Ms. Padgett grew up attending a small Montessori school in South Florida. After receiving Master’s degrees in Family Therapy and Business Administration from Barry University and Florida Atlantic University, her true calling was to put it all together at Bridges where her two boys currently attend. Before joining Bridges in January of 2007 as our Field Trip Coordinator and Librarian, Ms. Padgett was a Mental Health and Marriage & Family Therapist and Marketing and Human Resource Coordinator.

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Infant & Toddler Faculty

Janet Shiller
Infant and Toddler Department Head

Ms. Shiller has been an integral part of the Bridges family for over 17 years! She began as our Infant and Toddler Directress in August of 1995 and hasn’t looked back since, currently serving as our Infant and Toddler Department Head. Ms. Shiller received her American Montessori Society Infant and Toddler Credential and has attended the Montessori Peace Education Academy. She has taken courses specifically on Interpersonal Behavior, Multiple Intelligences, Redirecting Children’s Behavior, and Conscious Discipline. Ms. Shiller’s five children have all attended Bridges, and she stated that “The education they received made a great impact on the way they learn and their enthusiasm for learning.”

Melissa Quigley
Toddler Directress

Ms. Quigley joined Bridges as Toddler Intern and Assistant in August of 2004, and is currently our Toddler Directress. She received her CDA Credential from Indian River Community College, her Infant/Toddler Montessori Certification from South Florida Montessori Education Center, and is busy working towards her Associate’s of Art Degree at Indian River State College. Ms. Quigley is proud to be a professional member of the American Montessori Society. In her free time, she loves to relax and fish on her fiancée’s boat.

Carol Gauthier
Toddler Assistant

Ms. Gauthier became part of the Bridges team as a Toddler Assistant in May of 2007. Before that, she has worked as a substitute teacher in infant, toddler, and pre-primary environments and worked for seven years as a Veterinary Assistant and Receptionist at All Paws Animal Hospital. Ms. Gauthier graduated from Walker High School in Walker, LA, and has participated in many child-focused courses such as Redirecting Children’s Behavior and Nutrition Training. When she isn’t caring for our Bridges toddlers, Ms. Gauthier enjoy horseback riding in their spare time.

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Pre-Primary Faculty

Melanie Witzig
Pre-Primary Department Head, Pre-Primary Directress

Ms. Witzig came to Bridges in August of 2005 rich with experience in both traditional child development and Montessori settings. She previously served as an Early Education Center Director, and an Exceptional Student Pre-K Teacher in Martin County. Ms. Witzig has her Bachelor’s in Child Development (birth-kindergarten) and her AMS Pre-Primary Certification from the Summit Montessori Training Institute. Ms. Witzig is a member of the American and International Montessori Societies and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. When not at Bridges, Ms. Witzig enjoys gardening and spending time with her family.

Alissa McGraw
Pre-Primary Directress

Ms. McGraw began working with children at the age of just 15 at her parents' Gymnastics Summer Camp. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Florida State University, intending to run the family business but soon realized that her love for children was much stronger than business. She returned to earn a Master's in Elementary Education and continued her journey into Montessori education by receiving her Montessori Certification for 3-6 from Summit Montessori Teacher Training. Prior to joining Bridges in 2008, Ms. McGraw taught in Broward County Public School for four years and was a Teacher’s Assistant for two years.

Karen Gustafson
Pre-Primary Directress

Ms. Gustafson came to Bridges in August of 2007 after working as a Social Worker, a Big Brothers/Big Sisters Case Worker, and a Pre-Primary Teacher’s Assistant. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Community and Family Services from the University of Delaware, and has her Montessori Certification for 3-6. Ms. Gustafson is passionate about indoor and outdoor gardening and raising the awareness of “living foods” such as sprouts; she enjoys incorporating this information into the various areas of the classroom.

Alyssa Paton
Pre-Primary Directress Intern

Ms. Paton started as an Infant Directress at Bridges in February of 2009. Before joining the team, Ms. Paton was a private nanny and also a kindergarten teaching assistant at Palm City Elementary for two years. She also was a lead gymnastics coach and after-school YMCA counselor. Ms. Paton completed her Montessori 3-6 training and is currently working towards her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Florida Atlantic University. When not working hard at Bridges and school, she enjoys vacationing in Maine with her family and spending time at the beach.

June Justi
Pre-Primary Assistant

Ms. Justi has been with Bridges since October of 2006 and has also worked as our Substitute and Classroom Ambassador. She graduated from Fort Pierce Central High and has partaken in child-focused courses. Ms. Justi worked side by side with her husband for 20 years in their neighborhood restaurant “Frank and Stein.” After sending her daughter to Bridges and getting involved in the classroom, Ms. Justi realized her true calling. She is passionate about incorporating Conscious Discipline into the lives of the children she works with.

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Elementary Faculty

Alyson Mann
Academic Dean, Elementary Directress

Ms. Mann has been with Bridges since it opened its doors in 1992. She began as our very first pre-primary directress. She later progressed to become our lead Junior Elementary Directress and is now Bridges’ Academic Dean and Elementary Directress. Before joining Bridges, Ms. Mann worked at Martin Downs Montessori and Summit Montessori. She is Montessori certified for birth-12, and is a member of the American Montessori Society. Ms. Mann grew up and received her training in Ireland. She enjoys sharing her culture with her students, especially Irish dancing.

Susan Lear
Elementary Department Head, Elementary Directress

Ms. Lear came to us from across the globe; moving to the United States in 1998 from Hungary. She began at Bridges as a Pre-Primary Directress in August of 2003, and previously was an Elementary Assistant at Turtle River Montessori and a Substitute Teacher at Palm Beach County Elementary Schools. Ms. Lear has her Associate’s of Art degree and her AMS Early Childhood Degree from Palm Beach Community College, an her Exceptional Student Education Degree from Florida Atlantic University. While not at Bridges, Ms. Lear is passionate about exercise and is expert at taekwondo.

Alissa Helene
Senior Elementary Directress

Under construction!  Check back soon!

Karen Shipper
PE Teacher

Ms. Shipper joined Bridges in August 2008, and has served as our PE Teacher, Junior Elementary Assistant, and Third Grade Cultural Teacher. She received her Bachelor’s in Communication/Journalism from the University of Shippensburg, and her Master’s in Exercise Physiology from the University of Central Florida. Ms. Shipper is certified with the American Heart Association and has her Florida Teacher’s Certification for K-6. Ms. Shipper incorporates activity into all areas of her life — boating, running around Disney World, or on the PE field. She enjoys being close to her daughter who currently attends Bridges.

Jesse Etelson
Elementary Art Teacher

Before coming on board in January of 2004, Mr. Etelson worked in extended-day child care for 11 years and also served as the Pre-Primary and Elementary Teaching Assistant here at Bridges. He received his BFA degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and has participated in a number of courses such as Redirecting Children’s Behavior, Writing and Peace Practices, and Conflict Resolution. Mr. Etelson loves to play guitar with the children and attends drumming events in the community

Amaryllis Butt
Spanish and Technology Teacher

Ms. Butt has played a wide array of roles on the Bridges team, having served as our Admissions and Ambassador Coordinator and more recently our Elementary Keyboarding Teacher. Ms. Butt is now our exceptional Administrative Assistant and Spanish Teacher. She wears many hats! Before coming to Bridges in April of 2005, Ms. Butt was an Island Representative at Maduro Dive Fantaseas and the Resident Manager at Sand Dollar Beach Resort. She has her Bachelor’s of Science and is also a Public Notary. Ms Butt grew up in Bonaire and speaks four languages.

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