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 3-5 |
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Chelsey Ward ( Ms. Chelsey) graduated from Stephens College with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Her son, Brayden, is a first grader at the Atelier Elementary School. They have two tree frogs, a snake (Ms. Slithers), a toad, and a dog named Phillip Cheese Steak. She enjoys painting, singing, working within nature, and caring for animals. Chelsey expresses emphasis on providing an arts-integrated, inquiry-based curriculum to help foster initiative, diverse thinking, and creativity in the classroom. She believes students can learn about subjects that interest them while simultaneously learning the core academics such as math, literature, science, social studies, and the arts.
Assistant Teacher, Kindergarten |
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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 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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Alyssa Booth (Ms. Alyssa) completed a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Missouri and holds a Missouri Teacher Certification for birth to Grade 3. She has worked with ages birth to seventh grade at preschools and Elementary schools in the Kansas City Area, and here at the Atelier. Alyssa is passionate about providing a multicultural education for all students where differences will be honored and respected. She believes that it is important to foster meaningful and engaging experiences that push students to be creative and have critical thinking skills. She places a high value on maintaining an environment in which children feel safe, loved, accepted, and are given tools to regulate emotions and helpful strategies to achieve academic and personal success. When Alyssa is not working or thinking about her students, she enjoyed spending time with her girlfriend and dog, Araya. She loves being outside, crocheting, or engaging in crafts.
Assistant Teacher, Grades 3-5 |
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Faith Spencer (Señora Faith) is the Spanish Specialist at the Atelier Elementary School.
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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