Liz has a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Psychology from Boston University. She is completing her AMS Lower Elementary Montessori credentials from The Center of Guided Montessori Studies. Liz decided on education as a career path because she has a profound love for helping others learn and grow.  This will be Liz’s first year teaching at Elizabeth Academy and she is excited to be a part of our community! 

Liz was born in Massachusetts where she has lived for most of my life and has taught Kindergarten for five years. She moved to Utah this summer with her husband Jeff and dog Bentley. She loves reading, especially mystery and thriller novels. Her other interests include going on hikes and spending time with friends and family.

Kamelia holds a master’s degree in organizational and work psychology as well as human resources, along with a degree in French literature. Her academic background also includes studies in management and communication.

She began her career at Elizabeth Academy in 2023 as an aid support technician and now serves as an educator and teacher. For Kamelia, teaching children is not merely a profession but a mission. She is passionate about teaching, continually seeking new methods and information, and enjoys introducing her students to new horizons. Known for her listening skills, determination, and curiosity, Ourida is dedicated to her work.

Outside of her professional life, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially through activities like traveling and hiking, and she has a particular fondness for cats.

Jodie, or JJ as her students call her, holds an MBA from Westminster University, a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications with a minor in Psychology from the University of Utah, and an Early Childhood Montessori teaching credential (IMC-MACTE) from CGMS. She has experience teaching in Montessori, private, charter, and public school settings. JJ has also taught STEM science and enjoys demonstrating simple science experiments that students can replicate at home. Her passion for teaching and her students is evident from the moment you meet her.

While JJ is a native of Utah, her passion for travel and adventure has taken her to Washington, California, and London, England. She advocates for respect for the environment, self, and others, and supports inclusivity for all. She loves nature and outdoor activities, particularly hiking, canyoneering, and exploring new countries. JJ has both played and coached soccer, rugby, and junior roller derby. When she’s not teaching or exploring nature, you can find her roller skating at Millcreek Common or Liberty Park with the person she adores most—her daughter, Finley Rue.

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the North Dakota State University in design and has an AMS Lower Elementary Credential from Westminster College’s Institute for Montessori Innovation.

She has taught at North Dakota State University teaching design courses and was a guest teacher for the Granite School District. She has fulfilled teaching assignments across all subject areas, teaching students of varied academic/age levels and diverse cultural backgrounds in sixty-three elementary schools. She has volunteered for an ESL program teaching English and new life skills to English learners, and has worked closely with NDSU professors gathering data and writing research on understanding student’s individual learning styles.

Melissa enjoys camping, boating, car shows, and a number of creative outlets with her husband and daughter.

Dawn holds a Master of Arts degree in German Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and German from Cornell College. She has an AMS Lower Elementary Montessori Credential from Westminster College’s Institute for Montessori Innovation.

Dawn has been teaching for over 20 years at a variety of levels. She has been with Elizabeth Academy since 2013. Dawn has been a Montessori teacher at Montessori at Riverton and at the Montessori School at Lone Tree in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. She also has four years of experience teaching World History and German to high school students.

Her hobbies are hiking and traveling with her husband Keith and son Gregory, reading, drawing/painting, cooking, and cheering at her son’s hockey games (Dawn is a proud hockey mom!)

Stephanie has a Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with an emphasis in Spanish. She is completing a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University with an emphasis in Mathematics. 

Prior to joining Elizabeth Academy, Stephanie taught in central Arkansas for eight years and four counties of Utah for more than ten years. She has taught Pre-K through 12th grade and all subject areas, but her true love is mathematics. She also teaches STEAM and Stop Motion using LEGO.

In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband (Bo), children (Jamie, Hope, Caleb, and Joshua), grandchildren (Carli and Julian), dogs (Hunk and Belle), and cats (Clo Clo and Mittens), going to Disneyland, and coloring.

Sammi completed her Master of Arts in Education and Bachelor’s Degree in History at Westminster College. She earned her Lower Elementary AMS Montessori Credential through Westminster’s Institute for Montessori Innovation (IMI). Previously, Sammi worked in youth and teen programming for the I.J. & Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center’s after-school and summer camp. Sammi has been with Elizabeth Academy / Garfield School since 2018.

Sammi lives in the Sugar House with her husband, Jason, and infant son, Marty. She loves to play with her dog, Winnie, garden, hike, and camp.

Amy has a Master of Education from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She completed her AMS Lower and Upper Elementary Montessori credentials through the Institute for Montessori Innovation at Westminster College. In 2017, she started teaching Montessori teachers in training as adjunct faculty at Westminster. Amy has been teaching at Elizabeth Academy since 2013.

Prior to joining the Elizabeth Academy / Garfield School staff, Amy was the Elementary Director for a year and taught Lower Elementary for five years at Peace Montessori School in Oak Park, California. She also has over 15 years of general education experience in Kindergarten and Lower Elementary classrooms. Amy is completing the Foundations of Montessori Inclusion in Elementary training through the Hellbruegge Foundation (Europe), Loyola University, and the Oregon Montessori Association.

In her spare time, Amy enjoys spending time with her son (Lucian), being out in nature, traveling, gardening, and going to farmers’ markets.

Lindsey has a degree in Special Education. The 2019-2020 school year was her first year at Elizabeth Academy.

Lindsey has two children attending Elizabeth Academy in the elementary program. In addition to teaching, Lindsey enjoys baking, knitting, practicing yoga and meditating, and reading. She moved from San Diego, California to Salt Lake City in January 2019, but she is originally from Glenwood Spring, Colorado.

CC grew up in Maine and has a Bachelor’s degree in Educational Studies from Dickinson College. She originally moved to Utah to teach skiing at Brighton Resort and has a passion for outdoor education. Before moving to Utah CC worked in Maine and Virginia as a trip leader and outdoor educator guiding hiking and canoeing wilderness trips, and teaching ecology and outdoor living skills.

CC loves to ski, hike and be on any river. She also has a passion for music and likes playing guitar and singing with friends. Most of her family is still on the east coast but she is working on convincing them to spend more time in Utah.