Our Staff

Sunshine has been serving in Montessori classrooms since 2012 and has worked at MSC since 2022. Her career began as a Montessori Assistant Teacher where she began her Infant/Toddler certification. After moving to Columbia and into public Montessori education, she created meaningful change at different schools, having created a mindfulness room and was deemed Classified Employee of the Year at Logan Elementary School. Sunshine began teaching at MSC in 2022, and she attained her Primary Certification from the Houston Montessori Center.

Siquan was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. She graduated in 2019 with an Associate’s Degree in Education and completed her Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2023. Siquan has worked in childcare for over five years and joined MSC in 2023 to work in the Primary Cypress Montessori classroom as an Assistant Teacher. Siquan aspires to complete her Montessori Teacher Certification in the future.

Tonisha Higgins joined MSC in 2023 and completed her Primary Montessori certification from the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in Huntersville, North Carolina. Before coming to MSC, she earned her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and taught as a Primary Montessori Assistant Teacher for sixteen years. In 2017, Tonisha obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Studies.

Janeta received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Master’s Degree in Pedagogy and Primary Education from the University of Sofia in her native country, Bulgaria. She holds nearly forty years of experience working with children, thirteen of which were spent as a Primary teacher in Bulgaria. After moving to the United States, her focus has been working with Primary-aged children. Janeta has spent over fifteen years teaching in Montessori schools and has worked at MSC since 2016. She is the proud mother of two daughters and has earned her title as “Baba”, or grandmother, to her two grandsons.

Corey earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science from the University of North Dakota. Since graduating in 2011, she has worked as a Montessori Assistant Teacher in multiple schools, a nanny, and a mother. She received her 230-hour yoga certification and loves to practice Ashtanga yoga. Corey began working at MSC in the capacity of Assistant Teacher in 2018, and she has led the Primary Poplar class since 2021. She completed her Primary AMI Teaching Certificate at the Montessori Institute of San Diego.

Tristin graduated high school in 2021 and is a South Carolina native. She has worked as a camp counselor, babysitter, nanny, daycare teacher, and waitress before joining MSC as an Aftercare Teacher in 2022. Tristin  quickly fell in love with the Montessori values and began to substitute at MSC often. She now serves as an Assistant Teacher in MSC’s Primary Poplar class and enjoys continuing her education about Montessori. Her goal is to become a Montessori lead teacher after furthering her education.

Vera holds a Bachelor of Arts in Professional English from Claflin University.  She also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources from Strayer University.  She served the South Carolina Education System for two years and retired from The South Carolina Department of Corrections after over 22 years of service. Vera joined the MSC community in 2018 and currently coordinates MSC’s Aftercare and Summer Camp Programs.

Micah joined MSC in 2024 and has worked with all age levels at MSC before moving into the Upper Elementary Classroom. Micah graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences. She is passionate about incorporating nature and sustainability into educational spaces. While Micah has served in a variety of educational settings, she has found a home at MSC where her focus on holistic learning, environmental education, and self sustainability can be cultivated.