Our Staff

Kathie Wilson
Co-owner and Administrator
Morning Class Teacher

Kathie has been a Montessori teacher for 30 years! A Washington native, she graduated from WWU with a degree in Child Psychology and received her AMS Montessori certification from Seattle University.

After teaching in Montessori schools for 3 years in Seattle, she and Steve moved to Bellingham and she opened Childlife Montessori School in 1980. Kathie has been on the faculty of MEIPN, training Montessori teachers, as well as presented workshops locally and in Seattle.

When not in the classroom, Kathie serves as board president of the Friends of the Bellingham Library, and loves to garden, preserve food, read, and fiddle.

Kathie was inducted into the Northwest Women's Hall of Fame in 2010.

Steve Wilson
Co-owner and Administrator
Afternoon Class Teacher
Shop teacher for 3rd
year students

Steve began in Montessori education by building furniture and making materials for Childlife. He was a substitute teacher during the first few years and assisted in the classroom with Kathie from 1984 through 1990. He obtained his Montessori certification through the St. Nicholas Training Centre in 1993. In 1994, he opened Childlife's second location, leasing space from Bayside Montessori School. In 2003, he returned to Childlife's original location, teaching in the afternoon class and conducting shop classes for both morning and afternoon third year students.

Outside the classroom, Steve enjoys gardening, playing music, and sailing. He is also busy helping to bring new life to the Caretaker's house at Fairhaven Park.

Hannah Wilson
Assistant
Morning & Afternoon Classes

Hannah was literally born and raised at Childlife Montessori School and is delighted to come full circle working alongside her mom and dad in the classroom. Hannah studied Linguistics and Teaching English as a Second Language at WWU and volunteered as an adult language tutor at Whatcom Literacy Council.

After spending a year as a nanny she realized how much she enjoyed working with young children and her thoughts returned to the school. She cherishes her Montessori memories and is eager to help the students learn and grow in such a special environment.

In her spare time she enjoys cooking, reading, listening to music, running and riding her bike.