Travis Thiele was born in Brattleboro, grew up in Westminster West, attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut, and has worked in Costa Rica, New Zealand, Lake Tahoe, and Park City. He is a certified ski and snowboard instructor since 2001 and has taught thousands of lessons around the world to predominantly clients with disabilities. He was...Read More

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Akari moved up to Vermont in 2021 to join the Lower El community as an assistant. Now, in their third year, and as a classroom teacher, Akari is working on completing a 6-12 Elementary certification through AMI. Prior to Hilltop, Akari taught first grade in Brooklyn and attended Bates...Read More

From a reading tutor to a ski instructor, Environment Educator at Nature Camps to teaching English as Another Language in Taiwan, Ashlyn has a passion for working with children in any capacity. Ashlyn completed her BS in Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and her MA in Education at Loyola University in Baltimore....Read More

Izzy Snyder is returning for a second year as an Upper El teacher. In this role, she supports students in planning their day, provides one-on-one and small group support to students with their follow up work, helps create Montessori teaching materials, and leads some group lessons within the language arts curriculum. Izzy is passionate about...Read More

Lifei and her family moved to Brattleboro in 2016 to be a part of the Hilltop Montessori School community! She is AMI credentialed in Infant/Toddler, Children’s House, and Elementary! She is dedicated to Montessori, not only as a teacher, but as a lifestyle. In Beijing, China, she was a Montessori school director and ran a...Read More

Kathy joined Hilltop in 2019 as a member of the AfterCare team. She also provided support for the Upper Elementary and Children’s House classrooms. Starting in 2020, she became a member of the Upper Elementary team.  She holds a Bachelors of Science in Ecology and Environmental Studies and is passionate about both science and education,...Read More

Kerstin joined Hilltop in the Lower Elementary in 2010. She holds a BA in English Literature from Clark University and completed her 6-9 Montessori teacher training during the summer of 2013 at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education (CMTE). Kerstin also has her certification in elementary Waldorf education. She attended the Enfield Montessori School in...Read More

Jade joined the Hilltop community as Elementary Art Teacher in 2018, joyously providing a TAB-inspired (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) studio space that resonates beautifully with Montessori philosophy. In their art studio, students behave as true artists: choosing their project and media, practicing techniques, and exploring their unique artistic voice. Students create in a supported, gently...Read More

Malindi (she/her) will be joining the Hilltop community for the third year as the Social Emotional Learning Coordinator and Lower Elementary assistant teacher. Born and raised in Vermont, Malindi was home-schooled until 5th grade and feels that many of the values of Montessori were integral to her early education. After graduating from Hamilton College with...Read More