How we find the BEST teachers?
At TMA, all teacher candidates are required to send a resume which is reviewed by our administrative team. We then select candidates who have experience working with young children or those who are willing to learn. Our lead teachers must have at least a two-year degree and Montessori and/or Balanced Literacy experience. Our teacher candidates are required to perform a demo lesson so we can observe them in action. We then give the teacher feedback on their lesson and choose the very best. At TMA, before we hire a teacher, we always ask the question “Would we want this person teaching our own children?” If the answer is “YES”, we ask the candidate to join our team.
Join Our
Team!
OUR TEAM
Meredith Young
Lead Teacher: Infants
Hi, I'm Meredith and I'm so excited for my fourth school year with TMA! I am the Lead Teacher to our Buttercup students and feel so blessed to continue my passion working with infants and toddlers! I have over two decades of experience, and look forward to watching our Buttercups develop and learn!
I am married to my best friend, Ryan, and mom to my eleven-year-old twins and bonus seven-year-old! My favorite free time activities include working out, going to the beach, boating on the lake, and enjoying quality time with my family. I look forward to getting to know each of you!
Libby Frier
Lead Teacher: Toddlers
My name is Elizabeth "Libby" Frier and I am so excited to be leading the Tulip classroom. I just moved to Indian Land from the Charlotte area, and have found so much joy here at TMA since I joined the team in March. I have assisted in both toddler and primary classrooms and look forward to another year with my students. Toddlers are my favorite age group!
In my free time, I love spending time outdoors; whether I’m hiking, swimming, or gardening. I also love to read and cook. Most importantly, I’m a proud older sister and spend a lot of time with my family. I look forward to working with my Tulip students and their families!
Tamara Crockett
Lead Teacher: Toddlers
Hello, my name is Tamara and I have been with TMA since August 2021 leading in the toddler classrooms. I have my degree in Early Childhood/ Special Education and have been working in preschools for over 20 years. I am
currently completing my NAMC Montessori certification.
I am the mother to four amazing children and one fur baby. I love spending time with my family, going to sporting events, and reading a good book. I am excited for a year of adventures in the Magnolia classroom!
Annabel Lee
Lead Teacher: Young Toddlers
Hi Friends! I am a fun, bubbly, and highly energetic mom of 7-year-old twin girls. I have lived in South Carolina all of my life. For the past two years, I have been a lead teacher of young toddlers. l absolutely love being a teacher and I take great pride in helping to shape and educate young minds. I am so excited to be a part of the TMA family. I can't wait to welcome your sweet children with love and kindness.
In my free time, I enjoy a cup of coffee and a good book. Mostly, I love the everyday adventures of being a mom. We love going to the beach, touring museums, going to the library, and hiking at local parks and trails.
Jessica Mack
Lead Teacher: Transitional Toddlers
Hello, my name is Jessica Mack. I grew up in Rochester N.Y. and moved to the Rock Hill area in August of 2021. I have 8 years of experience teaching special education and love helping children gain their independence and confidence at an early age.
I am a mom to an amazing boy (Levi) who is 12 years old. He keeps me busy with his sports. Outside of the classroom, I love to barber, cook, bake, draw, and spend time with my family. This is my second year with TMA and I am excited for the year ahead!
Rachel Perry
Lead Teacher: Transitional Kindergarten
Hello! My name is Rachel Perry. In 2016, I graduated from the State University of New York at Oneonta with a Bachelor's degree in Child and Family Studies. I was born and raised in upstate New York and relocated to Rock Hill, SC in June of 2021.
For the last couple of years, I have enjoyed being a lead teacher in both toddler and primary classrooms, but the Chrysanthemum class has become my home! I love the Montessori Method and instilling independence in my students, and I recently obtained my NAMC Montessori Teaching Certification.
When I am not teaching, I enjoy kayaking, fishing, and spending time with friends, family, and my dogs, Jaxen and Piper. I love working with all the TMA staff and students and I am excited for the new school year!
Breezlyn Baird
Lead Teacher: Primary 3-5 yrs.
Hello! My name is Breezlyn Baird! I have been with TMA since August of 2021 and I am so glad to be a part of the team! Two years ago I moved from my hometown in California to South Carolina so I could pursue my teaching degree and be closer to my family! I have enjoyed working in multiple classrooms, but the Sunflower class has become my home! My love for Montessori has
blossomed as I obtained my NAMC Montessori Teaching Certification in March of 2023.
In my free time, my fiancé and I love spending time with my nieces and nephew. We love all things
outdoors, traveling, and trying new foods! can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Tejaswini Vistaypalli
Lead Teacher: Young Toddlers
My name is Tejaswini and I have five years of teaching experience in a Montessori classroom. I am excited to bring my knowledge of instructional principles, methods and techniques of the Montessori curriculum to TMA. My strengths tend to be connecting with young children and following the child to bring innovative teaching methods to address each child's needs.
I am eagerly looking forward to meeting the Lily students and embracing them with love and warmth. In my free time, I love to travel and spend time with my family.
Mallory Harman
Teacher: Kindergarten
Hello, my name is Mallory Harman! I began my teaching journey at Trinity Montessori Academy in
February of 2021. I received my bachelor's degree in English, minor in educational studies, and certification in gifted education from Winthrop University in 2021. My passion for Montessori was
ignited when I saw how intrigued and stimulated children are within the Montessori environment. Since then, Trinity has provided me with the tremendous opportunity to get my Montessori certification through NAMC; I am projected to complete my degree in August of 2023! During the Summer, you can find me coordinating and teaching our summer camp at TMA! I am thrilled to be sharing my passion for teaching with the Poppy classroom!
Outside of the classroom, I am reading, finding new places to eat, or going to concerts! I also love
spending time with my significant other, younger brother, and two cats!
Gayathri Arunkumar
Lead Teacher: Primary 3-5yrs.
Hello! My name is Gayathri Arunkumar! I have been with TMA since January of 2023 and I am so glad to be a part of the team! Last year, I moved from my hometown in India to North Carolina along with my family! I have been in various roles for more than two decades, but I fell in love with the Montessori method and being a teacher. I have learned so much from my Montessorian experiences and am continuing to learn every day. I have grown, not just as a teacher but as a human being. My journey continues to astonish me and I am very excited to see where this path takes me next!
I love to spend quality time with my family which usually involves deep conversations, traveling, and movie nights. I practice yoga regularly and enjoy listening to music. I look forward to making a difference in your child’s learning experience.
Hannah Eagler
Lead Teacher: Primary 3-5yrs.
Hi! My name is Hannah Eagler and this will be my third school year at Trinity! I will be leading the Lilac classroom for the second year and I am super excited to be part of the Trinity team. I moved to
Charlotte from Buffalo, New York (Go Bills!) around 15 years ago and has been here ever since. I
enjoy spending time outside in a hammock with a good book or hiking. I am currently studying to obtain my master's in developmental psychology and am also completing my NAMC Montessori certification.
I look forward to sharing the Montessori experience with all my students!
Danielle Kaelin
Lead Teacher: Transitional Kindergarten
I’m Danielle Kaelin and I am super excited to head into my 2nd year as a lead teacher at TMA! I received my bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Florida and I am Montessori Certified in Early Childhood Education. I have worked with children for 23 years and can’t wait to meet my new little friends!
I have two children, Cole (11) who loves playing sports, and Sarah Kate (9) who loves riding horses. They both went to Montessori schools in their early childhood education. My favorite free-time activities are cooking, doing art/crafts with my kids, hiking on trails, relaxing at the pool, and of course watching a great movie.
I’m eager to guide the children through the Montessori approach, and watch them learn and develop in their own styles!
