Cornerstone Montessori School Teachers

Our teachers are trained to observe and identify each child’s unique learning capabilities. Because they form relationships with each child based on the child's interests and needs, the child is able to develop confidence and interest in learning.  All of the teachers are experienced, professional Montessori certified teachers.

Mary Schadler

Mary graduated from Xavier University in 1983 with a degree in Pre-Primary Montessori and Elementary Education. She taught Pre-Primary Montessori for several years before starting Cornerstone Montessori School in 1992. In 1999, she completed the Masters program in Montessori Elementary I (6-9 years of age) at Xavier University. Her passion for teaching inspired her to start the first Montessori Elementary in Northern Kentucky. Mary lives with her husband and four children and counts Cornerstone and its families as part of her own extended family! When she is not at Cornerstone, she enjoys attending sporting events with her children, playing volleyball, walking, water aerobics, swimming and any outdoor activity.

Heidi H. Hopkins (formerly Bachman)

Heidi graduated from Xavier University in 1997, upon completion of Montessori Elementary I (6-9), the University Scholars Program and an English Minor. Finding Cornerstone in1998 was nothing short of fate – Miss Heidi has a second home and family here! She has a passion for animals and makes sure various classes of both vertebrates and invertebrates are represented in the classroom; students learn to respect and appreciate these unique animals and to care for them. She enjoys studying various biomes and cultures and aspires to travel more; thus far she has only been to Canada, Norway, Sweden and Costa Rica (Belize during the summer of 2005!). She lives upstairs from a well-traveled landlady with her husband, greyhound, two sugar gliders, a tortoise and a couple of large goldfish! In her spare time, she enjoys reading, walking, hiking, camping, playing soccer and spending time with family and friends.

Emily Robinson

Emily is the Upper Elementary teacher at Cornerstone. She has a K-8 Elementary Education Degree from Ashland University, Ohio, and a Masters Degree from Xavier University in 6-9 and 9-12 Montessori Education. In 2001, she started the Upper Elementary Classroom at Cornerstone Montessori; she had our first graduating sixth-grade class in 2004! Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with friends, family and her two dogs. Some of her favorite things to do include painting, making pottery, backpacking, skiing and playing soccer. In the summer, she spends most of her time on the Ohio River boating and wakeboarding. She enjoys traveling and she hopes to visit Europe some day.

Melissa Henry

Melissa is the Cornerstone Montessori School office manager and a proud Cornerstone parent. Melissa keeps tabs on every aspect of the school, and would be glad to answer questions, send information, or show you around.

Becky Joyce

Becky has been teaching in the 6-9 classroom at Cornerstone for three years. She has a (M.Ed.) from Xavier University and a (Bach. in Bus.) from the University of Cincinnati. Becky has been married for six years and has two children in the 3-6 classroom at Cornerstone Montessori. Becky enjoys spending time with her family and her many animals. She also enjoys cooking, biking, and swimming.

Christopher Robbins

Christopher recently graduated from Xavier with a BS in Montessori Education with training in pre primary (3-6). Before this Christopher spent his time playing music on the road and in studios across the US. He currently can be seen with bands in the Cincinnati area and belting out a tune in the pre primary singing circle. He is also very excited to be a part of the Cornerstone team.

Karen Thorp

Karen began her studies in this field at Xavier University in 1984, graduating with a BS in Education with Montessori Certification for 3 to 6 year olds in 1988. Since then, she has worked in established Montessori preschools in the Greater Cincinnati area and helped create two Montessori programs in Northern Kentucky, and one in Ohio. She enjoys photography, painting, traveling to visit friends and family out of town, reading mysteries and science fiction, and gardening. Karen, her husband, and cat have been Madisonville, Ohio residents since 1987. They became "Urban Homesteaders" in 1988.

Nancy Buchman

Nancy comes to Cornerstone Montessori having taught for four years in an upper elementary program in Cincinnati. She completed her upper elementary training at Xavier University in 2003 and is finishing her Masters Degree in Montessori Education. She first became interested in teaching while working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador where her service included remedial tutoring at the elementary school, and working at the local health center. Watching her daughter thrive in the Montessori environment helped persuade Nancy to pursue a career as a Montessori teacher. She loves traveling and has visited all 50 states and has traveled in Europe and South America. Nancy speaks conversational Spanish, enjoys hiking, biking, and sewing.

Susan Scheibenzuber

Susan is a preprimary morning teacher with Cornerstone. She graduated from Xavier in 1981. She also owns a Montessori materials company and is a speaker at teacher conferences and workshops. Susan is married and the mother of two children and four grandchildren. She also enjoys boating, swimming, hiking and spending time with the grandkids.

If you would like additional information about any of the above instructors or would like to schedule a meeting, please call Cornerstone Montessori School at 859.491.9960 or simply use our contact form.