Administration

Liesl Taylor, Head of School

Liesl received her AMI Elementary Certificate from the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota in 2006. She holds an Elementary K~6 Minnesota license with a specialty in middle school science. Liesl has adored ten plus years of working in Montessori classrooms, as well as her more recent work assisting on the Elementary Teacher Training Course. She is now excited to begin her new role in administration, where she is looking forward to working with the whole Cornerstone community and children of all ages!

Claudia Nuñez, Administrative Assistant

Claudia joined the Cornerstone community in January 2013. She brings extensive administrative experience to the position. Claudia is excited to be part of the Cornerstone team and learn more about Montessori, particularly from the perspective of being a parent to two young girls. Claudia celebrates Cornerstone’s diversity and is excited to grow in her role as a member of the community and in her role as administrative assistant.

Toddler Community (ages 16 to 33 months)

Laurie Pittman, AMI Trained Afternoon Guide

Laurie obtained her AMI Assistants to Infancy Diploma from The Montessori Institute in Denver, Colorado. She obtained her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota in 1995. Laurie has worked as the Afternoon Toddler Guide at Cornerstone Montessori School since its conception in 2008. In addition to her love of working with children, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering with Lions Clubs International, reading, dancing and playing tennis.

Meriel Kosokar, AMI Trained Float

Meriel is starting her fifth year at CMS. She is a native Minnesota, but spent 10 years living and teaching in Japan. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a major in English and got her TEFL certificate from Hamline University. She completed her Primary training at the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota in 2009.

Children’s House I (ages 2.5-6 years)

Sara Papacek, AMI Trained Guide

Sara holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development and Family Science with a minor in Psychology from North Dakota State University. Sara worked for several years at Lake Country School at the Children’s House level and completed her AMI Primary training at the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota in May of 2009. Sara is currently pursuing a Master’s in Education and a state teaching license through Augsburg College.

Tiffany Heaver, AMI Trained Assistant

Tiffany grew up in St. Paul and holds a B.A. in English from St. Olaf College. As a student, Tiffany enjoyed tutoring ESL students, coaching gymnastics, writing for a community art center, and volunteering in Ghana. Tiffany, A Montessori child herself, reunited with the Montessori community while working for a year as an intern at the Montessori Center of Minnesota. She received her AMI diploma from MCM and her Master’s degree in Education from Loyal University in 2001.

Ana Vite-Melchor, Spanish-Speaking Aide

Ana has worked with children for over 10 years including work with disabled children. Her work with children has driven her to become an early childhood professional. Ana has independently pursued personal and professional growth having reached level 5 on the Metropolitan Professional Development career lattice for early childhood professionals. In 2013, Ana completed the Montessori Assistants Training Course.

Children’s House II (ages 2.5 to 6 years)

Kristen Campbell, AMI Trained Guide

Kristen graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1995; in 1997, she completed a dual master’s program, earning degrees in journalism and theological studies. From 1997 to 2009, Kristen worked as religion reporter, columnist and editor at the Press-Register in Mobile, Ala., where her work received local, state and national recognition. She earned her Primary diploma in May 2010 and days later, began working at Cornerstone. Kristen holds a state teaching license and is completing a Master's degree in teaching at Hamline University.

Jay Papacek, AMI Trained Assistant

Jay earned both his Primary and Elementary Diplomas from the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota in 2005 and 2009 respectively, as well as his Master’s of Arts in Montessori Primary Education from Loyola College in Maryland. He also has Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and French from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. Jay started working in education teaching English in China and France, and has spent the last nine years working in Montessori. Jay loves to spend his free time cooking, gardening, and reading.

Angela Kaufman, Spanish-Speaking Aide

Angela is originally form Bogota, Colombia and has worked supporting children and disabled adults for over 30 years. Angela joined the Cornerstone community first as a parent. Excited by what her child was experiencing, Angela received her Montessori Assistants training in 2012 and worked as an assistant at Cornerstone Montessori Elementary School prior to joining the early childhood program in June of 2013.