Meet Our Staff
Directors
Joslyn Carney
Joslyn is Co-Owner and Co-Director of Mountainside Montessori along with Annie. Joslyn graduated from Seattle University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies. She then completed her Master of Arts in Teaching at the University of Portland, while volunteering to teach in a small urban school in Portland. Joslyn's teaching experience has ranged from teaching college students in rural China to teaching right here in Helena's public schools. The twists and turns of her life brought her to Montessori education and have inspired the last nine years of her life. She completed her Lower Elementary Montessori credentials at Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest (MEIPN). Joslyn overseas and is a teacher in our Early Childhood program. She also assists Annie with administrative duties.
Annie Tague
Annie is Co-Owner and Co-Director of Mountainside Montessori along with Joslyn. She spent 12 years as a public school teacher for the Helena Public Schools where she taught in a Lower Elementary Montessori classroom. She has her American Montessori Society Lower Elementary Montessori credential and a Master's Degree in Montessori Education. Annie's passion for Montessori began when she nannied 4 children, 2 of whom attended Mountainside Montessori, then known as Children's World Montessori. She continued her passion for Montessori when her own two children, Sally and Amelia, were born bringing Montessori into her home. She is excited to be overseeing Mountainside's Toddler Classroom and sharing administrative duties with Joslyn. Annie, her husband Steve, and daughters Sally and Amelia enjoy spending time playing outside, gardening, working on their house, and having glow-stick dance parties before bedtime.
Toddler
Tiffany Bushilla
Tiffany has happily called Helena home for the past 15 years. Originally from the Chicago area where she graduated with a BA in photography from Columbia College, Tiffany headed west to explore new places and met her husband Zach, a native Montanan. Together they lived in a tipi, traveled across Spain, previously co-owned Stonetree Climbing Center in Helena and now try to keep up with their three vivacious daughters. Tiffany has over 10 years of experience in the early childhood field owning a Montessori influenced in-home infant/toddler program, teaching in a preschool and over the past few years teaching as the Lead Toddler Guide in a Montessori school in Helena. She received her Infant/Toddler certification in 2018 through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Being a mom of three, she loves to see the wonder and joy from a child’s perspective and feels blessed to be a part of that learning experience. Tiffany is excited to be a part of Mountainside and the beautiful program they have created for Toddlers. She hopes to bring her love of art, nature, and exploration to her teaching and looks forward to working alongside supportive and passionate teaching staff.
Becky Albertson
Becky was born in a small town in southeastern Iowa called Anamosa, which is most famous for providing the landscape for many of artist Grant Wood's ('American Gothic') paintings. Here she kept busy playing sport and goofing around with her twin brother and older sisters. After graduating high school she attended Luther College, a small liberal arts college in northeastern Iowa, where she received a BA in psychology in 1997. Upon graduating from college, Becky moved to Missoula with a college friend who was attending graduate school there. She had various jobs in Missoula, ranging from working on a trail crew for the Montana Conservation Corps to being an assistant teacher at Clark Fork School. While in Missoula, she also met her future husband, Jason, who was pursuing his master's degree in journalism at UM. Together they have played a metaphorical tennis match between living in Minnesota and Montana, with Becky primarily working in schools. She even worked at Children's World Montessori (now Mountainside Montessori) back in the day! Becky and Jason moved back to Helena from Duluth, MInn., in 2009, with their daughter Solveig (now 11) in tow, for Jason's job at the Montana Legislature. After their daughter was born, Becky was primarily a stay-at-home mom. She worked a bit at the REal Food Store and volunteered in Solveig's preschool and elementary classes. In 2011, their family welcomed a son, Espen (now 7). Becky started working at Mountainside Montessori in the fall of 2017. She is very happy to be back at the school her daughter attended, working with an amazing staff! Becky is most famous for creating songs (often the same familiar tune) to help children learn about subjects they're exploring. When she is not at Mountainside, Becky enjoys biking, hiking, skiing, and relaxing with her family and friends, as well as supporting her children in their various athletic and theatre endeavors. She is a proud soccer, hockey, and drama mama. Becky may even try her hand at acting in a show with her children one of these days!
Jeannie Etchart
Jeannie is a fourth generation Montanan and was raised in Helena and grew up attending Helena schools -- including an early childhood Montessori program! She went on to attend the University of Notre Dame, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2006. Following graduation, Jeannie moved to Washington, DC where she held multiple political, event-planning and fundraising positions including at The White House, United States Senate and The Prince of Wales Foundation. In December 2015, Jeannie moved back to her hometown of Helena to help take care of her ailing parents. She always knew she wanted to return to her beloved Montana and is happy to be back to her roots and a part of the wonderful and thriving community. Jeannie formed her own event planning business, Etchart Events LLC, to assist the area with planning, coordinating and executing a variety of functions. She is also very involved in the community and serves on the Board of Directors for the Helena Area Community Foundation, Carroll College Saints Athletic Association, St. Peter's Health Foundation, Prickly Pear Land Trust and Green Meadow Country Club.
Jeannie started subbing at Mountainside in January of 2022 and quickly fell in love with the students and Montessori atmosphere and became a permanent teacher in the Toddler Program in August 2022. An "Auntie" to many and Dog Mom to her beloved fur face, Truffle, Jeannie thrives off the energy and excitement for learning the kids at Mountainside exude and brings fun and freshness to the classroom. In her spare time, Jeannie enjoys golfing, skiing, hiking Mount Helena and spending time with her many dear friends and neighbors.
Jamie McCullough
Early Childhood
Joslyn is Co-Owner and Co-Director of Mountainside Montessori along with Annie. Joslyn graduated from Seattle University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies. She then completed her Master of Arts in Teaching at the University of Portland, while volunteering to teach in a small urban school in Portland. Joslyn's teaching experience has ranged from teaching college students in rural China to teaching right here in Helena's public schools. The twists and turns of her life brought her to Montessori education and have inspired the last nine years of her life. She completed her Lower Elementary Montessori credentials at Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest (MEIPN). Joslyn overseas and is a teacher in our Early Childhood program. She also assists Annie with administrative duties.
Joslyn Carney
Shayna has spent many years in preschool education. She came to Montessori through her own son when he attended a Montessori school. Shayna has been with Mountainside for many years and brings a gentle warmth to our school and classrooms.
Shayna Dellwo
Renee and her husband, Dan, moved to Helena in 2010 with their four children, Roseanna, Connor, Kaitlin, and Gianna. She instantly felt right at home in Montana, having grown up in the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia. Their family loves the outdoors and visiting Montana's historical landmarks.
Renee fell in love with education during the 13 years she homeschooled her children. She developed a passion for Montessori Education over the course of five years as a Montessori infant/toddler and early childhood educator. Renee also spent three years as the Lead Teacher for the After School Program at Tree House Learning Center in Helena. During that time, she earned an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Age of Montessori in Bozeman in 2022. After a great experience as an intern, Renee jumped at the chance to work with the excellent educators and wonderful families at Mountainside Montessori.
Renee Bartleson
Lee Ann Berry
Anna Doran
Mariah
Cantwell-Metcalfe
Katya Grover
