Denée Longan
Lead Teacher, Denée Longan, discovered the Montessori Method after graduating from college. She quickly knew that this was the philosophy that fit with her own ideals and personality. She graduated from Montessori Northwest in 2005 with her Children’s House (ages 3-6) diploma and completed her Masters in Education from Loyola University soon thereafter.
Denée has guided several children’s house and toddler communities in the Portland area, and has more than 18 years of experience. She enjoys the challenge of learning how to meet each child’s unique needs and likes to incorporate different techniques to meet a variety of sensory needs. She views each child as a contributing member of the whole classroom experience and likes to see how they gel to form a cohesive community.
Lead Teacher, Denée Longan, discovered the Montessori Method after graduating from college. She quickly knew that this was the philosophy that fit with her own ideals and personality. She graduated from Montessori Northwest in 2005 with her Children’s House (ages 3-6) diploma and completed her Masters in Education from Loyola University soon thereafter.
Denée has guided several children’s house and toddler communities in the Portland area, and has more than 18 years of experience. She enjoys the challenge of learning how to meet each child’s unique needs and likes to incorporate different techniques to meet a variety of sensory needs. She views each child as a contributing member of the whole classroom experience and likes to see how they gel to form a cohesive community.
Eric Zimmerman
Assistant Teacher, Eric Zimmerman, grew up in Brooklyn, NY, but just recently moved to Portland, OR. He graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington in 2009 with a B.S. in Special Education (K-8) and a minor in theater. In 2012 he moved to Paris, France, to study movement and miming at the International School of Theater Jacques Lecoq. Eric moved back to the States in 2016 to pursue a career in theater education. Since getting his Masters of Theater Education from the City College of New York in 2020, he has taught theater to middle school students.
Eric enjoys the creativity, intuition, and frankness children bring to the classroom. He resonates with this energy as it creates the ideal working environment for him.
Assistant Teacher, Eric Zimmerman, grew up in Brooklyn, NY, but just recently moved to Portland, OR. He graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington in 2009 with a B.S. in Special Education (K-8) and a minor in theater. In 2012 he moved to Paris, France, to study movement and miming at the International School of Theater Jacques Lecoq. Eric moved back to the States in 2016 to pursue a career in theater education. Since getting his Masters of Theater Education from the City College of New York in 2020, he has taught theater to middle school students.
Eric enjoys the creativity, intuition, and frankness children bring to the classroom. He resonates with this energy as it creates the ideal working environment for him.
Sunnyside Mennonite Montessori School provides high-quality, affordable Montessori education to children ages 3-6, informed by spiritual principles of peace, respect and grace.