About City Garden

Our Values, History, & Team

Mission & Vision

City Garden Montessori School exists to redefine education, reimagine community, and reinvigorate our world.

The City Garden Story

City Garden began in 1995 as a small, preschool of a few children. Today, we serve 275 children from ages 3 to 14.

Board of Directors

City Garden is supported by deeply engaged board and committee members. Learn more about their work and service by clicking below.

Meet the Team

City Garden has a dynamic team of guides and administrators. Get to know our team, and find out how to connect with them!

Mission & Vision

City Garden exists to redefine education by developing the whole child in an excellent, inclusive, Montessori school; to reimagine community by creating spaces and systems that help to restore our collective humanity; and to reinvigorate our world by creating a culture in which individuals and communities thrive without disparities or barriers to success.

In the process of nurturing our students to be competent, creative, lifelong learners who practice compassion, respect, nonviolence and sustainability, we will strengthen families, the neighborhoods we serve, and the City of St. Louis as a whole.

The City Garden Story

City Garden Montessori School was founded by Trish Curtis and Mary Mitchell in 1995, with an intent to provide high-quality early educational experiences to children in the City of St. Louis for a very affordable price.

In January of 2006, seeing a need for more quality schooling options in the City of St. Louis, parents led efforts to pursue the expansion of City Garden to include an elementary program.  A Charter Planning Committee was formed and led the work of creating a charter school. The elementary expansion of City Garden Montessori School built upon what was established at the preschool, cultivating a nurturing, intimate atmosphere and implementing an interactive learning approach that honors each child individually.

In Fall 2008, City Garden Montessori School opened its charter school with 53 students in grades kindergarten through third grade. City Garden’s charter school is a neighborhood school, serving children and families in the Botanical Heights, Forest Park Southeast, Shaw, and portions of the Southwest Garden and Tiffany neighborhoods in the City of St. Louis. The school currently serves 275 students ages 3 to 14, in preschool through eighth grade.

City Garden’s vision has always been to introduce children to the idea of being change makers in our world. The Montessori approach, hands-on and individualized, helps to instill a firm understanding of respect for oneself and others. The school’s curriculum has a multi-cultural focus, making connections with children, cultures and environments around the world. Cultivating what Howard Gardner calls the “naturalist intelligence,” children’s natural wonder at the world is harnessed into a ecological awareness and a capacity for scientific observation. City Garden students and graduates are compassionate, well-rounded, confident human beings who are eager to learn and who excel in many areas.

Our hope has been, and continues to be, that City Garden school will be a community school—a space for members of the surrounding neighborhoods to gather, learn and get to know each other, a school in which families and community members feel a sense of ownership and pride, and a place that will be a source of hope and vitality for our community. We aim to cultivate compassionate and critically thinking young people who will make a difference in our world.

Our Sponsor - Saint Louis University

City Garden Montessori  School could never be the type of school and community gathering place that we are without the support of our partners, our friends, and our sponsor, Saint Louis University.

Saint Louis University’s commitment to urban community education is manifested in the involvement of its students, faculty, and staff in various forms of public schooling.

The University has an extensive history of collaboration with St. Louis’ public schools, and continually seeks to assist the St. Louis Public School District, neighboring public school districts, the City of St. Louis, and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as appropriate to advance student learning. Toward that goal the University has committed to sponsorship of public charter schools.

Community Leadership Through Sponsorship

The success of a charter school – and, therefore, the successes of its students – is closely tied to the integrity of the sponsor and quality of sponsor oversight. As a leader in the education and certification of St. Louis’ teachers and administrators, and as a comprehensive research institution committed to empirically-based improvement efforts in urban public education, Saint Louis University is uniquely poised to serve the St. Louis community as a sponsor.

Serving as a sponsor further engages the University’s faculty, staff, and students in the St. Louis community, and further evidences the University’s leadership commitment to public schooling, innovation in education, and community development.

The Decision to Sponsor

Over the past several years a number of groups have requested that Saint Louis University consider charter school sponsorship. Recognizing the extent of such a challenge, the University has approached sponsorship cautiously and with due diligence. University constituents have consulted with officials from the St. Louis Public School District, regional and national charter school associations, and faculty and staff at other colleges and universities serving as charter school sponsors in and outside of Missouri.

Faculty and staff from throughout the University are encouraged to lend their insight, experience, and expertise to the institutional sponsorship effort.

