Our Staff

Karrin

Head of School

As Head of School at Southwest Montessori Academy, Karrin Marquell is passionate about using her God-given talents to help young children learn and grow. When SMA opened in 2013, Karrin was hired as Lead Teacher and was integral in developing SMA’s mission. She became Head of School in 2020.

A Muncie native, Karrin has a Bachelor of Science degree in business and marketing from Ball State University and previously worked in the events and hospitality industry. For the last 20 years she has dedicated her energy and passion toward Montessori Education, supporting children and families through teaching and school leadership.

In 2023, Karrin earned her American Montessori Society (AMS) credential in Montessori Leadership and Administration from Seton Montessori Institute. She also holds an AMS credential for Early Childhood, earned from the Missouri Montessori Teacher Education Program. She taught in the classroom for 16 years and has also worked in Montessori schools near St. Louis and Indianapolis. In addition, she holds a nationally recognized Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and is a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator and Classroom Educator.

Karrin loves spending time with her husband and daughter, kayaking, exploring nature through wooded trails, and playing with her cat and dog. She is also active in her church. She is excited and honored to carry on the mission and growth of Southwest Montessori Academy!

Julie

Administrative Assistant

Julie Turney started at SMA in 2018 and is the first friendly point-of-contact for SMA families. She plays an essential role in ensuring the smooth functioning of daily operations. Her responsibilities encompass supporting parents with tuition needs, assisting students during morning arrivals and throughout the day, and tending to teachers’ needs for various office tasks. She also helps support our aftercare program and is a key partner in supporting Karrin with the Head of School role.

Julie is originally from Huntington, IN and moved to FW in 1997 when she married her husband Darren. She has been working in a school environment since 2008. Julie has a bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State University. Julie has two daughters one graduated from Indiana University and the other from CLHS in 2021. Her whole family loves to perform on stage at the Pulse Opera House in Warren. Julie loves being part of the SMA community!

Chelsea

Dir. of School Advancement

Chelsea Hile is joined SMA in 2024 as the Director of School Advancement.

Chelsea is from Fort Wayne where she has lived her whole life. Her first experience with Montessori education began as a high school student when she worked as an after-school assistant at another local Montessori school. She has an array of past experiences that will add value to the growth and expansion of Southwest Montessori Academy. Prior to joining the team, she was a Director of Development and Engagement at a local nonprofit. She has knowledge of Early Childhood as well as the financial industry. Her years of networking in the community will help grow partnership with area businesses.

Chelsea is currently working toward her Certificate in Fund Raising Management (CFRM) through the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and is a member of the Northeast Indiana Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

When Chelsea is not working, she spends her time at Jimmerson lake, reading, caring for her two children and two dogs. Her husband has also started teaching her to golf. She loves to garden, care for her plants, and is a huge nature lover.

Lisa

Lead Teacher Room 1

Lisa Magsamen is a native of Iowa City, Iowa. She has over 20 years of experience in working with young children, spending the first 14 years as a Montessori trained toddler teacher.

Her journey brought her to Indiana in 2003, right after she successfully completed her Montessori training in Infant/Toddler at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Boulder, Colorado. In 2022, Lisa earned her AMS Early Childhood Associate Credential (ages 3-6) from Seton Montessori Institute in Chicago.

When she’s not immersed in the Montessori world, Lisa cherishes moments spent with her husband, family, friends, and her beloved cat. She is actively involved in her church and loves to travel aboard cruise ships.

Since joining SMA in the fall of 2016, Lisa has embraced each day with excitement and a genuine eagerness to nurture and guide her students. Her passion for education and dedication to the Montessori philosophy make her a treasured member of our school community. We are fortunate to have Lisa as part of our team, inspiring and shaping young minds every step of the way.

Letícia

Co-Lead Teacher Room 2

Leticía de Oliveira Tenório is joined SMA in 2023 and is a Co-Lead Teacher in Room 2.

Leticía is from the Southern region of Brazil. In 2022, she earned a master’s degree as a Montessori Guide for ages 0-6 years from the International Montessori Institute (IMI). Like many Montessorians, she first had a career outside of teaching, graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering and Occupational Safety Engineering. She worked for almost 10 years in civil engineering for the state where she lived in Brazil. However, her passion has always been to be with children. In trying to learn more about childhood and child development, she came across the Montessori method and it was like “love at first sight”. So, in 2019 she started her studies in Montessori education, aiming to change her career. At the end of 2022, she moved to the United States, accompanying her husband who was transferred to work in Indiana.

Leticía will continue to advance her Montessori career as she pursues an AMS Early Childhood credential through The Center for Montessori Education at Trine University in Angola while being a co-lead teacher at Southwest Montessori Academy.

