Faculty
Duna Strachan, BS AMS
Executive Director
Duna founded Soaring Wings in 1987. She received a BS in Wildlife Biology from Arizona State University and was in the midst of a Master’s degree in Environmental Zoology when parenthood suddenly drew her attention to the world of Montessori. Duna found that her science background lent itself to the science-based Montessori method and enabled her to be a “Renaissance woman”, dabbling in art, music, geography, literature and math as well as science. Duna holds Montessori credentials at the Infant/Toddler and Early Childhood levels. She was founding president of the Utah Montessori Council and founding member of the UMC Council of Elders. She coordinates the annual state teacher conference, hosts teacher training workshops and serves as consultant for teacher training programs in Utah, California and Colorado. She lives in Park Meadows with her husband, best friend, and administrator, Bruce King. Her two Montessori children, Lina and Leith, are grown but the family still enjoys frequent boating expeditions. As Executive Director of Soaring Wings, Duna oversees classroom quality, curriculum integrity, faculty development and community projects aimed at continual improvement and growth of the school. duna@soaringwings.org
Lina Singleton, BS AMS
Director
Lina grew up in Park City and has been a part of the Soaring Wings experience since she was six years old. She has watched her mom, Duna Strachan, and her dad, Bruce King, transform the school from a single small classroom in their Park Meadows home to what it is today. Lina graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in Communication and holds an American Montessori Society Early Childhood teaching credential. Lina & her husband Lee, along with their third generation Montessorian Finley love to travel & spend as much time as possible on Lake Mead. As Campus Director of Soaring Wings, Lina oversees classroom quality, curriculum integrity, faculty development and community projects aimed at continual improvement and growth of the school. lina@soaringwings.org
Leah Linebarger, BS AMS
Toddler Teacher
Leah has a BS degree in Social Science from Westminster College and holds an American Montessori Society Infant/Toddler teaching credential. She attended a Montessori school as a child in Texas, loves the outdoors and is an avid runner. leah@soaringwings.org
Lynn Chadderdon, BA AMS
Infant/Toddler Teacher
Lynn holds a BA from University of California, Berkeley and has lived in Park City since 1988. She has been a part of Soaring Wings as a parent and as a teaching assistant and holds an American Montessori Society Infant/Toddler teaching credential. She enjoys fly fishing, climbing, cycling, camping and being mom to Max. lynn@soaringwings.org
Tama D’Angelo, BS AMS
Toddler Intern
Tama grew up in Orem, Utah. After spending ten years in Park City she moved to Heber City where she currently resides with her loving husband of nine years, James, beautiful 2-year-old son, Oliver, and friendly dog, Sidney. She earned her BS degree in Biology from the University of Utah and spent several seasons working for the Forest Service as a Biological Sciences Technician conducting wildlife surveys in the Uinta Mountains. Tama took the American Montessori Society Infant/Toddler training Summer, 2011 and is currently completing her practicum year of teaching in order. In her spare time she enjoys sharing her passion for the outdoors with her family, camping, hiking, skiing/snowboarding, running, biking and attending outdoor music concerts. tama@soaringwings.org
Kim Norman, BA AMS
Early Childhood Teacher
Kim has a BA in Journalism from Brigham Young University and holds an American Montessori Society Early Childhood teaching credential. She enjoyed her photo-journalism internship in Cairo, Egypt. She has taught youth art programs and worked as a children’s grief counselor. She was a research assistant in a pulmonary lab for seven years before coming to us. Her varied art and science background gives her a great foundation for the Montessori curriculum. Kim loves photography, skiing, yoga and spending time with her family including husband Wayne and children Zayah, Maya and August. kim@soaringwings.org
Jules Manning, BA AMS
Early Childhood Teacher
A lifelong Parkite, Jules left Utah for four years to earn her BA in English Literature from California’s Chapman University. She holds an American Montessori Society Early Childhood teaching credential and enjoys every moment in her class. jules@soaringwings.org
Libby Bailey, BS AMS
Early Childhood Teacher
Libby was born and raised in Moab, Utah. After leaving Moab for Salt Lake City, she earned her BS degree in Gender Studies from the University of Utah and holds an American Montessori Society Early Childhood teaching credential. Libby lives in Park City with her partner Tim and their two Abyssinian cats, Sid and Joey. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, cycling, and reading. libby@soaringwings.org
Stevie Harrison, BS AMS
Early Childhood Teacher
Born and raised in Park City, Stevie is a true local. Graduating from the University of Utah in 2007, she holds a BS in Interpersonal Communication and holds an American Montessori Society Early Childhood teaching credential. She has the dream and vision of being able to give back to a community that experiences the everyday pressures of an ever increasing and anxious world. She owns and operates a Bobby Lawrence Karate school with her sister in Heber City and is passionately dedicated to propel and implement children’s education and their role in the world. During her free time she enjoys, karate, reading, dancing, and snowboarding. stevie@soaringwings.org
Anne Weinrauch, BA AMS
Early Childhood Teacher
Anne is a graduate of U.C. Davis with a BA in Psychology and holds an American Montessori Society Early Childhood teaching credential. She also received her graduate degree in teaching at the School of Education at UC Berkeley and is fluent in French. Anne has traveled throughout Europe residing in Paris where she studied French and taught at the American School. She has also taught at the Child Development Center at the University of Utah Hospital Complex. After moving to Park City in 1992, Anne joined Soaring Wings Montessori School as a toddler assistant. She has three talented children and enjoys life with her husband Frank and their three dogs. anne@soaringwings.org
Michelle Aldrich, BS AMS
Elementary Teacher
