OUR TEAM
Nicole Edney
Owner/Director/Primary Head Teacher
Nicole is a homeschooling mother of two girls ages 13 and 15, and has worked as a teacher for the last 11 years with preschool to middle school aged children. She received her Montessori credential in 2014 from MTC in Shingle Springs, CA. Nicole has a passion for instilling a love of nature within children, as she aims to help develop stewards for our planet. Nicole implements American Sign Language in the classroom which helps children communicate while inspiring awareness of the beauty of different cultures and abilities. Nicole and her family plan to build a beautiful Montessori community to serve the families of the Rogue Valley.
Brett Turner
Brett thrives in assisting others to understand, explore, and improve our beautifully complex world. He earned his Bachelors in International Relations from Texas State University, which provided him with a unique global outlook embracing diversity and inclusion. He then received his Masters in History from Washington State, as well as a passion for mountains, rivers, and big trees. Over the course of his own educational journey, Brett has worked with students of all ages to discover new perspectives and to promote academic discovery, curiosity, and dialogue. Brett is ecstatic to share his knowledge of nature, social sciences, and the arts with students at the Butterfly House.
Elementary Head Teacher
Sheri Nelsen
Primary Co-Teacher/Teacher Trainer
Sheri brings to the Butterfly House a legacy of Montessori heritage. Sheri pursued and received her training under Maraget Humphrey whom trained and worked directly under Maria Montessori herself! Sheri retired from running her own Montessori school where she taught at both the Primary and Elementary level. Sheri understands that Montessori education includes much listening, caring and gentle teaching, while embracing the challenging with humor and delight. Sheri joins the Butterfly House to help share her wisdom and spend time with the people she truly loves... the children!
Maizy Strickland
Assistant Teacher
Maizy worked in the YMCA childcare program for almost half a decade. She loves working with kids and seeing thier "light bulbs go off" when they disocver something new. She is a bubbly person and loves to have fun with the kids. Maizy has a background in martial arts; she began her studies in 2018. In 2019, Maizy received the opportunity to go as one of six youth delagets to represent the Rouge valley YMCA in a global leadership conference in London; where Y's around the world came to participate. Maizy is a Rogue valley native and says "I'm glad to have the opportunity to work with the youth of the community I grew up in."