OUR TEAM
Nicole Edney
Owner/Director/Primary Head Teacher
Nicole is a homeschooling mother of two girls ages 16 and 18, and has worked as a teacher for the last 13 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.
Avery Edney
Avery is excited to begin her journey as a Teacher’s Aide. While she’s new to the classroom, she brings valuable experience from working at summer camps, where she helped create fun and engaging activities for kids. An artist and dancer at heart, Avery loves sharing her creativity through fiber arts, crafting, and movement. She hopes to bring that same energy, color, and joy into the classroom—making learning both imaginative and fun!
Teacher's Aide
Maizy Strickland
Primary Co-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. 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." Maizy completed her Primary training in Montessori education in 2022. Maizy has been part of the Butterfly House team for 4 years, bringing her skills and vibrant energy into both the primary and elementary classrooms.
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Sheri Nelsen
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!
Teacher Trainer/Co-Teacher
Dakota Edney
Primary Assistant Teacher
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Dakota has hosted and designed her own summer camp for the last 4 years and has 3 years experience in a licensed child care setting. Dakota shares her love of the sciences by bringing engaging and active lessons to the kiddos via hands-on experiences with animals (felines, reptiles and insects), robotics and engineering. She has brought so much joy and knowledge to the classrooms at Buttefly House for the past 3 years and is now moving on to study engineering at UofO. Dakota plans to visit regularly and share in the joy of science with her favorite people.