Faculty & Staff

We believe that great teachers are our best asset.

Dedicated to authentic Montessori education, the administration and staff at Rose Hill Montessori School are highly trained, talented, and love working with children. 

Julie Douglas

Head of School, AMI Administrator & AMS Elementary Certifications

Originally from Bend, Oregon, Julie has lived in Boise since 1997. Her two children both attended Rose Hill Montessori through 6th grade. Julie holds a BA from Eastern Oregon University, AMS Montessori Elementary I and II certifications from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies, and AMI Administrators certification from Montessori Institute Prague.

Her experience working with children expands across many ages. She has enjoyed working with children in preschools, elementary schools, an alternative high school, as well as, scouting programs, and residence camps.

Traveling, camping, hiking, archery and listening to live music are just a few ways Julie enjoys spending time with her family.

Julie has been with Rose Hill since 2002, taking on her current leadership-ownership role in 2016.

Laura Martin

Elementary Lead Teacher, AMI Elementary Masters Degree

Laura received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education from the University of North Dakota. After completing her degree in 2008, she and her husband moved to Nevada (to get out of the cold.)  She took classes for an ESL certification and shortly after, stumbled upon a Montessori environment and fell in love with it. After completing her ESL certification, she decided to enroll in Montessori Training. Laura attended the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota where she earned her Montessori certification. Laura continued her studies and received her Master’s in Education from Loyola University in Maryland. She has taught at both public and private Montessori Schools before moving to the Boise area. Rose Hill Montessori welcomed Laura in 2020. 

During her free time, you’ll find Laura playing and reading with her two young girls and hiking with her dog. Laura enjoys traveling to new places and traveling to see family.

Samantha Nelson

Elementary Assistant Teacher

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and reared in Southern California, Sam moved to Boise in 1993 after falling in love with the area. Knowing she did not want to raise her children in L. A., she and her husband moved to Idaho right away.

Sam received her Early Childhood Education Certificate from Los Angeles Valley College in 1988. She began her ECE experience with 3 and 4 year olds, and was soon recruited to work with Pre-Kindergarten children. This was a challenging experience at which she spent many years, thoroughly enjoying every minute.

Sam has been at Rose Hill since September of 2003. She enjoys working at the school and spending time with her family and friends. Her hobbies also include reading, hiking, sports, gardening and keeping current in the everyday lives of her children since becoming an empty nester.

Jordyn Turney

Early Childhood Lead Teacher, AMS Certification

Jordyn was born and raised in the mountains of Arizona. She loved reading early on and went to a small public school that emphasized the importance of community, impressing on her the impact of caring teachers and close-knit, peaceful classrooms, which fall perfectly in line with the Montessori philosophy. Upon entering into the educational field, she quickly fell in love with the varied and unique personalities of the 3-6 age group. Helping young children learn and to grow into the people they will later become is one of the greatest privileges, and Jordyn couldn't imagine working with a more motivating and inspiring educational philosophy.

Since moving to Idaho in 2013, Boise and the surrounding area has become Jordyn's adopted hometown. Jordyn spent a few years as a Montessori assistant and substitute. She went through AMS training, for the 3-6 year old classroom, in Montana, and feels fortunate to have landed at Rose Hill Montessori School. Jordyn interned under the guidance of Christel Nordhausen, Rose Hill's founder, in 2017, and has enjoyed being part of the school ever since.

Lonna Kelly

Early Childhood Assistant Teacher

Lonna grew up in Denver, Colorado. She moved to McCall, Idaho, in 1986, and in 2001, moved her family to Boise.

In her free time, Lonna loves to read, walk, and to watch NFL football. Being a grandma, Lonna also enjoys being home with her family, whenever time allows.

She began working at Rose Hill Montessori in July, 2006, and is fond of working with the 3 to 6 year children.

Debra Bell

Early Childhood Assistant & After School Teacher

Debra spent summers on her grandparents’ Idaho farm, while she grew up in southern California. She moved to the area in 2003 and has been a private nanny for many years. Deb and her husband have a son at BSU and a daughter in high school.

In her free time, Deb enjoys quilting, reading, traveling, hiking, and spending time with her family.

Deb joined the Rose Hill Montessori staff in 2023.

Savanna Thompson

School Year After School Teacher

Savanna grew up in San Diego, California, and has just recently moved to Boise to attend Boise State University.

In her free time, she enjoys painting, being in nature, and spending time with friends.

Savanna loves working with children and we are glad she has been part of our Rose Hill team since 2022.

Cindy Montoto

Spanish Teacher

Cindy is the first generation daughter of two Cuban refugees and a fourth generation early childhood educator. Cindy moved to Boise from Miami, FL in 2011, to attend Boise State University. She graduated a semester early with honors and received a bachelor of science in psychology with an emphasis in child development and a certificate in dispute resolution. Cindy's love and passion for the Spanish language and Latin-American cultures is infectious. 

She has over fifteen years of experience nurturing children across all planes of development from newborn through nineteen years old. She student-taught at a charter school, where she received a comprehensive teaching experience in a multi-age classroom setting. Cindy came to Rose Hill Montessori in 2024, after teaching preschool through sixth grade Spanish at a private, language immersion school.

In her free time, Cindy loves crafting, hiking in the mountains, spending time with her family and two dogs, expanding her vintage dollhouse collection, gardening, reading, and antiquing.

Jordan Gore

Music and P.E. Teacher & Summer Staff

Jordan Gore was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. He graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Digital Media and Broadcasting. After moving back to Boise, he decided to devote his career to teaching. When he isn’t teaching, his days are spent hanging out with his wife and kids, basset hound, and cat.

He has been a lifelong piano player and singer, and uses those talents to teach music of all kinds. His favorite style of music is jazz, blues, and classic rock. Jordan also competes in local film festivals, does freelance videography, and has won several local awards for directing and acting.

Jordan began teaching Music and Physical Education at Rose Hill Montessori in 2021.

Patricia Easteppe

Elementary Art Teacher & Summer Staff

Patty is a native Idahoan. Born in the Treasure Valley, Patricia returned after 25 years residing and working in Oregon and Northern California.

A graduate of Willamette University, with a professional degree in Theatre, she worked backstage in Ashland, OR, at the Shakespeare Festival, running shows and taking care of wardrobe. This was followed by seven years at a private college-prep boarding school, running the Performing Arts Department. There she directed and designed two plays each year, and taught a full curriculum. The next ten years were spent at the Shasta College Theatre Dept. in Redding, CA, teaching Theatre Arts courses (make-up, costume design, and acting.) Summers were spent with Children's Theatre.

Since 2014, Patty has loved working with RHM's children and is always amazed by their creative talents.

Christel Nordhausen

Rose Hill Montessori's Founder & Staff Substitute, NCME Early Childhood & AMI Elementary Certifications

Boise has been Christel’s home since 1978. The environment and outdoor life of backpacking, camping, and X-C skiing lured her to set down roots in this beautiful state.

Christel’s first job here was assisting in a Montessori classroom. This led to Montessori training for the Early Childhood and Elementary levels, and eventually founding Rose Hill Montessori School. Montessori remained a passion until her retirement.

She feels good to be back at Rose Hill Montessori as staff substitute, and is looking forward to meeting you and your children.