Jen, founder of MLMC, has worked in Montessori schools for 20 years. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Education with a minor in Psychology. She completed her intensive, 2 year Montessori training in 2009 from Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center outside of Chicago, IL. Jennifer has been working with children from the age of 15. She has lived in the area for 12 years. Jen has 3 grown children; Isaiah and Emma that were Montessori students, and her step daughter Lucaya. Her husband, E.C., owns The Blue Ridge Biscuit Company in Black Mountain and Headwaters Kitchen in Old Fort.
Jen loves to be outside spending time with her dogs and chickens. She enjoys camping, canoeing, music festivals, collecting vinyl, baseball and hiking.
Jen teaches the Lower Elementary program of Kindergarten-3rd grade. Both Lower and Upper El have the ability to flow between classrooms.
Jen Ames
Meet Alison Dufault, co-founder and our Children's House lead teacher. She has been a Montessori teacher for 8 years.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood from Western Carolina University. Alison completed her Montessori Certification from the Center for Montessori Teacher Education.
She is a mother of 3 Montessori Alumni, now ages 12, 15, and 27. When Alison isn’t in the classroom, she is running with her four dogs, adventuring with her family, or taking on a remodeling project.
Alison Dufault
Emma Hermance
Emma is an assistant in the classroom. She is extremely helpful with all the children. She was a Montessori student when she was younger and attended Montessori from the age of 3.5 through 6th grade. Emma is the daughter of Jen.
She enjoys spending time with her friends, going to the beach, listening to music, drawing, cuddling with her dogs, picnics on the parkway, swimming in mountain streams and road trips.
Heather Miller
Heather is the assistant teacher in Children's house. She has 20+ years experience in early childhood education and a strong passion for the Montessori program. She has her early childhood credintials as well as other early childhood classes.
Heather has two daughters Ava(17) and August(8). August has attended in the Montessori program since she was three years old and is currently enrolled in MLMC.
In her spare time she enjoys camping, hiking and spending time with her family.
John Luke Sapp
John Luke, a Black Mountain Valley native, was born into the world of teaching. Being raised by his parents who have over 70 years ofteaching combined, he has always been naturally pulled to educate. He attended Appalachian State University in Boone earning a degree in health and physical education.
While living in Boone, he explored his love for nature and managed a zipline company; but the desire to be back in the classroom was never far from his mind.
For the last year, he's been living back in Black Mountain with his dogs Lucy and Percy and working as a freshman P.E. teacher in the Owen School district. After a year of working as an interim educator, he now feels as though he's found his home with us here at Mountain Laurel Montessori as the Upper Elementary lead teacher.
Christina Ruiz
Christina started her life-long love of learning as a Montessori student at the age of three at St. Michael's Montessori school in New York City. She went on to graduate from the Metropolitan Montessori School in 6th grade. Christina started her education career as pumpkin carver, costumed interpreter, and museum educator at Van Cortlandt Manor (Croton, New York) in 2006. After completing an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and History, Christina went on to complete a Masters in Science of Education specializing in Museum education at Bank Street College in New York City. Upon completing her M.S.Ed. Christina moved to Black Mountain, North Carolina in 2013 with her now husband Zach Cooper. After 17 years of working in the education field, Christina is excited to be back in a Montessori setting and working with Jen again for the second time as the lower elementary assistant teacher. Also, Christina’s oldest daughter Amari, will be joining MLMC in the Children’s House under Ali’s guidance and care.
Lyn VanOver has 26 years experience as an educator, seven of those years as a naturalist facilitating groups of all ages of children to adults in a 7,000 acre forest in Kentucky.
In 2001, Lyn was one of six other educators to found Artspace Charter School. She taught 3rd, 4th and 6th grade for 19 years. Lyn has a masters in Teaching and is a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT).
Lyn has two grown daughters and currently lives in Black Mountain. She has lived in the Asheville area for 20 years. She loves to be outside, gardening, hiking, and creating environmental art. Lyn enjoys listening and dancing to live music.
Lyn volunteers on Mondays and teaches Spanish and Science.
Lyn Vanover
Hunter Begley
Hunter Begley, born & rasied in WNC, and a Black Mountain native; a lover of music, and enjoys education, woodworking, sports, and the outdoors. His dog Levon has been his best friend and companion for 7 years. He is proud to be a member of the MLMC staff as the music teacher and is looking forward to the future of this growing community!