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Patricia Castillo - Kindergarten
Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education at UTA
Experience: Over 20 years of experience teaching 3-6 year olds in Montessori schools in Fort Worth, two years as a third grade teacher, one year as a first and two years in Kindergarten only
Fun Fact: I’m originally from a small island in the Caribbean called Trinidad & Tobago. My family and I moved to Texas in 1994. I am married to a wonderful man, Harold and I have four wonderful children.
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Leslie Daniels - Kindergarten
Education: I graduated from TCU and I am currently working on my Masters of Arts in Montessori at Dallas Baptist University.
Experience: I have taught 31 years, in first, second and third grades as well as kindergarten.
Why I Teach: I got into Montessori by accident but got into teaching because I truly feel it is my calling.
Fun Fact: I have two children and one grandchild. I love to work out, I sang at Carnegie Hall with my dad and son, I studied with a professional ballet company when I was a teenager, I love wine tasting.
Room 103
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Kristin Westhoff - Kindergarten
Education: I graduated from Midwestern State University. I have a BS in inter-disciplinary studies a minor in English and an endorsement in early childhood. I am GT certified. I am ESL endorsed. I completed my 2+ years of Montessori 3-6 training at Southwestern Montessori in Southlake.
Experience: I have taught Montessori for 25 years. I did my first eight years at Como Montessori before transferring to DMS.
Why I Teach: I love engaging all students in learning using the Montessori philosophy. The opportunities for trying new and exciting approaches are endless! My classroom is never dull; no two days are ever alike. Teaching kindergarten keeps me young. Being surrounded by an energetic environment of children is a great way to keep my outlook youthful. As the author Henry B. Adams once said, “A teacher affects eternity: he can never tell where his influence stops.”
Fun Facts: I went to high school in Northern California. (Saratoga HS). In my next life, I may like to be a chef. I LOVE black licorice. The ocean is my favorite place to vacation or just hang out!
Room 101
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Krisha Cook 1-2-3 Grade
Education: Graduated in 1974 from O.D. Wyatt High School. Graduated in May of 1990 from Texas Woman’s University with my Bachelor of Science degree. I completed my Masters from Oklahoma City University in Early Childhood Education with my Montessori 6-9 Certificate.
Experience: I have taught 27 years as a teacher. I was also a Teaching Assistant for 5 years, all at Daggett Montessori.
Why I Teach: I enjoy watching children learn and grow.
Fun Facts: I enjoy going to school activities with my family. I also enjoy going to church with my family and friends. The get-a-way is our property in East Texas where we enjoy nature on the farm.
Room 209
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April Durboraw 1-2-3 Grade
Education: BS Business from Oklahoma City University – 1988, BS Interdisciplinary Studies from UTA – 2011. USPTA Certification and Montessori Certificate 6-9
Experience: I have been teaching for 5 years. 1 year in AISD – 1st Grade and 4 years at DMS – 3 years in K-1 and 1 year 1-2-3.
Why I Teach: I enjoy seeing the progress that my students make on a daily basis. Seeing the look on their faces when they comprehend what we are studying! Learning is priceless.
Fun Facts: I enjoy the outdoors and all sports, especially football. I have played tennis for over 43 years. I played collegiate tennis and still compete. I have taught tennis as well for the past 27 years. I also rescue animals and at one time had 56 dogs, 14 cats, 6 horses and 2 donkeys living on my ranch with me.
Room 107
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Leila Itani 1-2-3 Grade
Education: Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in math from the University of North Texas. Montessori Certified from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies.
Experience: Overall I have taught 13 years. 11 years in a traditional classroom ranging from 3rd to 10th grade. One year in a Montessori 1st grade classroom. One year of teaching in a 1-2-3 Montessori Classroom.
Why I Teach: I enjoy working with children.
Fun Facts: I have traveled to 3 different continents.
Room 205
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Sarah Jordan 1-2-3 Grade
Education: B.S. Elementary Education with a minor in English (Texas Wesleyan College 1983). Currently seeking my Masters of Art in Montessori @ Dallas Baptist University.
Experience: I have been teaching for 35 years. I have taught First, Second, Third, and Fourth grade. I have also taught 3, 4 and 5 year olds.
Why I Teach: What I love about teaching is ... each day I learn something new!
Fun Fact: I have flown over the North Pole and I have swam with sharks in the Great Barrier Reef.
Room 203
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Kari Keith 1-2-3 Grade
Education: I graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Education. I am also certified in Special Education, ESL and have completed an Alternative Teaching Certificate. In June of 2018, I completed my Montessori Certification– a two-year achievement that I am very proud of!
