Faculty & Staff

Ms. Catherine grew up in Bessemer, AL. She attended college at the University of Alabama. She taught at Helena Intermediate School in Shelby County for 14 years, and has taught public school for a total of 22 years. This is her first year at Bruno.

In her free time, Catherine enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family. She and her husband love to visit state and national parks! They have visited 10 national parks so far (some more than once).  They hiked part of The Narrows in Zion National Park and a part of the North Kaibab trail in the Grand Canyon. They also enjoyed multiple national recreation areas and monuments. She has two adult children. 

Hallie Barrett brings a dynamic educational perspective to Joseph Bruno Montessori Academy, where she is in her second year of teaching. Originally from Sewanee, TN, Hallie holds an undergraduate degree in Spanish from Sewanee and a Master's in Linguistics and ELA from Mississippi State University. Her passion for education is deeply rooted, having spent over 20 years living on various boarding school campuses in different capacities.  Hallie has taught English, Spanish, Speech, and Drama at high school and college levels.  Growing up in a close-knit boarding school community, her passion for children and education began long ago.  As a child, Hallie was known as the campus babysitter, and through adolescence and young adulthood, she spent her summers either as a camp counselor or nannying and tutoring in Mexico and Spain.

Outside of work, Hallie enjoys pottery, hiking, and spending time with her family and animals. Hallie’s two boys, Jack and Charlie, are both students at Joseph Bruno. Hallie is also currently completing her Secondary Montessori certificate. She is thrilled to be part of the diverse and special community at Joseph Bruno Montessori Academy.

Ms. Stefanie lived most of her adult life in Rome, GA. Growing up, she moved frequently because her father was a US  Marine. She has lived in Georgia, California, Michigan, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama. Ms. Stefanie has a certificate in Early Childhood Education from Georgia Northwestern Technical College and a degree in Behavioral Health from Grand Canyon University. She received her AMS Elementary I Montessori training in Maitland, Florida. She joined the Bruno Family in the Spring Semester of 2024.
Ms. Stefanie homeschooled her 3 children. Her oldest daughter is now a technical services librarian at a university and her son works in IT. Her youngest daughter is still homeschooled and is dual enrolled at Jefferson State Community College. 
Her career in Montessori began as an assistant teacher in a lower elementary classroom in Rome, GA. She became a lead teacher after completing her training. She was employed at the Montessori School of Rome for 8 years. 
Outside of school, Ms. Stefanie enjoys reading, hiking, browsing used bookstores, and hunting for unique shells on the beach!

• AA, Iowa Community College
• AMS Certification: Currently Training, Age of Montessori, Toddler
• Common Sense Educator

Naomi Breakenridge has taught at Bruno for 30 years and is Montessori-certified to teach infants and toddlers. Naomi was raised on a small farm in Iowa. She grew up milking cows, raising pigs and chickens, and growing corn, soybeans, and oats. She graduated in 1980 from a small school (only 24 students in her class!), Corwith-Wesley. She earned a scholarship to play college softball, as a pitcher. 
She married her college sweetheart, Ray, in 1986 and they have five very spoiled cats. She has many hobbies but loves to play tennis, slow-pitch softball, making cards, and making jobs for her classroom. Ms. Naomi loves teaching and learns from her students daily.

Susan Downs is a graduate of Samford University and the University of Louisville. She has been a teacher at both the elementary and middle school levels, an assistant principal, and a principal at four schools in Alabama and Georgia. In 1990, she created the Junior United Nations Assembly (JUNA), which won two national recognitions for outstanding programming. She has also been actively involved with student leadership training.

Outside of education, Ms. Downs worked extensively with the planning and grassroots efforts of the Curing Childhood Cancer car tag, an Alabama specialty car tag that has raised over three million dollars for childhood cancer research. She is also the founder of Kids Play Alabama, a local non-profit, which enables underserved children across our state the opportunity to participate in youth sports. She has two adorable grandchildren, Jack and Ella, and her interests include reading and architectural design.