Scope of Sponsorship

While the need for high-performing public schools is significant, Saint Louis University recognizes that its role as a sponsor of charter schools is both supported and bounded by its institutional mission as well as human and financial resources.Accordingly, faculty and staff have focused their efforts on sponsorship of a very small number of schools whose leadership, missions, and curricula present a “good fit” with the people and programs of the University. Sponsored schools are characterized by:

• a strong local board of trustees (non-profit), formed in response to demonstrated local need
• an educational mission consistent with Saint Louis University’s mission and values
• a location close to campus to meet the distinct needs of students residing in neighborhoods near and adjacent to the University
• a rigorous curriculum design responsive to the school’s mission and the needs of the community
• opportunities for University faculty, staff, and student involvement throughout its operations

These parameters exclude a majority of charter school applicants; the University is not seeking to sponsor a vast network of charter schools.

Financial Implications of Sponsorship

Missouri’s charter school laws provide that “the expenses associated with sponsorship of charter schools” be reimbursed to sponsors on a per-student basis, up to an annual maximum amount (RSMo 160-400). Accordingly, as enrollments at the schools sponsored by the University grow to their potential as designed, and as our relationships with sponsored schools mature to include increased involvement of University faculty, staff, and students in the charter schools, our sponsorship should evolve to be a revenue-neutral educational initiative.

Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
State Accountability Report Card

State and federal law require the development of report cards at the state, district, and building level. Specific data includes: enrollment, attendance, percent students eligible for free/reduced-price lunch, staffing ratios, teacher  experience, average teacher and administrator salaries, expenditures/student, Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) results, students in gifted education program, and percent english language learners.

To access City Garden Montessori School’s 2019 State Accountability Report Card:
1. Visit the DESE website: https://tinyurl.com/y46r9gjv
2. Select 2019 as School Year
3. Select City Garden Montessori as District
4. Select City Garden Montessori as School
5. Select View Report

Meet the Team

Early Childhood Education Center Administration

Crystal Isom

Principal

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Lauren Zhao

Building Operations Manager

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Amy Willems

Instructional Coordinator

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Cathy Bain

Director of Special Services

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Elizabeth Richardson

Administrative Assistant

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Caitlyn Overstreet

Nurse

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Alexis Wheeler

Food Service Assistant

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Casey Owen

Buildings & Grounds Technician

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He/Him

Preschool & Kindergarten Teams

Shannon Adams

Lead Guide - Primary 1

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Amy Hughes Braden

Assistant Guide - Primary 1

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Hilary Fischman

Lead Guide - Primary 2

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Young Kim

Lead Guide - Primary 3

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Taylor Williams

Assistant Guide - Primary 3

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Celeste Ocaña

Lead Guide - Primary 4

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Pamala Powers

Assistant Guide - Primary 4

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Sarah Johnston

Lead Guide - Primary 5

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Joyce Turner

Assistant Guide - Primary 5

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Emily Peters

Lead Guide - Primary 6

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Dennia Butler

Assistant Guide - Primary 6

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Carmen Beliz

Lead Guide - Kindergarten 1

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Erin King

Assistant Guide - Kindergarten 1

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Travis Woolsey

Lead Guide - Kindergarten 2

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Chelsea Beaven

Assistant Guide - Kindergarten 2

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Deanna Graham

Lead Guide - Kindergarten 3

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Krista Trent

Assistant Guide - Kindergarten 3

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Special Services, School Support, & Specials

Garrick Mueller

Special Education Instructor

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Brittany Grant

Family Support Coordinator

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Zenia Skinner

Paraprofessional

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Morgan Potje

School Support Specialist

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Taylor Arman

School Support Specialist

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Karen Egel

School Support Specialist

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Eva Millsap

School Support Specialist

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Nikki Clark

School Support Specialist

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Jean Stallings

Before/After Care Assistant

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Gladys McKissic

Before/After Care Assistant

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Elementary and Adolescent Education Center Administration

Kisha Young

Principal

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Dr. Tabitha Harrell

Assistant Principal

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Sharmouel Mosley

Building Operations Manager

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Amy Denother

Instructional Coordinator

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Katie Keller

Montessori Implementation Coach

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Angela Wright

Administrative Assistant

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Cathy Bain

Director of Special Services

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Caitlyn Overstreet

Nurse

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Mary Swofford

Food Service Coordinator

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Casey Owen

Buildings & Grounds Technician

[email protected]

