Staff
Children’s Place is very proud of our highly qualified staff. Our lead teachers are Montessori certified, holding certificates from respected training programs. They also hold BA degrees, one in Psychology and the other with a degree in English and a MAT, Masters in Teaching. In addition, our classroom assistants are also Montessori trained teachers (1) Montessori trained assistants (3), or Adult Learners (1) with half also having university degrees. Our special teachers are also certified or highly skilled in their field. Our director, also Montessori trained, earned an Early Childhood Endorsement with her Michigan State Teaching Certificate.
Karen Lumsden
Director
Ms. Karen received her BS in Music from Grand Valley University and attended Orff Schulewerk training in Austria in 1971. She continued her education with graduate work in Early Childhood Education at Wayne State University and attended Montessori Training in 1977. Karen and her husband, also Montessori trained, started their first school in 1978. During the 13 years Open Meadow Montessori was in operation, she also taught music in public school part time while her husband taught at that their school full time. In 1991, Karen and her mother opened Children’s Place Montessori. She continued to work part time in Montessori and music until 2000 when she began working full time at Children’s Place. Karen is married with two children and six grandchildren
Emily Mallin
Ms. Emily received her BS in English from Oakland University and her M.Ed from Wayne State University. After graduation, she attended the Montessori Elementary training at Michigan Montessori Teacher Training Center, affiliated with American Montessori Society, and worked at Children’s Place in our Elementary Program for three years. When we closed our Elementary program, she attended the Preschool/Kindergarten training also at MMTEC and moved into our preschool program. Emily is married with four sons. She has been with Children’s Place Montessori since 2000.
Sreechitra Mele Aruthoottayil
After working with us as an assistant for a year, Ms. Sree decided to attend Montessori teacher’s training in 2024. She completed her internship during the 2024-25 school year and became a certified Montessori guide (teacher) in 2025.
Samia Ellahie
Ms. Samia Ellahie received her Associate Early Childhood Credential in 2011. She worked for a few years and then took time off to care for family members.
She returned to classroom and joined us in 2024. She is currently team teaching to refresh her skills in the Montessori classroom.
Aruna Canchi
Aruna Canchi received her BS. and MA in English in her home country of India. In 2005, she began her Montessori journey. She attended Montessori Pre Primary training at Michigan Montessori Teacher Training Center and came to us to complete her internship. She received an Early Childhood Teaching Credential in 2006. Ms. Aruna has been an advocate for children at Children’s Place Montessori since then and has taught and cared for the children at our school with great compassion. Ms Aruna is married and has two grown sons.
Chitra Aravind
Yogachitra Aravind, Ms. Chitra, has a BS in Business Administration and MA in Tamil Literature. In 2021, she began working with us as a lunch assistant and substitute. In 2022, she took Montessori Assistant’s training and is currently a classroom assistant. Ms. Chitra is married with two children.
Lavanya Praveen
Ms. Lavanya completed her degree in Fashion Technology. She began her Montessori journey at another school and came to us with three years of experience as a classroom assistant. She recently completed her Montessori Assistant training and will continue to fulfill that role in our school this year. She is married with one son who is a talented tennis player, having won many accolades and national recognition for his skill on the court.