Experience: I began my teaching career at Angel Montessori, where I taught pre-k for a year and then spent two years teaching the “fours” class at UCC. I then taught a year of Special Education with Mansfield ISD while completing my Alternative Teaching Certification. This fall (2018), I began my third year as a Lower Elementary teacher with DMS.
Why I Teach: I love being able to teach where my kids go to school and I love the family atmosphere at DMS! My goal is to make my classroom a “home away from home” for my students. I strive to provide a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to learn and grow at a pace that is right for them.
Fun fact: I spent two years “on the road” after graduating from college while executing various promotional campaigns. There are only six states in the U.S. that I have not been to!
Room 201
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Diane Rainone 1-2-3 Grade
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, Minor in Spanish, Graduate study in Urban and Regional Planning, Alternative Teaching Certification through Region 11.
Experience: Though I am pretty old this is only my 11th year of teaching. I taught Middle School for ½ year before coming to Daggett Montessori. I taught 4 – 5 Grade for 5 years. I am in my 6th year of teaching 1-2-3 Grade.
Why I Teach: Before teaching, I worked in technology but I never felt like I was doing something that was special and helpful. That is why I wanted to teach.
Fun Facts: All four of my grandparents emigrated from Italy in the early 1900’s. My mother was a baby nurse and worked for the Edna Gladney home here on our campus. She took care of the new babies in what is now our cafeteria! I have a son, dog, cat, sister, brother and several nieces and nephews. I LOVE science, reading, beading and learning new things.
Room 109
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Dalen Raymond 1-2-3 Grade
Education: BS Education I Masters in Special Education from Bridgewater University and American Montessori Society – Lower and Upper Level Certifications from Houston Montessori Center
Experience: 37 Years in Education – 4 in Hanson, MA teaching Kinder & 3rd Grade / 33 in FWISD teaching Kinder, 1-2-3-4-5 & 6.
Why I Teach: I believe in a Montessori Education for children.
Fun Facts: I was one of four teachers that developed and implemented the first Public School Kindergarten in the town of Hanson, Massachusetts.
Room 207
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Heather Hindle 4-5 Grade
Education: BS in Journalism, Dual minor in Marketing and Theater
Experience: 15 years teaching
Why I Teach: I love to teach, because everyday is different, every second counts and I learn something new every day from my students. There is nothing more rewarding than watching that ah-ha moment in a child when they learn.
Fun Fact: I lived and taught English in South Korea
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Kristin Williams 4-5 Grade
Education: University of Texas at Austin (I also played soccer there)
Experience: This is my 4th year of teaching, all of which have been at Daggett Montessori
Why I Teach: It's my passion! I was a montessori student myself and wholeheartedly believe in the Montessori Method.
Fun Fact: I graduated high school in 3 years
kristin.williams@fwisd.org
Room 194
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Brooke Feldman 4-5 Grade
Education: I doubled majored in Elementary Education and Anthropology from Guilford college
Experience: I began teaching 15 years ago in North Carolina. My first job was at a public Montessori school where I taught lower elementary. After that, I taught 2nd and 3rd grade in traditional public schools until I moved to Fort Worth and found a job at DMS.
Why I Teach: I teach so that I can help children succeed in doing anything they dream of in life!
Fun Fact: Because of my Anthropology major, I had the opportunity to work in other countries, such as Ghana in West Africa. I’m from Philadelphia and I love Philly cheesestakes
Room 217
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Patti Smithhart 4-5 Grade
Room 211
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Kelli Williams 4-5 Grade
Education: I graduated from TCU with a degree in Elementary Education. I have two graduate degrees from UTA.
Experience: I have been a teacher at DMS for 21 years. For the first 17 years, I taught kindergarten and first grade. The past 4 years I have been in a fourth and fifth grade classroom.
Fun Facts: I love to play golf. In high school, I went to state with our golf team. I am married and have two children. My oldest daughter is 17 and a senior at Arlington Heights. My youngest daughter is 10 and a 5th grader at DMS. Our family loves to travel. We love to watch TCU football and watch other sports as well.
Room 213
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Maria Jackson - TAP Class
Education: Texas Woman's University / BS interdisciplinary / EC-6th Gen Ed and Ec-12th Special Ed
Experience: 18 years in education (6 Pre-kinder and 12 Special Education)
Why I Teach: I love teaching for many reasons. I love the smiles when children are learning. I enjoy being challenged with each with each child needs. I began the spectacular journey in 2000. Returning to college while working full time and raising my family. I was able to continue my education with the support of my family and FWISD. It was the next best thing I have accomplished with great effort and success. I love teaching!
Fun Fact: I have been skydiving. I can juggle. I use to race cars at Kennedale, TX
Room 119
