Sundborn Children’s House is fortunate to have an incredible staff who are dedicated and very qualified. Each classroom is staffed with an AMI-trained Montessori Guide (Teacher) and two assistants.
Guides (Teachers)
Zoe Wilson was born in Alaska and raised in Corvallis. She attended Oregon State University and got her Bachelors in Human Development and Family Sciences. After graduating, she spent time in Barcelona living with a family as their au pair, teaching English and learning Spanish. Apart from work and school, Zoe enjoys traveling by bike, experimenting in the kitchen, hiking with her puppy, Lyla, spending time with family and friends, training for triathlons, and seeking out the next great adventure.
Kat Lugo was raised all over the world as Navy Dependent. She moved to Oregon from Virginia 13 years ago and has been married for 26 years. She is the mom to a former Montessori child and a homeschooler, who are now college and high school students. Outside of her time at Sundborn, she loves adventures with her family, running, and cooking whole food plant-based meals.
Assistants
Emily Haarstad was born and raised in Lebanon, Oregon. She is completing her Associates at Lane Community College and plans to transfer to Oregon State University to finish her studies. She found her way to Sundborn in July 2021, and is very excited to learn all she can about Montessori philosophy and is very grateful for her dedicated staff members helping her along the way. Emily enjoys reading, secondhand shopping, and studying astrology in her spare time.
Jenna Hessel was born and raised in Albany, Oregon. She graduated from Linfield University in 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and minors in anthropology and philosophy. Jenna also played for Linfield University’s lacrosse team for four years and is now the assistant girl’s lacrosse coach at West Albany High School. In her free time, she enjoys reading, painting, and teaching power yoga.
Jennifer Cilley was born in Albany, Oregon and was raised all over the United States as a military child. She attended Linn-Benton Community College for two years, then transferred to Oregon State University to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Her main interest in psychology is childhood development, which is what led her to Sundborn in March 2022. In her free time, Jennifer likes reading, listening to music, and photography.
Ella Hart was born and raised in Ashland, Oregon. She is currently attending Linn-Benton Community College with plans to complete her Associate in Communications. Next year she will transfer to a four-year university to finish her schooling. Ella has always been intrigued by child development and has worked with kids for the past 7 years in the daycare, babysitting, and art class setting. She is excited to learn more about Montessori Philosophy and that is what brought her to Sundborn. In her spare time, Ella enjoys cooking, weightlifting, and going to see her favorite musicians in concert.
Fiona Marshall recently moved here from Chicago. After living most of her young adult life in the Midwest, she was ready for a change of scenery. She came out west to visit and fell in love with Oregon and all it has to offer. She hopes to pursue a bachelors degree in science. Her hobbies are hiking, yoga, and film photography.
Chelsea Skarphol - Substitute guide and assistant
“What really makes a teacher is love for the human child; for it is this love that transforms the social duty of the educator into the higher consciousness of a mission."
—Maria Montessori
Founder and Director
Karen Madsen-Barton was introduced to Montessori Education in 1971. She travelled to London, England for a year of Montessori teacher training. She then returned to the West Coast, where she started her teaching career. Karen is passionate about the immense contribution Dr. Montessori revealed to the world about the nature of the human child, and she is forever grateful for the gift of serving children and their families. When she’s not hard at work, Karen enjoys sharing life with her animals, taking care of plants, and spending time with her family.
Administration
Doni McKay works in the office assisting the Director. She has an AS in horticulture from LBCC and a BS in Agriculture from OSU. She retired in 2020 after 31 years with the forest service as a biological research technician, where she worked on projects with forest fungi, forest soil disturbance after wildfires, silviculture and fish. Doni lives in Albany on a mini-farm with her husband, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 mini donkeys, and has 2 grown daughters. She enjoys trying new recipes, baking, gardening, hiking, kayaking and walking her dogs with friends.
Cloudy Rockwell has been with Sundborn since January 2020. She runs a small bookkeeping company in Corvallis, and has 30 years of nonprofit accounting experience. After 34 years in Alaska, she moved back to the lower 48 and lives in Corvallis, enjoying being much closer to her kids and grandkids. She enjoys reading, yoga, crossword puzzles, and music.
Keith Barton
Keith Barton is a Northwesterner who grew up near Seattle and on the Salish Sea. Although he graduated in Chemistry, Keith has always been interested in creating better educational environments. After instructing for Northwest Outward Bound and teaching at an alternative school, in 1980 he met Karen Madsen—a sister in the search of best practices in education. A supporting partner to Karen in the development of Sundborn, he now oversees facility maintenance and also serves on the school’s nonprofit Board of Directors. Keith feels honored to contribute to the school’s growth, and is grateful for the opportunity to observe students, families, and staff flourishing in the Sundborn Montessori environment. He values his time with family, hiking above the tree line, and sailing the northern waters.
Animals
Klara found Sundborn in the summer 2016. She wandered into our backyard, seemingly out of nowhere. While we were asking around the neighborhood and waiting to see if anyone claimed her, Klara made herself right at home. It wasn’t long at all before we were all smitten. Klara is exceedingly patient with the children, very affectionate, and rather dog-like. In her spare time, she enjoys strolling along the top of the fence, getting belly rubs, and chasing the birds.
Kizzy is Sundborn's newest staff member, joining us at the very end of the 2018–19 school year. She brings to the school an energy and exuberance that only a puppy can, and the children love to see her in the mornings. When she's not actively guarding the school office (as shown above), Kizzy enjoys chewing on her toys, basking in all the attention she can get, and exploring the multitude of scents and sounds outside.
The Cottage by Carl Larsson 1899