. After graduating from Niceville High School she served two years with AmeriCorps, a program considered to be the “domestic Peace Corps” where members serve in area schools working with students, kindergarten through 5th grade, who are below grade level in reading and comprehension.

During those two years she served at Destin Elementary School. She completed over 3400 service hours and helped to improve the reading skills of over 200 students. Upon graduating from AmeriCorps she received a scholarship that allowed her to begin her college education.

She is currently a senior at the University of West Florida working on her Bachelor’s of Art Degree in Exceptional Student Education with Dual Certification in Elementary Education and ESOL Education, with a Minor in Art and was just recently accepted into the National Scholars Honor Society. Before joining the SWMA family in 2008, Rebecca spent her summers as a nanny for a family that introduced her to the Montessori philosophy and the Academy.

After an incredible meeting with the Head of School, Catherine Beall, and an invitation to be the school’s Art Specialist, Rebecca was hooked. Rebecca continues to immerse herself in all things children and education and hopes to complete a Masters in Education and Montessori training in the future. Rebecca joined SWMA in 2008.
 

Serena Richard, Physical Education Specialist

Serena is the Physical Education instructor at SWMA. Growing up in South Georgia, she graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor's in Health and Physical Education in1997. She started teaching middle school PE at Seaside Neighborhood School in 1998. She is still there today on the days she is not at SWMA. Her oldest son began SWMA in 2004 when he was 3. In 2006, the opportunity for a part time PE instructor presented itself at SWMA. Serena loves incorporating the Montessori philosophy in with her physical education curriculum.