Montessori Children’s Centre is truly a family venture and a labor of love.  In 1997, Barbara Broach and daughter, Amy Broach Moser realized the lifelong dream of opening the Montessori Children’s Centre.  In 1999, daughter-in-law, Rachel Broach joined the venture and all three serve as the Centre’s Executive Directors, overseeing the operation of the pre-school, training teachers, and setting the curriculum and philosophy.  All three are Montessori credentialed.

Barbara Broach has taught the Montessori Method of Education since 1982.  She is an A.M.I. (Association Montessori Internationale) graduate of the St. Nicholas Montessori College of London, England.  Amy Moser graduated from Milliken University, Decatur, Illinois, with a degree in Elementary Education.  She is a graduate of the Montessori St. Nicholas centre of London, England.  Rachel Broach graduated from Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois, with a Business Marketing degree.  She is a graduate of the Montessori Centre Internationale of London, England.  All are members of the North American Montessori Teachers’ Association.

Our Directors

The Centre’s Administrative Director is Stacy Hanks.  She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois with a degree in Educational Studies.  She joined the Montessori Children’s Centre in 2004 in the capacity of a classroom teacher.  In 2006, she was named Assistant Director and now fulfills responsibilities as the Centre’s Administrative Director.  Her Montessori training was under the guidance of the Executive Directors.  Stacy resides in Heyworth with husband Erik and daughters Cameron and Sophie.

The Centre’s Assistant Director is Lisa Heptinstall.  She graduated from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Psychology.  She has been a classroom teacher since 2008 and is also the Curriculum Coordinator.  Her Montessori training was under the guidance of the Executive Directors, and she holds a Montessori Preschool Teaching Diploma from the North American Montessori Center.  Lisa resides in Bloomington with her husband Wes and daughters Julianna and Gabriella.

We are very fortunate to have experienced leadership in both of our Directors who possess a passion for working with children!

Our Staff

Our greatest assets are the wonderful teachers at Montessori Children’s Centre.  We take great care in hiring and retaining high-quality educators that love, nurture, and care for our students each day.  The effort and dedication put forth by our staff is evident in our loving and caring environment.  Those who have joined the Montessori family have many common traits including a concern for others, knowledge of child development, and a passion for working with young children.  We are proud and honored to have such a high caliber of teachers at Montessori.  All teachers at the Montessori Children’s Centre hold Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees and receive Montessori classroom training under the guidance of the Executive Directors.  We embrace a co-teaching philosophy where children have two highly qualified teachers in the classroom.  All staff receives CPR and First Aid certification each year.