• BS in Sociology with a concentration in Youth Studies
• AMS Certification: Seton Montessori, EC (2.5-6)
• Common Sense Educator

Ms. Andrea attended Central Michigan University and received a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology with a concentration in youth studies. She is a Montessori Certified Primary Teacher and she has been teaching at Bruno Montessori for 7 years. Andrea has been involved with Montessori Education since she was two years old. She is excited to share this wonderful philosophy with a new generation of children.

• AMS Certification: Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes IUSB, EC (2.5-6)
• Common Sense Educator

Ms. Kim is married and has two daughters. Both of her girls were Montessori children, and they have carried their skills into their adult lives. Her oldest, Andrea, is a Montessori Primary Teacher here at Bruno, and her youngest is an Activities Coordinator at a Senior Living Center. Kim is a Montessori Certified Teacher and has worked in a Montessori Primary classroom for 32 years. She moved to Alabama in 2015 and has worked at Bruno Montessori ever since. It has been a joy to get to know the children, families, and co-workers at this beautiful school.

• BS in Education, Teacher of Hearing Impaired, University of Montevallo
• AMS Certification: Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center, Elementary I-II
• Orton-Gillingham trained
• Common Sense Educator

Ms. Genie has been teaching at Bruno since 1997. She is AMS certified to teach Lower and Upper levels. She was born in Birmingham and graduated from the University of Montevallo. She was married in 1983 and has two sons. She was born on Leap Day, and just celebrated her 16th birthday! She feels she has been Montessori at heart all her life and feels like Bruno is her family.

• BA in Theater Education, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
• Currently, in graduate school pursuing an MA in Education, at the University of West Alabama
• AMS Certification: Montessori Live, Elementary I-II (6-12)
• Common Sense Educator

Mr. Zech is originally from Chattanooga, TN, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Speech. After college, Zech traveled the country, landing in Los Angeles. While in California, he was introduced to outdoor education, where he immediately fell in love with experimental learning.  This led him to Alabama, where he worked at Camp McDowell Environmental Center for four years as a Lead Instructor and Resident Storyteller. While at McDowell, he found a passion for geology, history, and stories. During this time, he also began traveling the region, telling folk stories at schools, churches, and festivals.  Camp McDowell opened the door to Mr. Zech's future, for it was there that he met his future wife, Ryan, and learned about Montessori education!

In 2014, when Mr. Zech moved to Birmingham to be with Ryan. Bruno was the first school he sought to work at.  Bruno hired him on the spot; two years later, he was asked to be the lead for the classroom.  Mr. Zech received a dual certificates in Elementary 6-9 and Elementary 9-12 Montessori Education from the Montessori Live Educator Training Program. Montessori Live invited Zech to be an instructor for their program, where he worked for two summers training future Montessorians.

Mr. Zech's home is filled with love and fun. He and his wife have two wonderful boys, Riley, 13, and Henry, 7. He enjoys building Legos and playing games with his boys. As a family, they love gardening, hiking, camping, going to the beach, and playing an active role in their church.  Mr. Zech loves to learn and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of West Alabama.

Melissa has a B.A. in Communication from the University of South Alabama. For the past several years, she has been volunteering with a middle school and high school youth group. She began teaching at Bruno in January 2024. She has enjoyed getting to know the students and is excited to continue teaching!
 

• BA in Early Childhood Education, Birmingham Southern College
• AMS Certification: MMTTC- Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center, EC (2.5-6)
• Common Sense Educator

Born and raised in Birmingham, Ms. Kathy attended a Montessori primary school. She is proud to be the daughter of Ms. Theresa, the founder of the Joseph Bruno Montessori Academy, and who also shares her mother’s passion for teaching the Montessori curriculum. She has worked at Bruno for over 20 years at both the Primary and Toddler levels. She has a BA from Birmingham Southern College in Early Childhood Education and a Montessori Certification from the Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center in Evanston, Illinois. She also lived in Florence, Alabama for five years, where she was a substitute teacher for grades Kindergarten through high school. Because of her Montessori background, she was accepted as a substitute teacher at the W. C. Handy School in the infant toddler program through Kindergarten. 

