Maple Classroom Team
ALICE PENNELL, LEAD TEACHER
Alice is from Springfield, Illinois and graduated from Illinois State University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. During college she worked at the local Barnes and Noble as the lead bookseller in the children’s department, where she led story times and helped plan midnight book release parties. She moved to Bloomington in 2012 with her husband and dog to be closer to her big sister and niece. Before coming to BMS she taught Kindergarten at a local school for four years. She recently completed graduate work at IU in Early Childhood, and is a certified Montessori Lower Elementary teacher. In her free time she loves to knit, read, and hang out with her husband, son, and dog.
JACOB BAILEY, TEACHER
Jacob has been teaching at BMS since Fall 2002. He has his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University and holds various other teacher training certifications, most of which are focused on science education. He holds his Montessori 6-9 certification and served as Lead Teacher in the Walnut classroom for 13 years. Jacob was born in Bloomington and is raising his children surrounded by a large and loving extended family. Both of his now-grown sons attended BMS from ages 3-12. Jacob loves teaching at BMS, and finds joy even in the smallest parts of the day.
KELLIE HAVERT, TEACHER
Kellie Havert is originally from Lake Forest, CA and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education, with an emphasis in science, from Northern Arizona University in 2016. Upon graduation, she moved to Bloomington to accompany her husband as he worked on a PhD at IU. Kellie has been a teacher at BMS since 2018. Kellie brings to the classroom a love of animals, art, and reading. When not at school Kellie enjoys reading, crocheting, playing games, and caring for her many pets. Kellie's favorite part of a Montessori classroom is teaching students for three years and watching their knowledge and independence grow.