Hillsdale Staff
Diane Smith
Director/Owner
Diane Smith is the founder and director of Countryside Montessori School and has 36 years experience teaching preschool age children. She started her teaching career as a Suzuki piano and preschool music teacher in 1987 after receiving her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Western Ontario and completing coursework for a Master degree in piano performance. In 2005 Diane received her Montessori Certification from the United Montessori Association and opened Countryside Montessori School. Diane and her husband own and operate a crop farm in Addison Michigan, where they raised their 7 children. Out of the classroom Diane enjoys hiking, cross country skiing, knitting, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Traci Hubbard
Administrative Manager
After working 30 years in Corporate America, Traci has enjoyed the transition to spending her days with young children in a Montessori setting. She has learned quickly the joys of this age group and has picked up on a lot of Montessori skills in helping the children. Traci handles our administrative tasks and hiring process at CMS. When not at school, Traci enjoys welding!, golfing, volunteering at the Sauk Theatre, cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Lizz Fraley
Program Director/Lead Teacher of Primary Blue
Lizz Fraley has worked in the childcare profession for 18 years. After joining our team and seeing the difference a Montessori education makes, Lizz decided to earn her Montessori Primary Certification from Trine University. Lizz leads our GSRP classroom and assists with administration details as the Program Director. Lizz, her husband and two children live in the country in Ohio. She enjoys camping, raising farm animals, reading and spending time with her extended family.
Regina Olson
Lead Teacher of Primary Green Classroom
Regina earned her Bachelor of Elementary Education from Austria before moving to the United States. She homeschooled her children for 20 years on their family farm before joining the team at Countryside in 2011. Regina enjoys reading, gardening, traveling home to Austria and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Rebecca Rupp
Lead Teacher of Primary White Classroom
Rebecca began her work with children in her own daycare 20 years ago. She became interested in Montessori when her son started to attend CMS and joined our team soon after. After leading our younger students for a year, Rebecca has decided to earn her Montessori Primary Certification beginning this fall at the Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute. Rebecca’s joys in life include her family, gardening, church activities and reading.
Ali Hess
Lead Teacher of Primary Yellow Classroom
After spending a summer at CMS, Ali discovered the joy of working with children in a Montessori classroom. She joined our team last January and quickly became interested in furthering her Montessori learning. This fall, Ali will begin the Montessori Primary Certification Program at the Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute. When Ali isn’t teaching and studying, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and her family.
Nancy Livingston
Assistant Teacher of Primary Green Classroom
After completing her Associate degree in Early Childhood Education, Nancy taught and became the program director of a daycare center. Nancy brings many skills to the classroom that she acquired while homeschooling her own four children. Nancy joined the CMS team in 2012. She enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Deann Stewart
Assistant Teacher of Primary Yellow Classroom
Deann has an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Hesston College, Kansas. Deann joined CMS in 2021 working with the Toddler Program and then most recently working in the primary classroom. She enjoys helping the students cook and seeing them grow with their independence. She enjoys reading and being with her family.
Sandra Kempa
Assistant Teacher of Primary Green Classroom
Sandra has spent many years caring for our elderly population. She brought all of those nurturing skills with her when she joined our team in the fall of 2022. Sandra has been amazed at the environment created by Maria Montessori and has learned a lot about it this past year. Sandra enjoys time with her husband, two children and friends as well as time reading and gardening.
Cathy Ellis
Assistant Teacher of Primary Blue Classroom
Cathy has worked with children for 30 years as the director of a daycare in her home. Cathy joined our team in the fall of 2022 and quickly became amazed with the Montessori environment and how much it helped children. Cathy began working on her Montessori Primary Certification in January of this year with the North American Montessori Institute. Cathy is a lead teacher in our summer program and assists with our GSRP students during the school year. Cathy enjoys her family, reading, gardening and traveling with her husband.
Daisy Rodgers
Assistant Teacher of Primary White Classroom
While this is Daisy’s first year with us full time, she has spent a lot of time at CMS over the past two years as a High School Intern through the Career Center. Daisy has learned many of the Montessori materials and techniques in leading circle time, managing classroom meetings and giving individual presentations. This fall, Daisy will begin her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. Daisy lives on a farm and is very involved with her 4H animals. She is a great help with our school farm!
Emily Sober
Assistant Teacher of Primary Blue Classroom
Emily is new to our CMS team this fall and new to Montessori. She has worked with children for several years and is very excited to be joining us full time this fall. She will be furthering her education with Montessori training this fall through the Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute. She is active with many outdoor activities as well as being an active member at church.