Lower Elementary Team
Lower Elementary Bios
Lead Teacher - Kristin Croker
I am pleased to continue my journey with Children's Kiva. I have 14 years of Montessori Primary teaching experience, including 3 years as Head of School, and, most recently, an additional seven years teaching in Montessori Lower Elementary.
Having spent my career in Montessori, I am deeply committed to the philosophy of seeing the divine in each child and valuing whole-child development. I believe in fostering the individual needs of the child, cultivating their emotional intelligence and empowering them to be authentic human beings, with autonomy, compassion, respect, responsibility and a strong sense of self. I believe, as Dr. Montessori did, that we, as teachers, are here to guide and model appropriate interactions with each other and within ourselves and that this leads students to develop a deep respect for all life.
In addition to being a Montessori teacher, I am also a proud Montessori parent. My daughter, who attended Bennington College in Vermont majoring in Theatre Art and design, was a Montessori student through 8th grade and is an amazing adult!
In my free time you can often find me hiking in the desert with my dog Madigan.
Lead Teacher - Shanti Savage
I am delighted and honored to join the team at Children’s Kiva. My teaching journey began in Montezuma County 18 years ago. Coming out of college, I was passionate about multi-age education. I was thrilled to find that our county had several of these schools and I took a job at Pleasant View School teaching the 3-5 classroom. After several years, I decided to pursue Special Education and went to work for Dolores Elementary School. I stayed in that position for another seven years before deciding to become a classroom teacher again in 2nd grade. As I make another switch, it feels like coming home to my original passion.
My other interests include river rafting and outdoor pursuits, sewing, art, and music. look forward to bringing these into the classroom and returning to a multi-age environment. Thank you for entrusting me with this important job!
Anchor Teacher - Melody McNeill
My name is Melody McNeill and this year I will be serving as lower-elementary Anchor Teacher, supporting the two lead teachers and their students. I was raised in Montezuma County and have been teaching here for seven years. I am passionate about teaching students how to explore the world through literacy and believe that Montessori and project-based methods are wonderful tools to meet this goal.
When not at school, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family. During the summer, you can almost always find me in my garden with my dogs and husband.
Lead Teacher - Kristin Croker
I am pleased to continue my journey with Children's Kiva. I have 14 years of Montessori Primary teaching experience, including 3 years as Head of School, and, most recently, an additional seven years teaching in Montessori Lower Elementary.
Having spent my career in Montessori, I am deeply committed to the philosophy of seeing the divine in each child and valuing whole-child development. I believe in fostering the individual needs of the child, cultivating their emotional intelligence and empowering them to be authentic human beings, with autonomy, compassion, respect, responsibility and a strong sense of self. I believe, as Dr. Montessori did, that we, as teachers, are here to guide and model appropriate interactions with each other and within ourselves and that this leads students to develop a deep respect for all life.
In addition to being a Montessori teacher, I am also a proud Montessori parent. My daughter, who attended Bennington College in Vermont majoring in Theatre Art and design, was a Montessori student through 8th grade and is an amazing adult!
In my free time you can often find me hiking in the desert with my dog Madigan.
Lead Teacher - Shanti Savage
I am delighted and honored to join the team at Children’s Kiva. My teaching journey began in Montezuma County 18 years ago. Coming out of college, I was passionate about multi-age education. I was thrilled to find that our county had several of these schools and I took a job at Pleasant View School teaching the 3-5 classroom. After several years, I decided to pursue Special Education and went to work for Dolores Elementary School. I stayed in that position for another seven years before deciding to become a classroom teacher again in 2nd grade. As I make another switch, it feels like coming home to my original passion.
My other interests include river rafting and outdoor pursuits, sewing, art, and music. look forward to bringing these into the classroom and returning to a multi-age environment. Thank you for entrusting me with this important job!
Anchor Teacher - Melody McNeill
My name is Melody McNeill and this year I will be serving as lower-elementary Anchor Teacher, supporting the two lead teachers and their students. I was raised in Montezuma County and have been teaching here for seven years. I am passionate about teaching students how to explore the world through literacy and believe that Montessori and project-based methods are wonderful tools to meet this goal.
When not at school, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family. During the summer, you can almost always find me in my garden with my dogs and husband.