Married to our very own Mr. Dana, they collectively have five daughters scattered about the East and West Coast and one son who lives in Birmingham. All of their children attended Bruno and their son, Jamie, graduated in 2001. Mr. Dana’s daughters were both students in her toddler classroom.  They have two grandchildren, Madelyn and Drue. Kathy loves being their Nonna.  Ms. Kathy and Mr. Dana enjoy hiking, biking and going to the beach in their free time. She loves to cook, bake, swim laps, read novels, and listen to music. She is thrilled to be a part of the Bruno community and continues to honor her mother’s legacy. 

• BS in Childhood Development and Family Studies, University of Alabama
• MA in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• AMS Certification: Mid West Montessori Training Center, Elementary I (6-9)
• Orton-Gillingham trained
• Common Sense Educator

Ms. Cat grew up in Jackson, Alabama, and attended undergraduate at the University of Alabama, and graduate school at UAB. She has worked at Bruno Montessori since 2010. Ms. Cat is an avid runner and loves to be outdoors. She and her husband have identical twin daughters who have attended Bruno since they were toddlers. 

• BA of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai University
• MA of Commerce in Management, Mumbai University
• AMS Certification: Age of Montessori, Lower Elementary
• Orton-Gillingham trained
• Common Sense Educator

Tejal Mehta holds a Lower Elementary Montessori Credential from the Age of Montessori Training Institute, Bozeman, Montana.

She received her Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Master of Commerce in Management from Mumbai University and Apparel Design and Garment Manufacturing, at Sophia College, Mumbai, India. Her passion for reading and promoting literacy led to IMSE Orton Gillingham Training in Reading.

During her first visit to Bruno Montessori Academy in 2005, she was in awe to witness a beautiful classroom environment that fostered independence and a love for learning. Since then, Montessori philosophy has become a way of life for her.

Outside the classroom, she enjoys volunteering at multicultural events promoting inclusiveness and diversity, traveling with her husband and three wonderful children (all Bruno Alumni), reading, cooking, and dancing.

Her Favorite Quote: "Education is a natural process carried out by the human individual, and it is acquired not by listening to words, but by experiences in the environment." - Maria Montessori, Education For A New World

• BA, Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University
• MA in Education specializing in Early Childhood Education, Ashford University
• AMS Certification: AMS Memphis, EC (2.5-6)
• Orton-Gillingham trained
• Common Sense Educator

Sarita was born and raised in India. She has called Birmingham home for the past 28 years. She has been working with young children for 20 years in various roles and enjoys every minute of it. She deeply enjoys each day as it brings its unique challenges and new insights.  Sarita spends so much time teaching and caring for her students, but there is so much to learn from them as well. Outside of education, she is married to her wonderful husband, who is a software engineer at UAB, and her son, who has found his niche in media management.

When she is not teaching, she enjoys making materials for her students, trying new recipes, and traveling, exploring different cultures and food around the world.

• BS in Elementary Education, University of Montevallo

Ms. Kelsey has been teaching at Bruno Montessori for two years. She is a graduate of the University of Montevallo with a degree in Elementary Education. She is certified to teach in the state of Alabama K-6th. She is married to a wonderful husband who graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Computer Science and has three older brothers and six nephews with whom she loves spending her free time.

Brendan grew up just north of Boston in Danvers, Massachusetts (for those who are fascinated with the notorious Salem Witchcraft Trials of the late 1600s, Danvers was originally Salem Village, where it all went down.  The foundation of Reverend Samuel Parris' home, where the hysteria was ignited by a handful of girls and Parris' slave woman, Tituba, is just down the street from my house.)  He graduated from Danvers High School and then headed to Marquette University in Milwaukee to study Theater, then to Niagara University in NY to complete undergrad degrees in Theatre and English, and then to Grad School at St. John's University for a Master's in English.

Mr. Brendan began volunteering at Bruno, helping with Ms. Rachel's drama class in 2023, and helping with the Fall production of The Hunt for Milo Gatto. In mid-November, he joined the fantastic upper school teachers full-time and started teaching writing.

As a professional actor, he has worked with young performers over the past 25 years in varying capacities.  Mostly, theater workshops and summer camps around the country.