Letícia loves to travel. She and her husband enjoy discovering new places, cultures and people. She likes to read and loves to observe nature.

Miranda

Co-Lead Teacher Room 2

Miranda Riddle joined Southwest Montessori Academy in 2018 as a Classroom Assistant, supporting both Room 1 and Room 2 over the years. She has also led our summer camp program. In 2024, Miranda was promoted to Co-Lead Teacher as she began working toward her Masters in Montessori Education and AMS Early Childhood Credential through The Center for Montessori Education at Trine University in Angola.

Originally from Ohio, Miranda completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, also at Trine University. Before joining SMA, she worked as a behavior technician in Coldwater, Michigan, specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis.

She and her partner enjoy theatre, traveling, and caring for their many pets!

Miranda is very excited to continue supporting students’ learning and growth at Southwest Montessori Academy. Her dedication to SMA makes her a valued member of our team.

Pui

Assistant Teacher Room 1

Orrapan “Pui” Poonthaisong Olson joined SMA as an Assistant Teacher in Room 1 in the fall of 2024, a year after first becoming part of the SMA community as a parent.

Originally from Bangkok, Thailand, Pui holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education, specializing in English teaching, and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from a university in Bangkok. She spent seven years working as a government teacher in junior high and high schools in Bangkok, gaining valuable experience in the education field.

In 2019, Pui moved to the United States, initially residing in Oahu, Hawaii, with her husband. In 2021, they relocated to Indiana to be closer to her mother-in-law. Pui has a son who also attends SMA, and her family has a deep appreciation for Montessori education. This interest is shared by her husband, niece, and nephew, who all attended Montessori schools, as well as her mother-in-law, who was a teacher and director of a Montessori school. Pui is enthusiastic about joining the SMA team, continuing her career in education, and being around children once again.

Outside of her professional life, Pui has a passion for travel, learning about new cultures, and exploring different cuisines. She enjoys cooking, fruit carving, creating 3D jelly art, DIY handcrafts, painting, gardening, and teaching English online.

Pui looks forward to bringing her skills and enthusiasm to her role at SMA and supporting the school community.

Cindy

Late Day Assistant Room 2

Cindy Greider joined SMA in 2019 and has served in a variety of roles, including Classroom Assistant, Before/Aftercare Teacher, and Classroom Substitute.

Her Montessori Early Childhood Teacher Preparation was at The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes in Mishawaka, IN. She completed her Practicum for Certification at Three Rivers Montessori (now Peace Montessori) in Fort Wayne, where our school founder, Vyju Kadambi, was her advisor.

Cindy was the founding Director and instructor for Kindermusik of Fort Wayne for over 13 years. She was also the Children’s Choir Director at her church for several years.

She was a professional clarinetist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra for over 30 years. She has taught all levels of clarinet students from age 8 to 80. During this time, she also taught clarinet at the collegiate level at Purdue University Fort Wayne and Manchester College. She has a Master of Music Degree and Artist Diploma from The Cleveland Institute of Music.

SMA students love to sing, dance and play along as Cindy continues to share her passion for music education through songs, musical books, and instruments, and by introducing famous musicians and various styles of music.

When Cindy is not working or playing her clarinet for fun, she enjoys reading and attending theatre (Hamilton!), musicals and concerts.

Sarah

Extra Care Teacher

Vyju

Founder

Vyju Kadambi is the Founder of Southwest Montessori Academy. Her journey began as a parent, witnessing the remarkable growth of her daughter during her early years in school. Inspired by the Montessori approach, Vyju enrolled in a teacher training program, which eventually led her to the unexpected role of director at a Montessori school. This experience became a turning point in her life, guiding her towards the founding of Southwest Montessori Academy (SMA).

Recognizing the need for a Montessori school in the southwest region of Fort Wayne, Vyju, with the support of her husband, established SMA in 2013. Through seven years of dedicated efforts, the school flourished under her guidance, reaching its full capacity and fostering a committed board and staff who could continue the school’s mission even without her as Head of School. Vyju continues her work at SMA as a board member.

In 2021, Vyju’s passion for Montessori education for all children guided her into working for Montessori Public Policy Initiative. The organization is focused removing policy barriers to the full implementation of Montessori and increasing access of Montessori education to all families regardless of economic abilities.

Vyju Kadambi’s unwavering commitment to Montessori education and her tireless efforts in establishing and nurturing Southwest Montessori Academy have made her a respected figure in the field. Her journey continues to shape the lives of children and advocate for the principles of the Montessori philosophy.