Staff
International Montessori Academy
Staff
Kim Staffey
Director/Owner/Kindergarten Teacher
B.S., M.S. of Ed – Early Childhood
IL State Certified Teacher
Montessori Certified Teacher
Hi, and welcome to International Montessori Academy! I am Miss Kim, the owner of IMA. I aslo teach here at IMA. It has been such a blessing to have come across the opportunity to take over what was formerly Montessori School of Dekalb. In the two years I have owned the school so many amazing events have taken place. We moved from a one classroom school to a brand new building in Sycamore with 5 classrooms and a gym, our enrolment has tripled, and we have expanded past kindergarten on to fifth grade. I take great pride in the school and it is a joy to teach such amazing children and see the difference we are making in their lives. I received my Bachelor’s of Science in Food Nutrition from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. While operating a licensed home day care, I attended NIU and received my master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. I am an Illinois State Certified teacher, as well as a Montessori Certified Teacher. My husband, my three daughters and I live in Dekalb.
Amber Page
Assistant Kindergarten Teacher
Hello, I am Miss Amber. I started working for the school in September of 2010. I assist Miss Kim in her kindergarten classroom. I graduated from St. Charles East High School last January, and from Cyndirella’s Academy of Beauty in St. Charles with my Cosmetology Certificate. I am currently attending Elgin Community College.
Kimberly Boyle
Upper Elementary Teacher (3-5 grades)
Bachelor’s of Science in Education
K-9 Certified Teacher
Hi, I’m Mrs. B. I started teaching with the Montessori Academy in September of 2010. I assisted Miss Kim in her kindergarten classroom, and now I teach with Miss Colleen in the elementary classroom. I attended college at Northern Illinois University, and I then transferred to Judson University in Elgin where I earned my bachelor’s degree. I have substitute taught for 6 years. I currently substitute teach in the Burlington, Kaneland, and St. Charles school districts. My husband, Denny, and I live in west St. Charles, where he owns Boyle Body Werks. My son, Nick Page, works with Denny at his body shop. Nick just graduated from Waubonsee College with an Advanced Auto Body Repair Certificate. At the same time, he also graduated from Elgin Community College with ASE certification in Auto Mechanics. I also have a daughter, Amber Page, who also assists at the school.
Colleen Rittmeyer
Lower Elementary Teacher (1-2 grades)
Associate of Arts
Lower Elementary Montessori Certified Teacher
I am Miss Colleen, and I teach the lower elementary grades at Montessori Academy. I am a Montessori certified teacher, with a certificate in Lower Elementary (ages 6-9). I have an Associate of Arts from Rock Valley College, and I am currently attending Northern Illinois University for my bachelor’s degree in elementary education. I will also be getting certification for middle school teaching, with endorsements in Language Arts, Science, and Social Science. I started teaching at Montessori Academy in 2009. My husband, Josiah, and I have one daughter, Eliana.
Mary Haka
Preschool Teacher
Montessori Certified Teacher
I am Miss Mary. I have been teaching the last 14 years at a Montessori school in St. Charles. Before that, I taught in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Dallas, Texas. I received my preschool and kindergarten Montessori Certificate at the Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center. I started working at the school in August of 2010. I live in Sycamore with my husband. We have 3 college-aged children.
Stephanie Davies
Preschool Teacher
B.S. – Early Childhood Education
IL State Certified Teacher
Hello, I am Miss Stephanie. I started teaching with the school in August of 2010. I graduated from NIU with a Bachelor’s of Science in Early Childhood Education. I have had experience teaching toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners. I hope to use the knowledge that I gained to guide the children at the International Montessori Academy to be independent and successful students that work at their own pace while helping others to be successful. My husband, Caleb, and I have a beautiful four-year-old daughter, Anna, who attends the school.
Dee Maki
Assistant Teacher
I have taught with this Montessori school for over 25 years. I have worked for the school since it opened, and helped get it started. I am a very experienced teacher and help out a lot in the classroom. I am the handwriting coach for the children and I love to work with them one-on-one to help improve their writing skills. I have years of administrative experience, and I did a lot of this type of work for the school at the old location. I am a very active member in my church in DeKalb. I have a son that lives in Utah and a daughter that lives in the DeKalb area. I also have several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.