Who We Are
Michelle Lee Thompson
Executive Director & Co-Founder
MA in Education, Instructional Leadership from Argosy University; Certificate, Montessori Theory, Montessori Center International – London, England; BA in Elementary Education and Business from Bethel University. Michelle has served over 20 years as the Founder, Executive Director, and Head of School of Hand In Hand Christian Montessori; current adjunct faculty member for Bethany Global University and former, founding adjunct faculty member for Sarasota University. She has served for over 20 years as the Co-Owner and Teacher at Kinderstudio of Musik, where she was introduced to the wonders of Montessori.
Madeline Thompson Executive Assistant
BA in Dance Performance & Choreography with a Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies combining Exercise Science, Chemistry and Human Health and Performance from Palm Beach Atlantic University. Graduated as the Outstanding Graduate of the School of Music and Fine Arts. Former Montessori student, an advocate for Montessori education. Madeline has assisted both founders, Michelle Thompson and Marlene Lee, in many camps, trainings, courses in regards to Montessori and accompanied them in their trip to visit Casa dei Bambini, Dr. Maria Montessori’s first school in Rome, Italy.
Faculty in partnership with the Christian Montessori Training Center
Michelle Lee Thompson, Lisabeth King, Sue Shields, Patrick Kutzer, Sieglinde Schnellbacher, Stephanie Wehman, Angelina Frolich and Annette Hickey.
Mrs. Marlene Lee
In memory of our Co-Founder
In memory of Mrs. Marlene Lee, the Co-Founder of Child Alive Institute, and our own resident “Dr. Maria Montessori”, was born on December 11, 1939 in St. Paul, Minnesota into a large, loving, Italian family. She attended MacPhail College of Music earning a Bachelor of Science in both Music Education and Piano Performance. She attended the University of St. Thomas and earned a Master’s Degree of Arts/Curriculum & Instruction. She also earned an Early Childhood Montessori Theory Certificate from the Montessori Centre International in London, England.
Mrs. Marlene Lee encouraged her daughter, Mrs. Michelle Thompson, to train with Kindermusik/Musikgarten in 1992 as they learned of the Montessori method for the first time. They developed a university-based, music-education business together that came to impact hundreds of children (including her six grandchildren). Mrs. Lee literally walked with her daughter, Michelle, through every move, expansion, decision, detail, of their Montessori journey – including a trip to Italy and the original Casa dei Bambini with her granddaughter, Madeline. There was hardly a week when Mrs. Lee and Michelle weren't together, often seen in matching outfits loving their unique mother-daughter relationship.
For over fifty years, she held many teaching positions throughout the Twin Cities starting with Highcroft Country Day School in Wayzata and ending with being the Music Director and Parent Educator and Faith Formation since the founding of Hand In Hand Christian Montessori in 1999. Mrs. Lee mentored so many mothers through this program and so many were impacted by this unique ministry founded in the Titus 2:3&4 principles. She was a Piano Instructor for hundreds of students over the decades; She was the co-Founder of the Child Alive Institute for Adult Education In Christian Montessori; and Do, Re For Me!! Summer Music Camp. She was currently serving as the Music Director of Hand In Hand, teaching Family Preschool, playing in chapel, and teaching college students as an adjunct faculty member for Bethany Global University. She participated in the formation of the Christian Montessori Training Center which will begin again this Sunday shaping missionaries for world-wide evangelism and teaching. She was an inspiration in the Red Thread, a new curriculum for faith formation for children. In the past, she was an adjunct faculty member of Bethel University and University of Northwestern St Paul and served as Director of the KinderStudio of Musik for 25 years. She directed many children’s choirs and musicals in various locations including Vivace Voices at the University of Northwestern, of and the Jubilate Choir, performing twice at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Mrs. Lee is best remembered by the music she played, the love she gave to others and her devotion to Jesus Christ. She appreciated the famous saying of J.S. Bach who signed all of his compositions with “Soli Deo Gloria – To God Alone the Glory.” Surely, our dear Mrs. Lee has now joined the heavenly chorus of angels and saints who are gathering around the Throne - to give God all the Glory!