Welcome Visitors!

Lisa Shields-Ergen, Ph.D., has been the school Administrator for Discovery Montessori Academy since its opening in 2007. Mrs. Shields-Ergen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Biology, a Master’s degree in Business Administration as well as her Montessori credentials, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology. She has been working with children for many years, first working with abandoned Native American children some 20 years ago. Since then her passion for serving the oppressed has developed into a life mission, and has developed an annual Toys for Tots Gala benefiting the Red Lake Indian Reservation. Mrs. Shields-Ergen has worked in the Montessori classrooms for 17 years and brings a world of culture into the environment. In her spare time, Mrs. Shields-Ergen enjoys cooking with her family, reading, and writing.

Lucy Amundson has been educating children through the use of the Montessori Method for over 18 years.  She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology,  Master's of Education Degree with a Montessori focus along with her Montessori Credentials from the American Montessori Society.  She has a passion for helping children find the joy of learning.  Mrs. Amundson has been the Director of Education and also the Elementary teacher for Discovery Montessori for the past 15 years. In her free time, Mrs. Amundson enjoys her small-scale farm with family. She also enjoys reading, running and baking.

Rebecca Shaw, MT-BC, has been serving children and families through music for 16 years, both as a music educator and a board certified music therapist. She has taught music through Discovery Montessori  since 2004.  Mrs. Shaw enjoys designing creative musical experiences that make the most of the delight and enthusiasm children naturally have for music.  Her classes include lots of active music-making experiences, movement, and musical play. Mrs. Shaw has a Bachelor's degree in Music with a speciality in Music Therapy from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.  She has further training in facilitating early childhood music experiences and completed practical theology studies at Christ for the Nations Institute. In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys reading, creating - anything from cupcakes to quilting - and spending time with her family.

Karen Paetznick-Huhtala has been with Discovery Montessori Academy since 2012 and is the current preschool teacher in Childrens House I. She has an A.A. in General Studies and is currently studing  for her Montessori Credentials in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Paetznick has been working with children for 22 years and has a passion for child development. She resides in the country side of Princeton with her husband and three children. In her spare time Mrs. Paetznick enjoys crafting, scrapbooking, swimming, reading, and spending quality family time together.   

Lindsay Paetznick has been working with Discovery Montessori since 2014 as an assistant in both the preschool and elementary classrooms. She has over 10 years of experience working with children and enjoys being part of their growth and development.

We have several assistant and volunteer staff members that work with our teachers on a daily or weekly bases. All educational and staff  members are an integral aspect to helping our school be successful.