His hobbies include creative writing, reading, being outdoors, being with animals, and being close to the ocean.  He also likes cartoon caption contests and has won several over the years, including the famous New Yorker Magazine contest.  

Some parents may recall a TV commercial campaign for Alabama Tourism road trips, which featured a guy driving a baby blue caddy and saying "Alabama's got a hundred road trips!" and cruising around the state.  That's him.  He did about a dozen of those commercials between 2011 and 2016.

Brendan enjoys history, and he is related to Paul Revere (his mother has a pair of andirons he made for his niece for her wedding in the early 1800s).  Also, Zabdiel Boylston, a Boston physician who, in the 1720s, introduced smallpox inoculation to the American colonies.

He has been married to Bruno's drama teacher, Rachel Burttram Powers, since 2013.  They have an orange cat named Oscar the Wilde.

Janell Preheim is a violinist and educator originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She received a Master of Music in violin performance from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and a Bachelor of Arts in music education from Goshen College in Indiana. A dedicated music educator, Ms. Janell strives to develop curiosity and a love of learning in her students. She has taught music at Bruno Montessori since 2023, engaging preschool through eighth-grade students in experiencing music through movement, singing, and playing instruments.

Ms. Janell was previously on the faculty at Black Swamp Fine Arts School, teaching violin, viola, and cello. She also directed Da Capo, an adult strings ensemble, and taught intermediate and advanced ensemble classes. Ms. Janell creates an environment of experimentation and discovery where all students will learn new skills and have a positive experience with music.

Ms. Janell has performed with the University of Alabama’s Huxford Symphony Orchestra, Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra, Adrian Symphony Orchestra, and Elkhart Symphony Orchestra. She regularly performs for weddings and church gigs and has a special interest in musical theatre. Ms. Janell won Goshen College’s Concerto-Aria Competition in 2020 and performed the first movement of Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major. In 2018, she performed the first movement of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor with orchestra as a participant in Music Fest Perugia in Italy.

Ms. Janell enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and their dog, and traveling to visit family and friends. Her hobbies include baking, hiking, watching cooking shows, and playing board games.

• Berry College, BA in Creative Writing and Anthropology 

Ms. Lana was born and raised in Morgan County, Alabama. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Berry College, where she studied Creative Writing and Anthropology, and she began teaching at Bruno in 2023. Her hobbies include reading, writing, embroidery, and making jewelry. Her high school community service project was spent knitting and crocheting over a hundred baby hats for her local maternity ward. She and her spouse, Mr. Fox, have three fur babies at home, two dogs and a cat.

• BA in English Literature with a minor in Communication Arts, University of Alabama at Huntsville
• AMS Certification: Currently training, Montessori Live, Elementary I and II (6-12)

Zachary “Fox” Redfield grew up all over the place, with some highlights being in Germany, Virginia, and Huntsville, where he graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.  Growing up around the world, Mr. Fox has seen first-hand many of the places we discuss in History from the battlefield at Yorktown where he went to middle school to the city of Pompeii he visited during his elementary years. He currently lives with his wife, Alana, and two dogs, Cinderella Louise and Marshall. 

Before coming to Bruno, Mr. Fox spent his summers working for the Boy Scouts of America at both Comer Scout Reservation, where he directed Project C.O.P.E. and the Archery Range, and at Camp Sequoia, where he served as Camp Director.  During that time, he oversaw some of the first all-female Scouts BSA troops to come to Summer Camp, and the camp was recognized for its work in inclusivity in a national Scouting publication.  He also spent three seasons at the McDowell Environmental Center as an Environmental Educator, before spending three years serving as the Youth Minister for an Episcopal Church in Decatur, AL.  As an Eagle Scout, Mr. Fox still works closely with the Boy Scouts as the Greater Alabama Council’s Religious Emblem Coordinator and as an occasional consultant on Project C.O.P.E. and Climbing matters.  While he is still involved with the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Alabama, he has stepped back from many of his Diocesan involvements to focus on his work at Bruno.  He has been teaching in the Upper Elementary since 2022 and is set to finish his Upper and Lower Elementary Montessori Certification this summer.

