Tolt Montessori Team

  • Raleigh Wilson (he/him)

    HEAD TEACHER & DIRECTOR

    MA in Teaching (Seattle University) state-certified K-8, secondary endorsed in Social Studies

    Member; American Montessori Society

    "I've lived in Carnation since 2001. I’ve raised my four daughters here. I love this place. I'm very active in local government where I served on Planning Board for two years. I currently serve on the Carnation Farmer's Market board as treasurer, where Tolt Montessori is a sponsor. You can find me volunteering there on Tuesdays during market season. I'm also a visual artist and local singer-songwriter.

    In 1990 I started as an infant, toddler, then preschool assistant at Pacific First Montessori in Seattle. I worked my way through college as a nanny. After my MA was complete, I co-founded a Montessori school called The Village Schoolhouse in Issaquah. Nine years later I left the pre/k classroom to teach 5th grade at a parochial school where my girls were attending. Five years later I reconnected with The Village Schoolhouse and founded a non-profit called the Village Schoolhouse Academy which was a small K-8 alternative school. The Academy was a one-room schoolhouse of around 16 students that varied widely in age and profile. In the Spring of 2022, I returned to the Montessori classroom where I started! I'm overjoyed to put deeper roots down in my hometown and thrilled to be working in Early Childhood Education again".

  • Mac Kilga (he/him)

    Hi I’m Mac! I have been working with toddlers and preschoolers since I started babysitting back in my teens. I’m currently working on my AA at Bellevue College (online) with emphasis in Early Childhood Education. I’m excited to learn alongside Teacher Raleigh as a hands-on part of my career preparation. I’ll be taking my Montessori training after my AA in ECE is complete. I love teaching the kids new concepts when I run circle time and as I read new books to them.

  • Assistant Teacher; Emma Anderson (she/her)

    Hi I’m Emma and I can walk to Tolt from my house! This is my first job in a Montessori preschool but I’ve been taking care of my neighbors’ children and watching the youngsters in my family for many years. I’m really enjoying being greeted so joyfully by the kids and Neptune when I arrive. I’m hoping to make childcare a career. It puts a smile on my face every day.

  • Assistant Teacher; Alexis Kirschenmann (she/her)

    Hello my name is Alexis Kirschenmann! I have been interning at Good Neighbor Preschool for awhile and now I’m on staff helping Teacher Mac and Teacher Raleigh with the Tolt Montessori kids. It’s nice to have a new place to learn and grow. I love working with kids. I went through Montessori school when I was little and my mom also works at a Montessori school so I know I’m in a good place.