He/Him

Lower Elementary (1st ,2nd, & 3rd Grade)

Becky Broshears

Lead Guide - Lower Elementary 1

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She/Her/Hers

Lindsay Petermeier

Assistant Guide - Lower Elementary 1

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Danielle Combs

Lead Guide - Lower Elementary 2

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Madeline Clay

Assistant Guide - Lower Elementary 2

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Olli Lehmann

Lead Guide - Lower Elementary 3

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Casey Fetkenhour

Assistant Guide - Lower Elementary 3

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Anne Lacey

Lead Guide- Lower Elementary 4

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Keona Borroum

Assistant Guide - Lower Elementary 4

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Kristen Kruger

Lead Guide - Lower Elementary 5

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Amanda Gilliom

Assistant Guide - Lower Elementary 5

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Areta May

Lead Guide - Lower Elementary 6

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Dana Tanner

Assistant Guide - Lower Elementary 6

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Jacqueline Charlot

Lead Guide - Lower Elementary 7

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Angelique Fergerson

Assistant Guide - Lower Elementary 7

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Rasmi Sporny

Lead Guide - Lower Elementary 8

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Audrey Yancey

Assistant Guide - Lower Elementary 8

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Upper Elementary (4th ,5th, & 6th Grade)

Nix Evans

Lead Guide - Upper Elementary 1

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Nia Acker

Assistant Guide - Upper Elementary 1

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Matt Jaworski

Lead Guide - Upper Elementary 2

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Maisha Harlan

Assistant Guide - Upper Elementary 2

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Jean Turney

Lead Guide - Upper Elementary 3

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Kimberly LaCroix

Apprentice Guide - Upper Elementary 3

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Tiffany Bocos

Lead Guide - Upper Elementary 4

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Esther Spinner

Assistant Guide - Upper Elementary 4

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Norman Williams

Lead Guide - Upper Elementary 1

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Madeline Erdman

Assistant Guide - Upper Elementary 5

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Junior High Team

Bill Heisse

Lead Guide - Math & Science

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Camila Tabima

Assistant Guide - Math & Science

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David Weis

Lead Guide - Lang. Arts & Social Studies

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Tyra Booker

Assistant Guide - Lang. Arts & Social Studies

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Special Services

Jeanne Eveld

Special Education Instructor

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Britta Bernert

Special Education Instructor

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Nikki Day

Special Education Instructor

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Christine Vinarscik

Reading Specialist

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Normanda Lee

Paraprofessional

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Erin Winfert

Paraprofessional

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Joe Shipp

Paraprofessional

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Alie Kowelman

Paraprofessional

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Catie Strauss

Paraprofessional

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Christine Rose

Speech-Language Pathologist

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Carlie West

Psyche Examiner

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Phyllis Maragh

Reading Interventionist

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Allison Cox

Occupational Therapist

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Cecilia Meadors

Special Education Instructor

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School Support & Specials

Ellen Curry

Family Support Coordinator

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Chris Stevenson

Nautilus Lead

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Rachel Cramsey

BJC Therapist

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Nick Diener

SEL Facilitator/Specialist

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Destiney Wittenauer

School Support Specialist

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Madison Cockrum

School Support Specialist

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Kendra Whitley

School Support Specialist

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Brandee Johnson

School Support Specialist

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Tricia Hackworth

School Support Specialist

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Kelsey Hansen

Food Service Assistant

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Paul Bakoylis

Health & P.E. Instructor

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Lauren Denney

Outdoor Education Instructor

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Juliet Salih

Spanish Instructor

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Stephanie Small

Art Instructor

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Jodi Richards

Classroom Support

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Ethan Flemming

School Support Assistant

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Administrative Network Team

Christie Huck

CEO/Executive Director

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David Blank

Chief Operating Officer

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Cassidy Flynn

Communications Consultant

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Mike Flohr

Director of Curriculum and Instruction

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Pat Garrett

Director of Admissions

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Michelle Marshall

Director of Talent and Culture

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Sikina Lee

HR Administrative Support

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Sarah Miner

Administrative Assistant

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Kim Dixon

Volunteer Coordinator

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Tiffany Whitlock

Business Office Manager

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Lynn deLearie

Development Associate

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Deb Fox

Administrative Coordinator

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She/Her