Atelier Elementary School Teachers
Meet the amazing teaching team of JK-Grade 6
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Jenn Book Haselswerdt (Ms. Jenn) received a BA in Theatre from The American University and a MA in Theatre History and Criticism, Dramaturgy focus, from The Catholic University of America. She loves teaching children of all ages creative drama and music; writing and facilitating curriculum for arts-integrated lessons, and creating plays for and with young actors. She is also a certified yoga instructor and enjoys integrating yoga into our daily curriculum. In addition to her work with children, Jenn is also a dramaturg who has worked locally with actors, directors, playwrights, and audiences in Columbia.
Lead Kindergarten Teacher, Artful Yoga teacher |
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Nancy Clark (Ms. Nancy) holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from MU emphasizing music, English, and education and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Columbia College. She holds three teacher certifications from the state of Missouri: elementary (grades 1-6), early childhood (birth-grade 3), and early childhood special education (birth-grade 3). Her teaching experience includes early elementary multi-age classroom, early childhood special education, English language learners, and piano. She spent over five years teaching in South Korea where she met her husband, Henry. They have three elementary age children. Nancy enjoys picking up hobbies that help her connect with her students. She particularly enjoys playing the ukulele, writing children’s songs, and has recently started working on a children’s book to help young learners build social emotional skills. Nancy strives to facilitate a learning environment in which children feel safe expressing themselves in multiple disciplines and media.
Lead Teacher, Grades 1/2 |
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Holly Linneman (Ms. Holly), a Columbia native, received a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from the University of Missouri. She is a certified Montessori teacher with over 15 years experience teaching children ages 3-12. She loves teaching children in creative and collaborative multi-age environments. She is passionately involved with local organizations focused on the empowerment of youth and adults in the LGBTQIA+ community through expression, exploration, and agency. She has two creative and imaginative children; together they enjoy spending time in nature.
Lead Teacher, Grades 4-6 |
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Brenda McDonald (Ms. Brenda) is originally from Wichita, KS, where she graduated with a BA in elementary education from Wichita State. She taught for 5 years in special education and in upper elementary in Wichita, before moving to Saint Louis in 2016. Brenda got her certification in elementary Montessori and taught for 5 years at a public, anti-bias and anti-racist Montessori school. In 2021, Brenda relocated to Columbia and is excited to have joined the team of like-minded educators and creatives at The Atelier. Ms. Brenda is passionate about creating an environment that is nurturing for all learners and supports their artistry. She loves to spend time in nature and express her creative side through singing, dancing, songwriting, writing poetry, and watercolor painting.
Lead Teacher, Grades 2-3 |
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Kate Reeves (Ms. Kate) is an assistant teacher in both the kindergarten and grade 4-6 classroom. Her Montessori teacher certification in both primary (3-6 years) and upper elementary (9-12 years) allows her to support so many of our learners in meaningful ways. She strongly believes that children should be active in their learning and enjoys working in a collaborative and creative environment at the Atelier Elementary School! Kate and her husband (Zack) have two children who are currently elementary age. She enjoys reading, swimming, hiking, and spending as much time as possible with her family.
Assistant Teacher, Kindergarten, Grade 4-6 |
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Bertie McLaren (Ms. Bertie) earned her Master of Education Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Art Education from the University of Missouri. For the last seven years Ms. Bertie has been teaching visual art in local public schools. Previously Bertie worked as an art director in the field of advertising in Chicago. Bertie is thankful for her varied experiences which have led to the wonderful opportunity to teach children in a school that focuses on integrated and emergent curriculum. In addition to a passion for working with children, Bertie and her husband are raising two young boys. Together they enjoy reading, hiking, camping, cooking and gardening.
Assistant Teacher, Grades 1/2 |
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Sara Mooney (Ms. Sara) supports our students as an assistant teacher currently in the grade 2-3 classroom. She holds a BA in biology and graduate certificate in public health from the University of Missouri. She completed her AMS Montessori certification through HMEI in 2014. She has nearly 18 years experience caring and educating infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in various private and public educational settings. Utilizing Montessori, RIE, and other conscious positive discipline theologies she strives to prepare an environment where students feel secure, nurtured, and confident to explore and learn at their own pace. She spends her time getting outside as often as possible with her partner Bryan and two young children Eleanor and Miles.
Assistant Teacher, Grades 2/3 |
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Nancy Adriana Flores (Señora Adriana) is originally from Mexico City, Señora Adriana taught Spanish in Mexico and continued as a Spanish language educator upon moving to the USA in 2008. She uses innovative teaching methods to nurture bilingual learners to prepare students for the globalized world, bringing passion and joy to our community every day.
Spanish Specialist |
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Chef Adam joined the Atelier family as the school's first ever full-time chef in 2021. Adam brings a wealth of knowledge and experience along with him, including a One Star Michelin rating! Moving back to Missouri from California, Adam was searching for a change from the high paced life of being an executive chef in fine dining to something smaller and community oriented. His love of learning and kind demeanor make Chef Adam a perfect fit with our school community. He not only cooks us delicious and nutritious meals, he loves to share his knowledge of the science of cooking by working with classroom teachers on integration projects.
Head Chef, Primary and Elementary School |
our interns...
Our partnership with the University of Missouri's Early Childhood Education Department as well as the Human Development Department has allowed us to welcome students who are completing their last year of school to gain classroom experience. The Atelier values life long learning and we find great value in helping nurture future teachers in quality educational practices.
"I’m so thankful that I was a part of The Atelier community!! It has shaped me into the educator I am today!"
-Hanna Wims, University of Missouri intern 2019
-Hanna Wims, University of Missouri intern 2019