FACULTY AND STAFF

Guides, Assistants,
and Administration

Megan Schmitt is the Lower Elementary co-guide with Carole Morris. Megan received a bachelor’s degree from the Univeristy of Texas at Austin in Child Development and Family Studies. During her college career, Megan worked for the University’s child care program and did her student teaching at the University’s lab school. Following college, Megan worked for Early Childhood Intervention of Tarrant County, a job that was rewarding and educational. Upon having children, Megan stayed home and ran an in-home childcare as well as taught preschool for a local church. Megan and her husband, Steve, decided to homeschool their children in the Catholic faith. After 20 years of being a stay-at-home parent and educating her own children, the opportunity to pursue the dream of becoming a Montessorian was presented! This year will allow for the completion of that certification. Megan’s two youngest children also attend St. Francis Montessori.

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Catechists and
Atrium Assistants

Bio coming soon!

Andrea Frank currently serves as a catechist for all three levels of atria at SFM, as well as directing our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program at SFM.  She holds Bachelors & Masters degrees in Literature from the University of Dallas, is a certified CGS catechist for at all three levels, and is a Formation Leader through the National Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, offering courses for adults in the Level 1 and 2 atria.  Andrea is a wife and mother of eight children, ages 15 to baby, five of whom are currently students at SFM. Though she was first exposed to Montessori through a SOLT Montessori school in her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, working at SFM in the earliest years, and watching her oldest child blossom there, more fully opened her eyes to the wisdom and wonder of this form of education. She studied Catechesis of the Good Shepherd alongside the growth of her children and St. Francis’s atria and is grateful for her rich experience of children’s spirituality in the atrium. She is deeply grateful for the gift of participating in the community of SFM’s faculty, staff, and families.

Nece Zipper serves as a Level 3 Catechist and is certified to guide all three levels of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She graduated from Baylor University with a BA in 1999. Over the years, she has started multiple parish atria as well as a home atrium. Currently, she is serving in a Level 2 atrium at St. Mary the Virgin in Arlington. Nece has four children, one of whom graduated from SFM in 2017 and is currently homeschooled as well as assisting in the SFM atria; her younger three are enrolled in SFM casas. She enjoys working with the older children as they complete the CGS formation and also loves the material making process and preparation of the environment.

Maria Bascom serves as a Level I catechist. She received her BA in theology at UD. This is her fourth year as a guide for Level I, and she looks forward to becoming certified in Levels II and III. She first heard of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd from her sister-in-law Andrea Frank and quickly came to appreciate its beauty and its balanced cultivation of a contemplative and active spirituality. She has six children (with a seventh on the way), four of whom attend Atrium at SFM, and is most grateful to be a part of this community.

Libby currently serves as the Assistant for Levels 2 and 3 Atria.  She has completed CGS training for Levels 1, 2 and half of Level 3.  Though she will miss guiding a Level 1 Atrium this year, she is excited to assist in Levels 2 and 3 with the children.   Libby came upon the desire to work with children through Montessori at SFM through her own children's experience in the primary Casa and Atria.  Each of her children, Grace, Joseph, Thomas, John, and Beth have been in the Montessori Casa or Atrium for the past 12 years, and her husband Dave currently serves on the Board for SFM.  We are all grateful for the beautiful work of SFM!

Brigid Stauduhar currently serves as an Atrium assistant. Brigid came upon the desire to work with children at SFM through the beauty of the catechesis program experienced by her children. She has three children currently attending SFM in Upper Elementary, Lower Elementary, and Primary.

Tamara Kuykendall serves as a catechist for all three levels of the Atrium. She is a graduate of the University of Dallas with a BA in English and a Master of Theology degree. She is also certified to guide all three levels of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Her passion is child education, in particular the formation of children in the Catholic faith. She taught theology for 4 years on the high school and junior high level. She later discovered the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and promptly fell in love with it in the way it recognizes and fosters the unique religious gifts possessed by the young child. She is a mother of 5 children, the oldest three attended St. Francis Montessori and all who are of age currently attend the Atrium programs.

Laura Sercer serves as a Catechist for Level 1, Co-guide for Level 2, and Atrium Coordinator. She graduated from the University of Dallas with a BA in English. While assisting in an elementary classroom, she began training to guide Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at SFM. Laura taught Level 1 first in Irving and then down in Austin.  Finally she returned to Irving and now teaches at St. Francis Montessori. She is happy to be back at the place where her journey began. She has been teaching at SFM for three years, and has a son and daughter who currently attend SFM.

Kelley Chaplin serves as a catechist in the Level 1 Atrium.  After graduating from the University of Dallas, Kelley worked in the mortgage industry until the birth of her eldest child.  After seeing the beauty of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at work in her children, she pursued training and is now certified to guide Level 1 and Level 2 Atriums.  One of Kelley’s children has graduated from SFM, another is currently thriving in the elementary program, and her youngest hopes to follow his siblings there.

Laura Landry serves as a Level 2 Catechist. She graduated from the University of Dallas with a BA in Psychology. She worked several years at the Pines Catholic Camp, moved to Alaska to start up a new Catholic summer camp, and then spent 6 years in parish youth ministry (working primarily with 5th-8th grade students). During her time as a youth minister, she was introduced to and fell in love with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She has two young children and looks forward when they can experience the beauty of CGS also.