OUR STAFF
JACKIE MCMURREY
SUNFLOWER LEAD TEACHER
WILLOW LEAD TEACHER
OUR STAFF
CAILIN BEELER
Director
Cailin grew up in Oregon and was first introduced to the Montessori Method as a child in her mother’s Montessori classroom. She spent her elementary years volunteering in the early childhood classroom after school.
As a young adult she volunteered and worked with an agency call Youth Empowerment Skills Foundation. This organization taught leadership, self-discipline, and responsibility to teens. It was here that she discovered her vision to make a difference in the lives of children.
Cailin earned a bachelor’s in elementary education with magna cum laude honors from MSU-Billings. She also earned an endorsement in Reading Education. She has more than 10 years of teaching experience in early childhood through upper elementary. She holds a Montana teaching certificate. Her Montessori Certifications include Primary (ages 3-6) and Early Elementary (ages 6-12) from North American Montessori Center and an Elementary Teaching Certificate through Age Of Montessori (MACTE).
The growth and beauty of the outdoors and nature are passions that Cailin enjoys sharing with her husband and 3 children in beautiful Montana.
JACKIE MCMURREY
EARLY CHILDHOOD (3-6) LEAD TEACHER
Jackie was born in New Jersey and grew up in Dallas, Texas. She went to college at Texas State University where she received a bachelor of arts in Journalism. She spent a few years editing technical publications and then became a technical writer for a software development company in Austin, Texas. She left that field thinking that working with children would be more rewarding. She tried many different types of preschools and daycare centers and loved the Montessori method because the peace and order seemed to provide the space for the child to best grow into a healthy, nurtured, independent individual.
She completed the Association Montessori International (AMI) training in Dallas, Texas. During the training, she got married and started a family and shifted her focus to raising her 4 children. Over the years, she has worked at Montessori schools in Portland, Oregon; Austin, Texas; and Dallas, Texas. She and her family moved to Billings in 1998 and Laurel became her home in 2009. She has worked at many of the Montessori schools in and around Billings. She spent 6 years at Meadowlark Elementary as a paraprofessional in the Resource room, where she was able to use Montessori techniques successfully with children who had learning disabilities.
Meghan Cox
EARLY CHILDHOOD (3-6) LEAD TEACHER / LIBRARIAN
Meghan was born in Great Falls, Montana and has spent most of her life in Billings. She knew from a young age she wanted to be a teacher. Her mom and grandparents were teachers as well, and she has many fond memories of spending her free time volunteering with younger students and helping her mom prepare lessons.
She Graduated with her bachelor’s in elementary education and returned for her masters in special education through Ashford University, all while getting married and having her two children.
Before joining Sunrise Montessori, she was a nanny for seven years for the same family and even spent part of that time homeschooling those children along with her own. She initially joined Sunrise as the Title 1 teacher in elementary and soon added Librarian to her list of duties. She fell in love with the Montessori philosophy and decided to join the early childhood team.
When not in the classroom, Meghan enjoys reading and practicing martial arts with her family.
Meghan Kirchen
EARLY CHILDHOOD (3-6) LEAD TEACHER
Meghan was born in North Carolina and raised a military brat. She had the experience of living in various locations around the world. It was during a stint in Nepal that she discovered the transformative power of Montessori education while teaching English at a local Montessori school.
This experience ignited Meghan’s passion for education and personal development, shaping a career centered around fostering growth and creativity in others. Outside of work, Meghan is an avid traveler and enjoys hiking, always seeking new places to explore and experience. With a diverse background and global perspective, Meghan brings a unique approach to both personal and professional life, constantly inspired by the world around her.
Kelly Simanton
UPPER ELEMENTARY LEAD TEACHER
Kelly is a Montana native, growing up in Glasgow, MT. She moved to Billings with her husband and Mini-Aussie, Topper, in 2018, and shortly thereafter had their first child.
Kelly discovered she wanted to work with children in her early undergraduate years while working at an afterschool program. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology with magna cum laude honors from Dickinson State University in 2010. Kelly taught in the traditional school setting from 2010 - 2017 and still holds a Montana Teaching Certificate. During those years, she worked with all ages ranging K-8 in varying subject areas. Kelly earned her Master's Degree in School Counseling in 2020.
Kelly felt guided to the Montessori environment in 2020, and began teaching in the Montessori Upper Elementary classroom at Sunrise in 2020. She will complete her Elementary Teaching Certificate through Age Of Montessori (MACTE) in 2022.
Kelly loves to hike with her family, read, teach Zumba and dance, and take advantage of the beautiful outdoors of Montana.
Maggie Engebretson
LOWER ELEMENTARY LEAD TEACHER
Coming soon!
Amber Reger
TITLE I TEACHER
Coming soon!
AMANDA JACKSON
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / MUSIC DIRECTOR
Coming soon!