Conleth Golob
e-mail Conleth

Directress, Conleth S. Golob

Education: Seattle University 1984 BA Education, Certified as a Montessori teacher by the American Montessori Society in 1984.

Teaching Experience: Conleth has been a Montessori school director in this area since 1985. Conleth founded IMS in February of 1992.

What Conleth Loves about teaching: "I love working with children. I am renewed by their love of life. It is fun to watch the Montessori method work for each child individually. Each child is a special, unique person.

Conleth's Family: "I have a wonderful family. My parents live in Fall City and my brother and 2 sisters also live in the area. I live with my husband and son on 17 acres in Carnation. We have horses, dogs, cats and birds.

Interests/Hobbies: "My husband and I love to ride our horses on Fox hunts in Tacoma. We also enjoy riding on trails by our home. We have a small pony for our 11 year old son to ride. We love to garden and do some traveling each year.

Co- Directress, Julia Neely - The Nest
Teacher

Education: San Diego State University BS Child Development, Certified as a Montessori Teacher by the American Montessori Society.

Teaching Experience: Julia has been teaching in Montessori schools since 1980 starting in San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area and finally landing in beautiful Washington State. Julia is a consultant and staff member of the MEIPN (Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest) training program for upcoming Montessori Teachers. Julia has been teaching at IMS since January 1994.

What Julia loves about teaching: "I love that I am able to 'follow the child' for 3 1/2 - 4 years. I not only observe the changes and advancements the children make but I have the privilege to connect with the whole family."

Julia's Family: "My daughter Rachel is 13 years old and is a competition swimmer and avid reader. She also loves to cook and play computer games."

Interests/Hobbies: "I love to garden, read, play piano, go for walks and bike ride. I enjoy painting and craft projects. More than anything I love to surround myself with friends and family."

Favorite Quote:
"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...(a school), a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes."
-Charles Swindoll

Sharon Shi

Loft AM / PM Teacher
Sharon Shi

Education: San Jose State University MS Chemical Engineering, Beijing Chemical University BS of Polymer Materials.  I am Certified as a Montessori Teacher by the American Montessori Society through MEIPN at Seattle University in 2004.

Teaching Experience: Sharon has been teaching in Montessori schools since 2003. Sharon has been teaching at IMS since September, 2004.

What Sharon loves about teaching: ① it’s in my blood. My both parents were teachers. They instilled in me a love of learning and the knowledge that education opens doors of the future. ② I want to make a positive difference in children’s life through teaching and guiding.

Sharon's Family: "I have a husband who is a computer software engineer.  We have two children Daniel and Mandy.  Daniel attended Montessori preschool and finished kindergarten year there. Now, Daniel is in third grade gifted program. Mandy is still here in IMS"

Interests/Hobbies: "I love to learn new things. I love painting, sewing, playing piano and dancing.  I enjoy traveling and visiting new places with my family. Most of all, I love being a mother and a teacher"

Assistant Director
Linda Smith

Teacher, Marcia Hoover - The Cottage

Education: BS Social Welfare, Certified as a Montessori Teacher by the American Montessori Society.

Teaching Experience: Marcia was an assistant teacher for 10 years after receiving her BS degree. After becoming Montessori certified, Marcia began teaching and has taught in public school Montessori classrooms and at 5 private schools. Marcia has been teaching at IMS since 1996.
What Marcia loves about teaching: "The children. The Montessori Philosophy which allows each child to be the loving person they are meant to be. The newness of each day with growing life."

Marcia's Family: "I have a husband who is also a teacher. We have 3 children, one grown and in college, one in middle school and one in the 5th grade. Our two younger children both attended Montessori preschool and elementary schools.

Interests/Hobbies: "I love reading, being outdoors, music (listening and singing), Sumi-e painting, being a mother and camping."

Favorite Quote:
"I truly believe that our thoughts influence what we experience in life. Do yourself a favor and spend at least one moment today thinking of our world as a safe, healthy and wonderful place to be."
-Levar Burton - Actor

Cottage AM
Co-Teacher
Saritha Baxi

Nest AM
Julie Kalegi

Loft AM assistant
Mercy Pathiyamoda