Upper Elementary Team
Upper Elementary
Lead Teacher - Donitza Ivanovich
This year is my second year as a classroom teacher although I am coming from over 10 years as an educator. Five of these years consisted of exploding pumpkins and dissecting organs at the Powerhouse Science Center in Durango. The rest is from teaching summer camps, and university classes. I hold a B.S in Environmental Biology at Fort Lewis College and a M.S in Geographic Information Sciences from Northern Arizona University. Last year, I was inspired to go back into the classroom after teaching STEM and Outdoor Education classes at BattleRock Charter School.
I am passionate about teaching because it is meaningful work and I love "watching" neurons connect in children's brains. I am a strong believer in project based learning and field experiences as pedagogical methods.
When I am not teaching I enjoy climbing mountains, snowboarding, crafting, and exploring the outdoors with my 3 year old son and husband. I am a wannabe gardener, a terrible chicken owner, and am afraid of mustard and monkeys. I am looking forward to teaching Upper Elementary at Kiva Montessori School this year.
Lead Teacher - Chris LaRose
I have been working in education for twenty+ years. I have a Masters of Education in Science Education. I have had a variety of roles from AmeriCorps volunteer to assistant director of the Keystone Science School. As with my roles, my experience has been in a myriad of settings. A few include teaching in an international school in Honduras, and doing a teacher exchange in South Australia. I’ve taught a wide spectrum of ages, from kindergarten to adult ages. My passion for education stems from my experience in experiential learning. My goals in education include fostering a love for learning and helping students recognize they are needed in the classroom, community, and world.
When I’m not teaching I enjoy traveling with my family. This past year my family and I took a seven-month road trip around the U.S. It was cool to see how diverse America is, and how much natural beauty this country has. Other activities I like to do are walking through the woods, snowboarding, whitewater kayaking, skateboarding, and flying the Millennium Falcon through Asteroid Belts.
Anchor Teacher - Hiedy Whitmer
I have been teaching for the last 15 years. I completed my first year of teaching at Shiprock Alternative School Inc. Fourteen of those years were spent at Mesa and Manaugh Elementary. I enjoy fostering a love of learning and independence in our youth. I am excited to see just how far we can grow this year.
When I’m not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband Carlos, and our three kids Kiffany, Sheldon, and Natalie.
Lead Teacher - Donitza Ivanovich
This year is my second year as a classroom teacher although I am coming from over 10 years as an educator. Five of these years consisted of exploding pumpkins and dissecting organs at the Powerhouse Science Center in Durango. The rest is from teaching summer camps, and university classes. I hold a B.S in Environmental Biology at Fort Lewis College and a M.S in Geographic Information Sciences from Northern Arizona University. Last year, I was inspired to go back into the classroom after teaching STEM and Outdoor Education classes at BattleRock Charter School.
I am passionate about teaching because it is meaningful work and I love "watching" neurons connect in children's brains. I am a strong believer in project based learning and field experiences as pedagogical methods.
When I am not teaching I enjoy climbing mountains, snowboarding, crafting, and exploring the outdoors with my 3 year old son and husband. I am a wannabe gardener, a terrible chicken owner, and am afraid of mustard and monkeys. I am looking forward to teaching Upper Elementary at Kiva Montessori School this year.
Lead Teacher - Chris LaRose
I have been working in education for twenty+ years. I have a Masters of Education in Science Education. I have had a variety of roles from AmeriCorps volunteer to assistant director of the Keystone Science School. As with my roles, my experience has been in a myriad of settings. A few include teaching in an international school in Honduras, and doing a teacher exchange in South Australia. I’ve taught a wide spectrum of ages, from kindergarten to adult ages. My passion for education stems from my experience in experiential learning. My goals in education include fostering a love for learning and helping students recognize they are needed in the classroom, community, and world.
When I’m not teaching I enjoy traveling with my family. This past year my family and I took a seven-month road trip around the U.S. It was cool to see how diverse America is, and how much natural beauty this country has. Other activities I like to do are walking through the woods, snowboarding, whitewater kayaking, skateboarding, and flying the Millennium Falcon through Asteroid Belts.
Anchor Teacher - Hiedy Whitmer
I have been teaching for the last 15 years. I completed my first year of teaching at Shiprock Alternative School Inc. Fourteen of those years were spent at Mesa and Manaugh Elementary. I enjoy fostering a love of learning and independence in our youth. I am excited to see just how far we can grow this year.
