Melissa Coy
Melissa Coy became a formally trained Montessori Teacher in 1991, through St. Nicholas Montessori College, London England. She holds an Arts degree from Jefferson College, Watertown NY, and a diploma in Montessori Human Resources from the American Montessori Society, Sarasota, Florida.
Melissa began her career as an assistant at Bayside Montessori School, Lowville, NY, in 1988. She moved to Kingston, Ontario and completed her Montessori teaching diploma while working at Bayside Montessori School, in September of 1991. Melissa and her husband, Robert, purchased the school the following year.
From 1996-1998 Melissa was a Montessori teacher trainer for the American Montessori Society. She has presented on many Montessori topics to pedagogy professionals, various other professionals within the Kingston area and interested parents of young children.
While Melissa is an accomplished Montessorian, she is also wife of over 30 years, to Robert and mother to Jacob. She enjoys many hobbies such as golf, kayaking, cycling, glamping, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, and playing piano.
Though much of her time is spent on the administrative end at Bayside, she still enjoys occasionally working with the children.
Nicole Curragh grew up in Verona and has lived in the Kingston area all her life.
She started working in the childcare field in 2011 and has been lucky enough to work long term in two daycares in the Kingston area. Also, she has experience working for an organization that provides IBI therapy services for children with special needs.
Nicole recently completed an assistant teacher course for which she received a diploma from the Montessori Institute. Nicole continues to expand her Montessori knowledge through her job at Bayside Montessori. Learning so much about the Montessori style of learning, she quickly knew that this was the place she wanted to be. Nicole finds the Montessori style of teaching and learning amazing, and she is happy to be a part of this the Bayside team.
Nicole Curragh’s
Mme Paula Mueller relocated 5 years ago and has been living in the Greater Kingston area. Mme. has two children, a daughter graduated who from Nippissing University with a degree in Physical Education and is currently living in Ottawa and is a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. Her son graduated from Trent University with a degree in Business and is building homes for a local Custom Home Builder Concord Homes. Her introduction into Montessori began 19 years ago when she joined Brooklin Mill Montessori where she directed the afterschool program, and quickly fell in love with the Montessori approach to teaching.
Mme Paula completed her Montessori Assistant Certification with the Canadian Montessori Teacher Education Institute and her passion for the method continued to develop as she completed her MACTE accredited Teaching Diploma with the Canadian Montessori Teacher Education Institute. While at Brooklin Montessori she led the English strand of a Bilingual Program and assisted the French strand while she furthered her studies at Durham College in the French as a Second Language (Continuing Education Program).
She continues to gain in her joy of teaching through following children in their quest for self directed education, where they have taught her that there is always an opportunity for growth, understanding, patience, and tolerance. Since supply teaching and leading the Montessori French her Program at Bayside since 2019 she joined the program full time and is excited to continue that approach while teaching along side a team committed to the joy of teaching.
Paula Mueller
Susan Bruce has been our chef at Bayside Montessori since 2013 and is a graduate of St. Lawrence College’s Culinary Arts Program. She prides herself on providing nutritious meals with careful attention to allergies and cultural restrictions.
Susan derives a lot of pleasure observing each child expand their dietary palates throughout their time spent with us and is always available if you have any questions or concerns.
