Experienced Montessori educators who know children well.
Children's Place is proud of its highly qualified staff. Lead teachers are Montessori certified, and the school also includes Montessori-trained assistants and specialty teachers.
Karen Lumsden
Karen earned a BS in Music from Grand Valley University, completed Orff Schulwerk training in Austria, pursued graduate work in Early Childhood Education at Wayne State, and attended Montessori training in 1977. She helped open Children's Place Montessori in 1991 and later joined the school full time.
Emily Mallin
Emily earned a BS in English from Oakland University and an M.Ed. from Wayne State University. She completed Montessori Elementary and Preschool/Kindergarten training through the Michigan Montessori Teacher Training Center and has been with Children's Place since 2000.
Sreechitra Mele Aruthoottayil
After working at Children's Place as an assistant, Sreechitra began Montessori teacher training in 2024. She completed her internship during the 2024–25 school year and became a certified Montessori guide in 2025.
Samia Ellahie
Samia earned her Associate Early Childhood Credential in 2011. After time away from the classroom to care for family, she returned to education and joined Children's Place in 2024, where she is currently team teaching and refreshing her Montessori classroom skills.
Aruna Canchi
Aruna earned BS and MA degrees in English in India and began her Montessori journey in 2005. She completed Montessori Pre-Primary training and received an Early Childhood Teaching Credential in 2006. She has taught and cared for children at Children's Place since then.
Meet the school in person.
A tour gives families a chance to see the classrooms, meet the staff and learn how Children's Place works day to day.