Our Staff
Dedicated to authentic Montessori education, the administration and staff at Cascadia School are highly trained, talented, and love working with children. We believe that great teachers are our best asset.
Administration Team
Danielle Benge (she/her)
Head of School
Danielle Benge
has been involved in Montessori education since 1987 and loves not only the hands-on materials, but particularly the philosophy of students’ hands and minds working together to gain understanding. Danielle has AMI primary certification, a BA in history/minor in Broad Field Social Studies with an emphasis on Secondary Education, and all 3 levels of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training. She enjoys cooking, entertaining, reading, hiking, and binge watching series on Amazon/Netflix.
Susan Szewczyk (she/her)
Office Administrator
Susan Szewczyk
has been involved in Montessori education since 2009 and, as a Montessori parent, deeply appreciates the way it has taught her children to be independent, creative, and inquisitive. She has been active in the Cascadia community as a member of the PTO, Development Committee, Shopper, Chaperone, and Auction team. Susan holds a BA in Psychology from Pacific University and has worked in the field of children’s mental health. She enjoys adventures with her family, history, astronomy, coffee, and chocolate.
Alicia Ginardi (she/her)
Admissions Coordinator, Reading Support, & Billing
Alicia Ginardi
has been involved in Montessori for over 25 years. She values the community and relationships her family has found within Montessori schools and the freedom the children have to explore their individual interests. Alicia holds an AMS primary certificate, studied Biology in Durango, Colorado, and has taken Orton-Gillingham training to support students with dyslexia. Alicia enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, woodworking, reading, and learning new skills.
Joya Hastings (she/her)
Director of Education
Joya Hastings
believes Montessori is highly relevant to children today, and is honored to be a part of a community that strives for kindness and a life-long love of learning. She joined Cascadia as the Lupine guide in 2015. Previously, she guided a 6-to-12 classroom (herding children and chickens). She balances her work with parenting two Montessori-raised teens, enjoying good friends, family, food, music, and books, and just appreciating this insanely beautiful part of the world that she is lucky enough to call home. She holds multiple credentials, an AMI elementary diploma, and a M.Ed.
Administration Team
Danielle Benge (she/her)
Head of School
Danielle Benge
has been involved in Montessori education since 1987 and loves not only the hands-on materials, but particularly the philosophy of students’ hands and minds working together to gain understanding. Danielle has AMI primary certification, a BA in history/minor in Broad Field Social Studies with an emphasis on Secondary Education, and all 3 levels of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training. She enjoys cooking, entertaining, reading, hiking, and binge watching series on Amazon/Netflix.
Susan Szewczyk (she/her)
Office Administrator
Susan Szewczyk
has been involved in Montessori education since 2009 and, as a Montessori parent, deeply appreciates the way it has taught her children to be independent, creative, and inquisitive. She has been active in the Cascadia community as a member of the PTO, Development Committee, Shopper, Chaperone, and Auction team. Susan holds a BA in Psychology from Pacific University and has worked in the field of children’s mental health. She enjoys adventures with her family, history, astronomy, coffee, and chocolate.
Alicia Ginardi (she/her)
Admissions Coordinator, Reading Support, & Billing
Alicia Ginardi
has been involved in Montessori for over 25 years. She values the community and relationships her family has found within Montessori schools and the freedom the children have to explore their individual interests. Alicia holds an AMS primary certificate, studied Biology in Durango, Colorado, and has taken Orton-Gillingham training to support students with dyslexia. Alicia enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, woodworking, reading, and learning new skills.
Joya Hastings (she/her)
Director of Education
Joya Hastings
believes Montessori is highly relevant to children today, and is honored to be a part of a community that strives for kindness and a life-long love of learning. She joined Cascadia as the Lupine guide in 2015. Previously, she guided a 6-to-12 classroom (herding children and chickens). She balances her work with parenting two Montessori-raised teens, enjoying good friends, family, food, music, and books, and just appreciating this insanely beautiful part of the world that she is lucky enough to call home. She holds multiple credentials, an AMI elementary diploma, and a M.Ed.
Administration Team
Danielle Benge (she/her)
Head of School
Danielle Benge
has been involved in Montessori education since 1987 and loves not only the hands-on materials, but particularly the philosophy of students’ hands and minds working together to gain understanding. Danielle has AMI primary certification, a BA in history/minor in Broad Field Social Studies with an emphasis on Secondary Education, and all 3 levels of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training. She enjoys cooking, entertaining, reading, hiking, and binge watching series on Amazon/Netflix.
Susan Szewczyk (she/her)
Office Administrator
Susan Szewczyk
has been involved in Montessori education since 2009 and, as a Montessori parent, deeply appreciates the way it has taught her children to be independent, creative, and inquisitive. She has been active in the Cascadia community as a member of the PTO, Development Committee, Shopper, Chaperone, and Auction team. Susan holds a BA in Psychology from Pacific University and has worked in the field of children’s mental health. She enjoys adventures with her family, history, astronomy, coffee, and chocolate.
Alicia Ginardi (she/her)
Admissions Coordinator, Reading Support, & Billing
Alicia Ginardi
has been involved in Montessori for over 25 years. She values the community and relationships her family has found within Montessori schools and the freedom the children have to explore their individual interests. Alicia holds an AMS primary certificate, studied Biology in Durango, Colorado, and has taken Orton-Gillingham training to support students with dyslexia. Alicia enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, woodworking, reading, and learning new skills.
Joya Hastings (she/her)
Director of Education
Joya Hastings
believes Montessori is highly relevant to children today, and is honored to be a part of a community that strives for kindness and a life-long love of learning. She joined Cascadia as the Lupine guide in 2015. Previously, she guided a 6-to-12 classroom (herding children and chickens). She balances her work with parenting two Montessori-raised teens, enjoying good friends, family, food, music, and books, and just appreciating this insanely beautiful part of the world that she is lucky enough to call home. She holds multiple credentials, an AMI elementary diploma, and a M.Ed.
