Teacher Assistants
Our wonderful Staff at Dixie Montessori Academy
Shweta Purushotam
Ms. Purushotam is a part of our Kindergarten teaching staff at Dixie Montessori Academy. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from CKP Bangalore University in India, where she specialized in sculpture and oil painting. She says she enjoys painting landscapes and still-life, however, painting portraits remains her favorite.
Shweta is a certified Montessori teacher, having received her training at the Indian Montessori Training Center in India.
Before coming to DMA, she had the opportunity to work as the lead teacher of the Early Childhood classroom at Dayspring Montessori in St. George from 2009 to 2013. She began in August 2014 as the assistant teacher of the Kindergarten class at Dixie Montessori Academy.
Shweta met her husband Warren at the International Theosophical Society in Chennai, India, where he was enrolled in a three month study program of World Religions. They currently live in St. George, Utah.
Dorothy Munford
Mrs. Munford has ten years of experience working with special needs children. She also has attended Montessori training with a focus on language.
Dorothy was amazed at the difference between Dixie Montessori Academy and the previous schools her children had attended. The positive impact DMA had on her children now has her aspiring to positively impact all the students of DMA.
Dorothy is very excited to share her love of reading with her students and be a part of their educational journey.
Linda Poynter
Ms. Poynter is part of the 7th-grade teaching staff. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential from Sonoma State University. Her 14 years experience in education include being a teacher’s aide, a substitute teacher, a tutor for Morongo Indian students, and a private tutor.
When she is not teaching, Linda enjoys hiking, reading, dancing, and family history.
Ms. Poynter is excited to be apart of the Montessori team where she hopes to inspire a life-long love of learning in her students.
Wendy Solis
Dixie Montessori Academy
Sally Gierisch
Mrs. Gierisch has 20 years of experience teaching children of all ages. She is passionate about the Montessori Method because of its focus on learning in an individual, exciting and peaceful way. She finds deep satisfaction and joy in working with the children at DMA. Mrs. Gierisch is a mother of 6, and in her spare time she can be found curled up with a book and a plate of cheese fries.
Chartinay Holt
Dixie Montessori Academy
