Daggett Montessori
Elementary Teachers
Patricia Castillo - Kindergarten
Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education at UTA
Experience: Over 20 years of experience teaching 3-6 year olds in Montessori schools in Fort Worth, two years as a third grade teacher, one year as a first and two years in Kindergarten only
Fun Fact: I’m originally from a small island in the Caribbean called Trinidad & Tobago. My family and I moved to Texas in 1994. I am married to a wonderful man, Harold and I have four wonderful children.
Crystal Robinett - Kindergarten
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Why I Teach:
Fun Fact:
crystal.robinett@fwisd.org
Room 103
Kristin Westhoff - Kindergarten
Education: I graduated from Midwestern State University. I have a BS in inter-disciplinary studies a minor in English and an endorsement in early childhood. I am GT certified. I am ESL endorsed. I completed my 2+ years of Montessori 3-6 training at Southwestern Montessori in Southlake.
Experience: I have taught Montessori for 25 years. I did my first eight years at Como Montessori before transferring to DMS.
Why I Teach: I love engaging all students in learning using the Montessori philosophy. The opportunities for trying new and exciting approaches are endless! My classroom is never dull; no two days are ever alike. Teaching kindergarten keeps me young. Being surrounded by an energetic environment of children is a great way to keep my outlook youthful. As the author Henry B. Adams once said, “A teacher affects eternity: he can never tell where his influence stops.”
Fun Facts: I went to high school in Northern California. (Saratoga HS). In my next life, I may like to be a chef. I LOVE black licorice. The ocean is my favorite place to vacation or just hang out!
Room 101
Alexis Ball - 1/2/3 Teacher
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alexis.ball@fwisd.org
Room 207
Krisha Cook 1-2-3 Grade
Education: Graduated in 1974 from O.D. Wyatt High School. Graduated in May of 1990 from Texas Woman’s University with my Bachelor of Science degree. I completed my Masters from Oklahoma City University in Early Childhood Education with my Montessori 6-9 Certificate.
Experience: I have taught 27 years as a teacher. I was also a Teaching Assistant for 5 years, all at Daggett Montessori.
Why I Teach: I enjoy watching children learn and grow.
Fun Facts: I enjoy going to school activities with my family. I also enjoy going to church with my family and friends. The get-a-way is our property in East Texas where we enjoy nature on the farm.
Room 209
Leila Itani 1-2-3 Grade
Education: Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in math from the University of North Texas. Montessori Certified from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies.
Experience: Overall I have taught 13 years. 11 years in a traditional classroom ranging from 3rd to 10th grade. One year in a Montessori 1st grade classroom. One year of teaching in a 1-2-3 Montessori Classroom.
Why I Teach: I enjoy working with children.
Fun Facts: I have traveled to 3 different continents.
Room 109
Sarah Jordan 1-2-3 Grade
Education: B.S. Elementary Education with a minor in English (Texas Wesleyan College 1983). Currently seeking my Masters of Art in Montessori @ Dallas Baptist University.
Experience: I have been teaching for 35 years. I have taught First, Second, Third, and Fourth grade. I have also taught 3, 4 and 5 year olds.
Why I Teach: What I love about teaching is ... each day I learn something new!
Fun Fact: I have flown over the North Pole and I have swam with sharks in the Great Barrier Reef.
Room 203
Kari Keith 1-2-3 Grade
Education: I graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Education. I am also certified in Special Education, ESL and have completed an Alternative Teaching Certificate. In June of 2018, I completed my Montessori Certification– a two-year achievement that I am very proud of!
Experience: I began my teaching career at Angel Montessori, where I taught pre-k for a year and then spent two years teaching the “fours” class at UCC. I then taught a year of Special Education with Mansfield ISD while completing my Alternative Teaching Certification. This fall (2018), I began my third year as a Lower Elementary teacher with DMS.
Why I Teach: I love being able to teach where my kids go to school and I love the family atmosphere at DMS! My goal is to make my classroom a “home away from home” for my students. I strive to provide a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to learn and grow at a pace that is right for them.
Fun fact: I spent two years “on the road” after graduating from college while executing various promotional campaigns. There are only six states in the U.S. that I have not been to!
Room 201
Natalie Gonzales 1-2-3 Grade
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Why I Teach:
Fun Facts:
natalie.gonzales@fwisd.org
Room 205
Hanan Fares 1-2-3 Grade
Education: B.S. - Texas A&M University, Masters - Texas Wesleyan University, 0-6 Montessori Certification (AMI) St. Nicholas University of London, 6-9 Montessori Certification (AMS) Montessori Education Center of the Rockies, Gifted and Talented Certification FWISD
Experience: Private Montessori School 10 years, Charter Montessori School 20 years, FWISD Public Montessori School 4 years
Why I Teach: I teach to promote a child to reach their potential as a peaceful adult.
Fun Facts: As a child, I got lost in the Black Forest in Germany, for 9 hours!!!!!
Room 211
Heather Taber 4-5 Grade
Education: Texas Wesleyan University. Go RAMS!
Experience: I started teaching in 2004 in Fort Worth ISD. I have taught 6/7/8th grade science, 4/5/7th grade social studies, 6th grade math, 4/5/6/7/8th grade ELA/RLA, Special Education and language center.
Why I Teach: When I was growing up, I had a hard time with reading and writing. My 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Strigler, identified me as dyslexic. With help I soon excelled at school, graduating top 3 of my class. I wanted to help others succeed just as my teachers helped me.
Fun Fact: I love lemon ice cream!
Brooke Miller 4-5 Grade
Education: I doubled majored in Elementary Education and Anthropology from Guilford college
Experience: I began teaching 15 years ago in North Carolina. My first job was at a public Montessori school where I taught lower elementary. After that, I taught 2nd and 3rd grade in traditional public schools until I moved to Fort Worth and found a job at DMS.
Why I Teach: I teach so that I can help children succeed in doing anything they dream of in life!
Fun Fact: Because of my Anthropology major, I had the opportunity to work in other countries, such as Ghana in West Africa. I’m from Philadelphia and I love Philly cheesesteaks.
Room 217
Jacqueline Romero-Tilger 4-5 Grade
Education: I am a FWISD graduate of Arlington Heights ℅ 2016. I graduated from the University of North Texas in 2021 with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies and a focus in Special Education! Go Mean Green! I have received my 9-12 Montessori education from Shelton Montessori Training in Dallas.
Experience: I began my teaching journey as a 2nd-grade teacher in Irving ISD. I came back home to Fort Worth and started teaching at Daggett Montessori in 2022 as a ⅘ teacher!
Why I Teach: Being the first in my family to graduate from college, I wanted to do something meaningful and helpful with my life. With the help of my AVID teacher in high school, I was able to find my way to teaching!
Fun Fact: I was a Montessori student from Kindergarten through 5th grade and I LOVE traveling!
jacqueline.romero@fwisd.org
Room 215
Patti Smithhart 4-5 Grade
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Room 117
Tiana Vick - 4/5 Teacher
Education:
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Why I Teach:
Fun Fact:
tiana.vick@fwisd.org
Room 119
Kelli Williams 4-5 Grade
Education: TCU-BS in Elementary Education with a specialization in early childhood education, UTA- Masters in reading, math, and leadership
Experience: 27 years at Daggett Montessori teaching Kindergarten, 1st, 4th, and 5th
Fun Facts: I student taught at DMS, never taught anywhere else, and my own personal children attended DMS.
Room 213