Atelier Primary School Teachers
Meet our wonderful toddler and Pre-K teaching team
|
Brooke Austin (Ms. Brooke) received her Bachelor's Degree in General Studies with minors in psychology and sociology from Columbia College. Teaching is her passion. She has been an educator for over a decade, and is a certified Montessori teacher. She feels teaching about peace education, social skills, and self-care, as well as caring for the environment will help set the foundation for the child. If children gain these skills, she believes they will be successful in whatever endeavors they encounter in the future. Brooke was born and raised in Columbia, Missouri. She recently married her high school sweetheart in October 2018 and they have two shih tzu's names Chubbs and Louie. Lead Primary Teacher, Let's Create Together instructor
|
|
Chelsea Shanks (Ms. Chelsea) received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies with an emphasis in Child Development and Education from the University of Missouri. She spent seven years working in a university lab school setting teaching preschoolers ranging in age from 2-5 as well as mentoring college students completing their student teaching hours in her classroom. Chelsea is trained in Conscious Discipline and uses these principles to help equip children with the social-emotional skills needed to communicate, problem solve, and develop healthy behavior. She is very passionate about early childhood education and believes these early years set the stage for creating loving and curious life-long learners. In her spare time, Chelsea enjoys reading, crafting, and cheering on her favorite Chicago sports teams.
|
|
Brianna Bogucki (Ms. Bri) holds a Bachelor’s degree in Photography from Columbia College, where she also studied early childhood education. She has worked for several years as a preschool educator in both assistant and lead teaching roles, and has also directed plays with children of all age groups. In addition to teaching, she also works part-time at Sager Braudis Gallery in town and is very excited to use her knowledge of the arts to implement creative learning opportunities in the classroom and help children to find their individual voice. In her free time, she can be found making her own artwork and doting on her pitbull, Walter.
|
|
Logan Ferguson (Ms. Logan) graduated with her AAS in Early Childhood Education from Moberly Area Community College in 2019. For the last several years, Logan has taught children ranging in ages from 2-5 years old. She loves helping students explore their own feelings and emotions and learn ways to regulate their bodies. Logan enjoys immersing children in their interests and allowing them to create and investigate the world around them. In November of 2020 Logan got married and in her free time you will find her spending time with her husband, crafting, or organizing!
|
|
Amanda Atkins is a Columbia native who studied a little bit of everything at the University of Missouri-Columbia, graduating with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with and emphasis in Psychology, Sociology, and Human Development & Family Studies. She founded and operated a family home preschool in 2016 and has also taught and served as administrator for a local center-based preschool. Amanda spent seven years working with children through foster care and adoption and is passionate about trauma-informed practice. For fun, Amanda enjoys performing with area community theatres with her husband and three youngest children, while cheering on their oldest through his college years. Amanda is honored to be a teacher at the Atelier Primary School!
|
|
Celina Castleman began at The Atelier School in 2020 as an intern and has grown into the role of a lead teacher. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Science with an emphasis in Child Development and Education from the University of Missouri. She spent the majority of her time in college working with young children and has a passion for the Reggio Emilia Curriculum. Celina loves watching the small breakthroughs with the children and is excited to be able to meet the big milestones with them. She believes in the power of the child and wants to learn beside them and through them. Celina enjoys reading, being in nature, and cooking delicious food.
|
|
Souzy Kiauzowa (Ms. Souzy) was born and raised in Democratic Republic of Congo where she studied Organizational Communication. She is bilingual and has spent the last four years teaching French to young children at an immersion program in Columbia. She also worked as a French interpreter for families at Columbia Public Schools. She earned a Child Development Associate certification from Moberly Area Community College where she is currently a sophomore majoring in Early Childhood Education. She believes children learn more when they feel loved, supported, and accepted as a part of the classroom. She strives to provide a safe and loving environment where young children will learn through hands-on activities, enhance their creativity, and develop positive social-emotional skills. During her free time, she loves spending time with her husband and daughters, cooking, reading, and learning new skills.
|
|
Jessica Kanne (Ms. Jess) has recently completed a Sociology degree at the University of Missouri and has begun her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood and Family Development at the University of Missouri. She spent two years working at an in-home preschool and quickly realized how much you can learn from toddlers and children. Even at a young age, kids have so much to teach you, and Jessica feels so lucky to get to aid in fostering their growth at the Atelier Primary School. When Jessica finds free time, she enjoys cuddling her cats, reading a book, crocheting, and spending time with the people she loves.
|
|
Kate Dranginis (Ms. Kate) has studied Social Work and Sociology from the University of Missouri. She has spent the past three years working as a caregiver in New York City. Kate has a Montessori teaching background and loves helping children learn about the vast world around them. She believes in teaching kindness and empathy to those in our community and beyond. She is a certified postpartum doula and working towards her birth doula certification. Kate was born and raised in Columbia, Mo. In her free time she enjoys reading, cooking and hiking.
Assistant Primary Teacher |
|
Sarah Amidei (Ms. Sarah) has received her Master in Counseling from Webster University. As an undergraduate at Missouri State University she majored in psychology with minors in child and family development, and sociology. For the past 10 years she has worked with children and their families in a variety of roles. She is inspired by children’s resiliency and curiosity; and is passionate about creating an environment where children feel safe, loved, and heard.
|
|
Cara Carter (Ms. Cara) holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Stephens College, and is currently completing her Child Development Associate (CDA) certification. She has worked in early childhood education for the past three years, and has taught ages birth to 6 years old. Cara is passionate about building relationships with children, allowing them to be their most authentic selves, and giving children creative outlets for self-expression. In her spare time, Cara enjoys working with local theatres such as Columbia Entertainment Company, the Maplewood Barn, and Talking Horse Theatre, knitting, and making art. She is honored to be a member of the teaching team at the Atelier Primary School!
|
|
Katie Crabtree (Ms. Katie) holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology with an emphasis on marriage and family therapy. She first began her teaching career teaching English online to students in China. During this time she discovered a passion for teaching young students. Recently she returned from teaching English abroad in South Korea where she taught at a kindergarten language academy. She is excited about continuing in the field of Education with the Atelier Primary School. In her free time she enjoys drawing cartoons and walking her little dog Pippa.
|
|
Averee Kemp (Ms. Averee) is a college student at the Moberly Area Community College majoring in Early Childhood Education. Before joining the Atelier, she was a nursing assistant for two years. Averee is passionate for helping people in her community. Averee encourages children to create, play, and explore the world around them. Originally from Virginia, Averee moved to Columbia in seek of adventure and to further her education. When Averee is not doing homework, she loves to be with family and her kitten, Gustavo. She spends her free time enjoying the outdoors, reading, and playing video games.
|
|
Kristin Crabtree (Ms. Kristin) holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education with Vocal/Choral emphasis from Missouri State University. She has spent many years teaching music to children of all ages, preschool through twelfth grade. She loves helping children experience joy and self-expression through music, as well as using music fundamentals to enhance other areas of student learning. She has seen the success of the Atelier’s methods firsthand through her own daughter, and is incredibly excited to help other children learn and explore at The Atelier!
Music Specialist, Event Coordinator |
|
Adam Horton (Chef Adam)
|
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.
|
|
|