When I’m not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband Carlos, and our three kids Kiffany, Sheldon, and Natalie.
Middle School TEam
Middle School
Lead Teacher - John Whitehead
I have have been working at Children’s Kiva for five years, the last four of which I have spent teaching middle school. The best part of being a teacher is seeing the light in a student’s eyes when they have been struggling to figure something out and everything suddenly clicks.
When not teaching I enjoy playing tabletop games and spending time with my family.
Lead Teacher - Jeff Sand
I first began my career as a classroom teacher eight years ago at an expeditionary high school where much of our learning happened outside the classroom, often through multi-day trips. I then moved to a more traditional middle school where there was a growing emphasis towards project-based learning. I’m excited to join the Kiva because the school has committed itself to supporting student-driven, experiential and project based learning and I’ve seen how important it is to have a school culture that supports that rich approach to teaching.
What drives me to be a great teacher are moments like preschool graduations when young kids stand up with their ceremonial hats and share what they want to be when they grow up and how earnest and inspired their answers are. I want to nurture that bright sense of what is possible while equipping young minds with the practical skills they will need to build a bright life.
When I’m not teaching I enjoy navigating the labyrinth that my 2 young kids, 2 cats and 2 dogs setup and rearrange in our sweet little home.
Lead Teacher - John Whitehead
I have have been working at Children’s Kiva for five years, the last four of which I have spent teaching middle school. The best part of being a teacher is seeing the light in a student’s eyes when they have been struggling to figure something out and everything suddenly clicks.
When not teaching I enjoy playing tabletop games and spending time with my family.
Lead Teacher - Jeff Sand
I first began my career as a classroom teacher eight years ago at an expeditionary high school where much of our learning happened outside the classroom, often through multi-day trips. I then moved to a more traditional middle school where there was a growing emphasis towards project-based learning. I’m excited to join the Kiva because the school has committed itself to supporting student-driven, experiential and project based learning and I’ve seen how important it is to have a school culture that supports that rich approach to teaching.
What drives me to be a great teacher are moments like preschool graduations when young kids stand up with their ceremonial hats and share what they want to be when they grow up and how earnest and inspired their answers are. I want to nurture that bright sense of what is possible while equipping young minds with the practical skills they will need to build a bright life.
When I’m not teaching I enjoy navigating the labyrinth that my 2 young kids, 2 cats and 2 dogs setup and rearrange in our sweet little home.
INtervention and Administration
Intervention
ESS - Cassy Whitehead
I grew up in Mancos and went to college at Brigham Young University. I moved back to Mancos and began teaching in Cortez in 2013. I then joined the Kiva in 2014 as a Lower Elementary Teacher Assistant and then became the Lower Elementary Lead Teacher. I currently am the Exceptional Student Services Teacher at Kiva and love my position.
In my free time, I love to read, crochet, cross stitch, and play board games. My animals are my passion and include two dogs, two cats, a ferret, a bird, and several madagascar hissing cockroaches. I would love another dog, cat, or ferret to add to my collection.
Reading/Math - Melody McNeill
Reading/Math - Hiedy Whitmer
ESS - Cassy Whitehead
I grew up in Mancos and went to college at Brigham Young University. I moved back to Mancos and began teaching in Cortez in 2013. I then joined the Kiva in 2014 as a Lower Elementary Teacher Assistant and then became the Lower Elementary Lead Teacher. I currently am the Exceptional Student Services Teacher at Kiva and love my position.
In my free time, I love to read, crochet, cross stitch, and play board games. My animals are my passion and include two dogs, two cats, a ferret, a bird, and several madagascar hissing cockroaches. I would love another dog, cat, or ferret to add to my collection.
Reading/Math - Melody McNeill
Reading/Math - Hiedy Whitmer
Administration
Classroom Assistant - Katie Gutierrez
School Nurse - Kirstin Howell
Administrative Assistant - Patty Likes
Business Manager – Angie Seeley
Head of Operations - Robert Rime
Head of School – Jeff Pope
Classroom Assistant - Katie Gutierrez
School Nurse - Kirstin Howell
Administrative Assistant - Patty Likes
Business Manager – Angie Seeley
Head of Operations - Robert Rime
Head of School – Jeff Pope