When Mr. Fox is not working, you can commonly find him playing board, card, and role-playing games, all three hobbies that he is passionate about sharing with anyone who will talk to him about them.  He also enjoys 3d printing, poetry, and hiking.  

• BS in Early Childhood Education, University of Quindio Colombia

Ms. Cristina Riascos is from Colombia where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Quindio. She has Montessori training, including Montessori math curriculum, phonological and phonemic awareness, the secret of inclusion success, changing the look of autism, Montessori philosophy, and the paradox of the Montessori classroom, among others. This will be her eighth year at Bruno. Before that, she was a lead preschool teacher for 15 years in Colombia with children ages 5-6. She has over 30 years of experience in teaching. She has a true passion for working with our youngest learners! Helping each child progress in all areas of their development—academic, social, language, and motor—is a challenge that she is honored to accept daily.  She strives to create a community of learners that nurtures this growth in a positive, fun environment.  

She has been married for 40 glorious years and has two fantastic children. She enjoys reading, cooking, music, walking at the beach, and spending time with friends and family. 

• BFA, University of Montevallo
• M. Ed, University of Montevallo
• Common Sense Educator

Ms. Lisa is from Alabama and attended the University of Montevallo where she received a BFA in Painting and Drawing and Masters of Education. This is her 5th year at Bruno.

She worked in Public Education as an Elementary through high school art teacher until she retired. She has also worked in Museum Education and many summer camps for different programs. Lisa was awarded the Teacher of the Year at Bumpus Middle School and Alabama Elementary Art Teacher of the Year for the State of Alabama.

Outside of Bruno, she and her four sisters recently hiked 26 miles in one day to raise money for Make-A-Wish Alabama in the Trailblazer Challenge. Lisa enjoys reading, gardening, and quilting. Her husband is also an art teacher and they have two children.

After the death of her niece Laura, her family started the Laura Crandall Brown Foundation in her honor.  It was her wish to do whatever could be done to see that women could survive ovarian cancer.  The Foundation was established in 2009.  Its purpose is to raise money to fund seed grants for research for an early detection test of ovarian cancer.  They also support women with all types of GYN cancers with gas cards, grocery cards, paying power bills, etc as they go through treatment. They educate women on recognizing symptoms in their bodies.

• BS in Exercise Science, Huntington College
• Working towards a Master's in PE from 
• Common Sense Educator

Coach D is from Montgomery, Alabama, and graduated from Huntingdon College where he majored in Exercise Science. Coach D played college basketball. This is his 6th year at Bruno. Before coming to Bruno, he was a Program Director for St Vincent's 119 where he ran their programming for children and aquatics. 

When he isn't at school, Coach enjoys spending time with his wife, EA, working out, sports, and being outdoors.

• BA in Pre-Law, Rowan University
• MA in Teaching, Fairleigh Dickinson University
• Post-graduate certification in applied behavior analysis
• MEd in Instructional Leadership anticipated degree and licensure Summer 2023
• AL Elementary, K-6, AA certified
• Orton-Gillingham Trained
• Common Sense Educator

Ms. Leeann is originally from Burlington, New Jersey, and moved to Birmingham in 2014.  She earned degrees from Rowan University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Auburn University at Montgomery.  She is a certified K-6 elementary education teacher and P-12 Instructional Leader. This is her fourth year teaching at Bruno and her fifth year as a parent.  She has years of classroom experience in New Jersey and Alabama, including special education. Outside of school, she has worked in behavior therapy with children who have autism and as a youth advocate for an at-risk youth wilderness rehabilitation program.  While working with the wilderness rehabilitation program, she lived and traveled on a wagon train in the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona for a year.    

When she is not at school, she enjoys spending time with her children, finding new places for them to play and explore, and attending church.  She enjoys biking, walking, watching movies, learning about new topics, and volunteering for special-needs non-profits or with my church.  She is a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, The Council of Parents, Attorneys, and Advocates, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Council for Exceptional Children, the International Literacy Association, and the American Montessori Society.