Our People
Claire graf-Hamrick
Directress
Started working at the local YMCA in childcare the moment she turned 18 after volunteering as a dance teacher for years prior. This job continued the entire time she worked towards receiving her degree in Early Childhood Education from Ohio University. She was also an active participant within 4-H and counseled many different Summer Camps through high school and college. This opened more doors to further credentials such as Project W.E.T. and W.I.L.D., which are nature based curriculums for elementary children. She taught Kindergarten and 1st grade before returning to the YMCA as their preschool director when she found out she was pregnant with her first child. Here she worked to revamp their curriculum. She then took two years off from teaching as she transitioned into motherhood. Lancaster Montessori School was recommended to her as a preschool for her oldest son. They visited during an open house and she has not left since! She started as a part-time assistant and within a few months, transitioned into lead teacher. She was soon promoted again, this time to Directress at the half-way point of the 2019 school year. Her first full year as a Directress was during COVID. She has since completed the certification program for the American Montessori Society and is credentialed in Early Childhood.
Miss Claire’s favorite color is teal and her favorite food is a close tie between pizza and tacos.
One of her favorite quotes from Maria Montessori is found within her book the Absorbent Mind and states “It (peace) does not humiliate him, but rather makes him conscious of his own power over the Universe. And because it is based on man’s nature it is a constant a universal principle that applies to all human beings.”
Cheryl WymeR
Cheryl is married to Pastor Paul Wymer, now retired from 25 years in ministry. They raised three children on their small dairy goat farm near Sugar Grove. They also have five grandchildren.
Cheryl has 48 years of teaching experience which includes: title 1 Reading Specialist, Special Needs classes, and Primary classes in public schools. Some of the positions that she has held are Christian School Teacher/Administrator, Home Educator, Home School Coordinator, and Montessori Preschool Assistant. She will be starting her second year as a Assistant Facilitator at Lancaster Montessori School this year.
Some of her many interests are reading, nutrition, natural healing, cheese-making, knitting, and writing.
A message from Cheryl:
“Thank you for entrusting this small portion of your child’s growth and development into our care. I look forward to getting to know you as we work together to enrich your child’s life.”
TIA
Tia lives at home with her Grandma, Sister, Brother-in-law, 2 ferrets, 2 dogs and 2 cats.
She is a Lancaster High School Graduate with a Criminal Science and Forensics degree.
She spends her nights and weekends working at the local Dairy Queen. Her favorite thing to serve there are blizzards. Her favorite treat there is a small chocolate ice cream sundae with chocolate chips and strawberries on top.
Some of her interests are modifying shoes with embroidering, fingerprinting, and playing Roblox.
Her favorite color is pink and her favorite food is applesauce.
She is excited to learn and grow with our Lancaster Montessori Family.