Our Team
Melissa Brubaker: Head of School and Primary Lead Teacher
Mrs. Brubaker is the owner and co-founder of Around the Sun Montessori School. She has a BS degree in Elementary Education (K-8) with a concentration in mathematics. Additionally, she achieved her Primary American Montessori Society certification through extensive training and has over thirty-five years of experience in various Montessori environments. Melissa is a mom of three young men, all of whom attended Montessori schools as children.
Mrs. Brubaker is the owner and co-founder of Around the Sun Montessori School. She has a BS degree in Elementary Education (K-8) with a concentration in mathematics. Additionally, she achieved her Primary American Montessori Society certification through extensive training and has over thirty-five years of experience in various Montessori environments. Melissa is a mom of three young men, all of whom attended Montessori schools as children.
Andrew Towne: Lower Elementary Lead Teacher
Andrew has a degree in marketing with a concentration in copywriting from Columbia College Chicago. He completed his MACTE Accredited Lower Elementary certification through The Center for Guided Montessori Studies. He is a father of two, both of whom attended Around the Sun. Andrew and his wife are former Montessori students, where they met in kindergarten!
Andrew has a degree in marketing with a concentration in copywriting from Columbia College Chicago. He completed his MACTE Accredited Lower Elementary certification through The Center for Guided Montessori Studies. He is a father of two, both of whom attended Around the Sun. Andrew and his wife are former Montessori students, where they met in kindergarten!
Becca Wohlwend: Upper Elementary Lead Teacher
Becca has a BS degree as an Intervention Specialist, Mild-Moderate (K-12) and taught children with learning disabilities in a public school setting for 7 years. Additionally, she has a MACTE Accredited Upper Elementary Montessori certification through The Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Becca is also a yoga instructor and mom to three daughters, all of whom have attended or still attend ATS!
Becca has a BS degree as an Intervention Specialist, Mild-Moderate (K-12) and taught children with learning disabilities in a public school setting for 7 years. Additionally, she has a MACTE Accredited Upper Elementary Montessori certification through The Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Becca is also a yoga instructor and mom to three daughters, all of whom have attended or still attend ATS!
Cami Amory: Primary School Teacher
Mrs. Amory is a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. While studying computer information systems at Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh, Mrs. Amory moved to support her husband's career in South Carolina and raise their two boys. Their family lived in South Carolina and in the Pittsburgh area before relocating to Medina in 2019. Mrs. Amory is in her sixth year of working in a preschool and has completed the Montessori Fundamentals training through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies.
Mrs. Amory is a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. While studying computer information systems at Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh, Mrs. Amory moved to support her husband's career in South Carolina and raise their two boys. Their family lived in South Carolina and in the Pittsburgh area before relocating to Medina in 2019. Mrs. Amory is in her sixth year of working in a preschool and has completed the Montessori Fundamentals training through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies.
Anita Podojil: Primary School Teacher
Mrs. Podojil has a bachelor's degree in science and communications from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. She is originally from Pittsburgh and moved to Medina in 2008. She has three sons and worked as an assistant teacher at Around the Sun several years ago, when an older son attended. Prior to having children, Mrs. Podojil worked for the Medina County Achievement Center as a caretaker for children with special needs. Working with children is her passion and she is very excited to be returning to the classroom this year.
Mrs. Podojil has a bachelor's degree in science and communications from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. She is originally from Pittsburgh and moved to Medina in 2008. She has three sons and worked as an assistant teacher at Around the Sun several years ago, when an older son attended. Prior to having children, Mrs. Podojil worked for the Medina County Achievement Center as a caretaker for children with special needs. Working with children is her passion and she is very excited to be returning to the classroom this year.
Lydia Appleton: Assistant Primary School Teacher
Ms. Lydia has taught in several different settings including swim lessons, lifeguard trainings, and first aid/CPR courses. She most recently worked as a cake decorator before coming to ATS and completing the assistant Montessori teacher course through Trillium Montessori. Ms. Lydia's mother is also a Montessori teacher!
Ms. Lydia has taught in several different settings including swim lessons, lifeguard trainings, and first aid/CPR courses. She most recently worked as a cake decorator before coming to ATS and completing the assistant Montessori teacher course through Trillium Montessori. Ms. Lydia's mother is also a Montessori teacher!
Emily Varner: Office Manager
Mrs. Varner holds both a BA and MA in religion and ancient languages, history, and culture. She worked in the academic publishing industry full-time or part-time for the past 20 years. As a homeschooling parent to her college-age daughter from 2015-2023, she discovered the Montessori philosophy when considering options for her son, now in his fifth year at Around the Sun.
Mrs. Varner holds both a BA and MA in religion and ancient languages, history, and culture. She worked in the academic publishing industry full-time or part-time for the past 20 years. As a homeschooling parent to her college-age daughter from 2015-2023, she discovered the Montessori philosophy when considering options for her son, now in his fifth year at Around the Sun.
