Toddler

Roxanne received her Associates degree in Early Childhood Education from Central Piedmont Community College. She taught one year at Bethel Presbyterian Church Weekday Program. It was during that year that a parent introduced her to Montessori.

Roxanne attended the North Carolina Center for Montessori Education where she received her Infant/Toddler Certification in 1995 and received her Early Childhood Certification in 2014. She has taught in a Montessori classroom since 1995 serving as the lead instructor for most of that time and has been with Phoenix since 2006. Roxanne now serves as a teacher trainer for the North Carolina Center for Montessori Education.

Ashley Keith has worked in the education field for four years. She graduated from Gardner-Webb University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She has completed her MACTE certification in Nido/Toddler.

Ashley enjoys working with children and is a kind, dedicated, and devoted guide. She has experience in multiple roles throughout her career and values her professional growth. She is a strong team player.

Outside of work, Ashley enjoys spending time with her family, playing games, and having movie nights.

Laura Robitaille is new to Phoenix Montessori Academy. She is very excited to begin her journey just as Phoenix begins its new journey.

Laura has had a lifelong love for and delight in young children. She spent her own early years in Brooklyn NY until the age of 7 when her parents and 4 siblings moved almost 4 hours north to a small town in NH. As an adult Laura provided care for children in her home while her own two children were small. In 2004-2007, she worked as a classroom teacher of grades 1-3 in a small Christian school. Laura worked in a traditional early learning center with toddlers from 2010-2017. She also worked as a part-time supervisor in a visitation center from 2004-2017.

Laura moved to NC in 2017 and worked at another traditional early learning center in Davidson until May of 2021. In 2021 Laura began her Montessori journey at the Christian Montessori School in Huntersville. Laura believes that the Montessori approach is the perfect match for her approach to young children, one of deep love, respect and understanding.

Laura has a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education with additional course work towards post-baccalaureate certificate in Early Childhood Special Ed.

Laura has two grown children and 4 delightful grandchildren. In her spare time Laura enjoys reading, playing pickleball, playing the flute, watching old movies and spending time in fellowship and playing games with friends and family. She is active in her church and Bible study. Learning new things is also a thrill for Laura; she recently tried parasailing and is now learning how to play the kalimba (thumb piano) and ukulele.

Patricia is a Montessori child. Starting her primary years and ending her lower elementary at Christian Montessori School of Lake Norman, she then continued her school years in public education. Patricia is a University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) alumna with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a minor in Children’s Literature. She started her Montessori education in 2021 as a Primary assistant for 3 years, then joined PMA in the fall of 2025 to continue her teaching career as a Toddler assistant. Patricia is currently taking her Toddler training.

In her free time, Patricia likes to read her endless pile of books, play her guitar, visit bookstores, and travel!

Lipsa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi, along with an AMS Early Childhood Certification and additional coursework in Early Childhood Education. She is currently pursuing her AMS Infant and Toddler Certification through the Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest.

Lipsa began her Montessori journey in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2012, where she discovered her passion for child-centered education and holistic development. She spent ten years as a Primary Montessori guide, supporting children through their formative years of growth and independence. In 2021, she transitioned to working with toddlers, where she continues to nurture curiosity, confidence, and a love for learning in the youngest learners.
Her family’s journey has taken her across the country—from California to Texas, Tennessee, Washington, and now North Carolina—allowing her to work within diverse school communities and deepen her understanding of children and families from a variety of backgrounds.

Lipsa is deeply inspired by the Montessori philosophy of “following the child,” which honors each child’s individuality and natural development. She is committed to creating a classroom environment rooted in kindness, respect, and inclusivity, where children feel supported to grow into independent, responsible, and compassionate individuals. Her background in psychology enriches her teaching, allowing her to thoughtfully support each child’s emotional, social, and cognitive development.

She finds great joy in learning alongside her students and witnessing the confidence and excitement that come from meaningful, self-directed discovery.

Ms. Angette has worked with children since 2000 and brings a deep passion for early childhood education to the classroom. Although she spent ten years exploring other paths—including working as a nanny, serving in corporate America as an instructional designer, and becoming a mother—her calling to teach young children never left her. She believes preschoolers represent the most authentic and curious stage of humanity, full of wonder and discovery. Ms. Angette loves guiding children as they explore the world around them and supporting their natural curiosity. Her classroom is a place where children feel seen, encouraged, and excited to learn.