Our team
Learning Cooperative Leadership
Executive director
VACANT
Learning Center Director
Coming Soon
vacant, Primary Classroom Lead Guide
Coming soon….
Amanda Hardee, PRIMARY CLASSROOM ASSISTANT
Amanda grew up in North Carolina. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Appalachian State, she spent many moons working in the outdoor recreation field. Following her enthusiasm for rivers, she was fortunate enough to work as a professional raft guide in TN, NC, CA, and WV. With a background in the facilitation of substance abuse rehabilitation groups and river operations management, Amanda finds purpose in cultivating learning and growth environments and in helping others.
In her free time, Amanda enjoys exploring the outdoors, listening to music, trying not to burn things in the kitchen, and welcoming new experiences. Amanda completed her Montessori Classroom Assistant certification through Trillium Montessori in 2025 and is excited to be a part of the MLLC team. Amanda would like to express her gratitude to such a warm and welcoming community, and she is looking forward to getting to know you better while exploring Tucker County.
Jessica Wamsley, Lower Elementary Classroom Lead Guide
Jessica grew up in Tucker County and has raised her family here as well. After studying child development and family studies, English, and history at West Virginia University, Jessica is thrilled to be pursuing a life goal of teaching! When free time is possible, she finds joy in cooking, hiking, plants, animals, herbalism, and time with her grown kids, husband, and many pets. You also may find her at the ocean when the opportunity presents itself.
Jess completed her Lower Elementary Teacher Training credential through North American Montessori Center in 2025.
kyle mills, Upper Elementary Classroom Lead Guide
Kyle grew up in the mountains of West Virginia, earned his undergraduate degree in American History and Appalachian Studies at Davis and Elkins College, and later completed a master's degree in Creative Nonfiction Writing at West Virginia Wesleyan College. For nearly twenty years, Kyle has worked as an outdoor educator, mentor, and guide, helping thousands of young people build confidence, develop resilience, cultivate curiosity, and form meaningful connections with the natural world through hands-on learning and adventure.
Kyle is an active cave explorer and researcher who works with the West Virginia Association for Cave Studies, the West Virginia Speleological Survey, and the National Speleological Society. His interests also extend far beyond the Earth, and he enjoys studying deep-sky objects, radio astronomy, and sharing the wonder of the night sky with students. Kyle is the author of several books and writing projects focused on nature, exploration, history, and the Allegheny experience. Kyle is currently completing his North American Montessori Center Upper Elementary Teacher Training credential.
Kristen Behrens (KB), Advanced Practical Life Specialist & Montessori Mentor
KB has been with MLLC since its inception and worked under the direction of the Learning Center’s first Montessori Directress, Diana Villamore, and with each Learning Center Director since. At an early age, KB learned from the women around her the value of working with her hands to create things. She enjoys exploring different mediums, including fiber arts, sewing, knitting, cooking, gardening, and the natural world. In 2017, she completed a two-year herbal apprenticeship at Owlcraft Healing Ways in Scottsville, Virginia. KB is grateful to be able to share her knowledge of practical life skills with these children and learn more with them, too. She values Montessori tenets and models these values through mentoring our Learning Center staff.