Michelle graduated Cum Laude with a BS degree in Social Work from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. She is an accredited children’s educator and supervised the children’s programs at Deer Valley for five years before coming to Soaring Wings with high recommendations and holds an American Montessori Society Elementary teaching credential. Michelle is an outdoors woman who enjoys bike touring and traveling in the out-of-doors. She lives in Woodland with her husband Jim, and Montessori children Tobianna and Lily. michelle@soaringwings.org
Erin Martin, BS MS AMS
Elementary Teacher
Erin grew up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. She earned a BS in Recreation Administration with a minor in Child Development at Chico State University, an MS in Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science from Utah State University and holds an American Montessori Society Elementary teaching credential. Erin worked as an Early Childhood Assistant at Growing Light Montessori School for three years. She lives in Heber City with her husband Dave, son Connor, daughter Lily and their two dogs, Sierra and Nevada. Erin enjoys exploring the outdoors while hiking, biking and skiing and especially enjoys the unique environment found in Southern Utah. erin@soaringwings.org
Sally Vollbrecht, BS
Teaching Assistant
Sally was born and raised in Buffalo, NY and graduated with a BS in Textile Design from Buffalo State College. She lived in Park City from 1994 -1997 and moved back ‘home’ to Park City in 2006. During that time, Sally acquired over six years experience as a Montessori Teaching Assistant. She is also mom to Tucker and Sienna who attended Montessori through their Elementary years. Sally enjoys teaching yoga, running, skiing, and generally hanging out with husband Tom, the kids and two big dogs. sally@soaringwings.org
Leah Morisi, BS
Teaching Assistant
Raised in Utah, Leah holds a BS in Parks, Recreation and Tourism from the University of Utah. Previously, Leah worked for a Montessori school in Bountiful, Utah. She enjoys crocheting, bike rides with her family and attending music classes with her children. leahm@soaringwings.org
Courtney Capellan, BA
Teaching Assistant
Courtney grew up in Seattle, received a BA from the University of Washington in International Studies with a focus on Foreign Policy. She is fluent Spanish and has the full-time responsibility of teaching our elementary students in Spanish, as well as helping to develop our Spanish curriculum in all classes. She has lived in Park City for six years with a beloved cocker spaniel named Shaggy and is passionate about reading fiction, writing, the outdoors, travel and family. courtney@soaringwings.org
Stephanie Engelbrecht, BA
Teaching Assistant
Stephanie fell in love with Park City during a ski vacation that has lasted for the past five years. Originally from New Jersey, Stephanie completed her BA degree at George Washington University in Washington, DC and is fluent in French. Since her move to Utah in 2007, she has been actively teaching both children and adults in a wide range of disciplines including yoga, skiing, Music Together® and private piano lessons. She is very excited to join the Soaring Wings Montessori community. stephanie@soaringwings.org
Anita Lam-Wright, BA
Teaching Assistant
Anita was raised in Brooklyn, NY where she graduated from the High School of Performing Arts majoring in dance. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Pace University and an Associates degree in Occupational Studies from the Swedish Institute, College of Health Sciences. She has lived in Colorado, California and Hawaii and traveled everywhere in between now calling Utah her home. She studies Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Personal Trainer. Anita loves spending time with her son, Nathan and husband, Jeff. anita@soaringwings.org
Lindsay Kavanagh, BA
Teaching Assistant
Lindsay was born and raised in Sun Valley, Idaho; she attended local schools and became a life long lover of the mountains. An accomplished equestrian, Lindsay also enjoys downhill skiing, golf, traveling and her dogs. She graduated in 2010 from Westminster College with a BA degree in Communications and is looking forward to joining the team at Soaring Wings Montessori School. lindsay@soaringwings.org
Leti Burns, BA
Teaching Assistant
Leti grew up in Asuncion, Paraguay. She received a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from Universidad Americana. She is fluent in Spanish and she loves the outdoors, travel and family. She lives in Park City with her husband Kerry. leti@soaringwings.org
Nadia Bernhardt, LLD
Teaching Assistant
Nadia is from The beautiful country of Colombia where she received a Bachelor’s degree from the Universidad del Atlantico and worked for the government as a lawyer until she met her Texan husband and moved the United States in 2004. She is a certified Pilates & Zumba instructor, speaks fluent Spanish and loves to travel & meet people from different cultures. nadia@soaringwings.org
Paul Buchanan
Administrative Assistant
Paul was born in South Carolina and lived most of his life on the east coast. He enjoyed serving 4 years in the Army National Guard supporting areas affected by natural disasters within the United States. After spending time supporting the US Border Patrol Paul and his family moved to Park City Utah to enjoy the high altitude and great skiing. He has taught children and adults to ski, sail, wind surf, wake board, and has coached confidence and leadership courses for kids. Paul is also pursuing his BS in Consumer and Family Finance and should be completing his degree with the University of Utah in the summer of 2012. paul@soaringwings.org
Bruce King, BS MEd AMS
Administrator
Bruce left a successful 15-year career in engineering to take the AMS Montessori teacher training and establish the elementary program in 1993. He lent his talents in science, math and scouting to the popular elementary traditions of weekly field trips, family camp outs, a fascination with science and dissecting all things mechanical. Bruce holds a Masters of Education degree from the University of Utah as well as the BS in Engineering he completed at Arizona State University while courting his soul mate, Duna Strachan. bruce@soaringwings.org
Montessori Living
We experienced a very sad episode in our lives last week. A former student of mine died in his sleep at the age of 20 from complications related to sleep apnea. Through the funeral I thought about Justin’s sweet nature, his angelic little 4-year-old face surrounded by a halo of shaggy blond hair. He lit [...]
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