Teachers & Staff

Director: Michele Jessie

Michele Jessie is a certified teacher through Montessori Educators International with over 24 years of experience. Miss Michele discovered Montessori at the Community Montessori School in Glasgow, Kentucky. There she worked under Directress, Kathy Khatib. Mrs. Khatib received her training in Italy from Dr. Maria Montessori’s aide. Ms. Jessie was recruited as the primary teacher for Plum Tree Montessori School at its inception in the late summer of 1995.

Office Administrator: Hannah Dickey

Hannah began helping in the office at Plum Tree after the birth of her third daughter in 2023. She has had two other daughters who have been each been at Plum Tree, starting in 2016. Hannah graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2012 with a degree in history. In 2013, she completed her master’s degree in secondary social studies education. Hannah spent ten years teaching Social Studies at Warren East High School. She completed her second master’s degree in 2022 in educational leadership. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to spend more time with her children while working at Plum Tree! Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family outdoors, crafting, cooking and reading.

Lead Teacher: Hannah Hadley

Miss Hannah has been with Plum Tree for 20 years. She began in the After School Program while she was attending WKU and moved to full time teaching assistant after graduating. Miss Hannah spent a summer in Scotland in 2008, studying children’s literature including the works of JM Barrie, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Beatrix Potter. She has shared this knowledge with the class, instilling a love for fictional worlds from Peter Rabbit to Peter Pan. Miss Hannah became a certified Musik Garten teacher in 2020 and enjoys sharing music with the children every week, from singing and dancing to playing ukulele. Miss Hannah moved to Lead Teacher in the Primary building in 2023 and has enjoyed guiding the class into knowledge and adventure.

Teaching Assistant: Cameron Stringer

Mr. Cameron is from Somerset, KY. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in language arts from Western Kentucky University in 2012. Mr. Cameron joined us as Plum Tree in 2015 in our Toddler House and moved to the Primary Classroom several years ago. He enjoys teaching science and math and nurturing emerging readers.

Teaching Assistant: Francis Frazier

Teaching Assistant: Kylie Tisdale

Miss Kylie started with us January 2025. She was born and raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky. She is currently attending WKU and working towards her degree in business!

Teaching Assistant: Reese Chester

Miss Reese began with us in 2025 and is currently a student at Western Kentucky University studying both psychology and child studies. She loves music, art, animals, and children!

Teaching Assistant: Mia Blandford

Mia Blandford is currently a student at WKU pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. After she graduates, she plans to continue her education by earning a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Mia is also a proud alumna of Plum Tree Montessori, Class of 2009! “Plum Tree has always held a special place in my heart, and working here has truly been a joyful adventure – I cherish every moment.” – Mia

Teaching Assistant: Ava Butler

Miss Ava grew up in Alvaton, Kentucky. One of her favorite things is being with her family and going on fun adventures! Photography has always been interesting and inspiring to her. Being able to capture hidden moments of life and nature is a creative way of expressing one’s self. She also enjoys making pottery and crocheting in her free time. She has always loved being around little kids, because they have such an amazing imagination and creative mind! They are little wonders of life.

Lead Teacher: KaLee Aeschlimann

Miss KaLee has been with Plum Tree for the past eleven years and is currently the Lead of the Toddler House. Her background is in Women’s Studies and Birth and Lactation support. She decided to follow her oldest child to Plum Tree, where she found her second home. KaLee and her husband share three beautiful children and they are deeply connected to the vibrant community Bowling Green offers!

Teaching Assistant: Dayla Scott

Miss Dayla is originally from Campbellsville, KY but has been a resident of Bowling Green since 2016. She has been working at Plum Tree since 2018. She has spent time in all of our classrooms, but the Toddler House is her home. She loves watching the children grow into their own little personalities! Dayla has been married for 3 years, is a trained doula, and in her free time she runs a small local business, Lavender Soul, where they make and sell herbal infused honey and charcuterie boards.

Teaching Assistant: Sara Taylor

Miss Sara has been with us at Plum Tree since 2019. She started in our Nursery, working with the babies for four years. She now works in our Toddler House and loves everything about it! She has been married for three years. In her free time she loves being with family and friends and her fur babies. “Plum Tree is my home away from home.”

Teaching Assistant: Hannah McKinney

Miss Hannah started at Plum Tree in 2024 in our Toddler House. She is from Bowling Green, Kentucky. She comes from a big family of six siblings! She loves spending time outdoors, in the sunshine, and hanging out by the pool. She is an animal lover, especially her puppy Ryker. She is passionate about working at Plum Tree and spending time working with the children!

Teaching Assistant: Katie Lindsey

Teaching Assistant: Hannah Warren

Miss Hannah started at Plum Tree this year in our Toddler House. A few facts about her are that she loves spending her time hiking and traveling with her husband, loves spending time with her friends, and she volunteers with a ministry organization called Young Life.

Teaching Assistant: Lina Alfaro

Miss Lina grew up in Franklin, KY and is the oldest of five! She started with us at Plum Tree January 2026. She loves reading, singing, yoga, her dog Ollie, music, concerts, spending time outside, traveling, and children! She has worked in childcare since 2021 and is passionate about helping children grow and learn.

Teaching Assistant: Daisy Siegler

Lead Teacher: Katie Beard

Miss Katie joined us in 2023 as a teaching assistant in the Nursery. She is now our lead teacher in the Nursery! She is originally from Owensboro, Kentucky. She has two children who attend Plum Tree and a step daughter who recently graduated St. Joseph. Miss Katie graduated from WKU in 2014 with a degree in PR and a minor in sales. She was a loan officer for six years prior to transitioning to working at Plum Tree. When not at Plum Tree, you can find Miss Katie spending time with her family, likely outdoors or taking care of their chickens!

Teaching Assistant: Sandrine Dorflinger

Miss Sandrine is originally from France, next to the German border. She has two daughters. Sandrine has been with us at Plum Tree since November 2021. She enjoys cooking, crafting, walking her dog and spending time with her family and friends. We love that she can share the French culture with our children!

Teaching Assistant: Anna Conquergood

Anna joined us this year, part time in our Nursery. She graduated from Michigan State in Packaging Engineering. She moved to Bowling Green in 2006 and worked at Fruit of the Loom for 11 years before deciding to stay home to raise her daughter and son. Anna loves to travel, garden, read and hang out with her family!

Substitute Teacher: Heidi Duncan

Miss Heidi joined us here at Plum Tree in October of 2014. She is from a small alpine hamlet in northern Italy. She comes from a large family with 3 sisters and 2 brothers. She met her husband while he was in the Air Force, and she was working as a governess. They married in 1972 and moved back to the U.S. She has 3 adult boys and 2 grandsons. She has been working in infant/toddler childcare for over 30 years. She retired in May 2025, but she is going to be with us part time to substitute! She loves to knit and crochet in her spare time. “The most important thing to know about me is that I love kids!”