About Us

Meet Our Team

  • Jennifer Lonsdale, Founder

    Jennifer has been teaching young children for more than 30 years and founded Heartworks Montana in 2013. She earned a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from the University of Vermont and is a certified K-8 teacher.

  • Ely

    Ely Clark, Teacher

    Ely is studying Psychology with a focus in Child Development and Family Studies. (Ely is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns.) They’re passionate about working with kids, occupational therapy, and parental coaching. They grew up showing horses and sheep in 4H and FFA and love their dog, Miso, and cat, Ozzy.

  • Substitute Teachers

    Taylor Veltkamp and Sara Copeland are our amazing substitute teachers, who are both former employees, who know our Heartworks Montana philosophy and routines inside and out.

“Wonderful teachers and role models!”

- Michele Racine

The Heart Behind Heartworks

About Founder Jennifer Lonsdale

I moved to Montana in 2011, after living in Vermont for 40 years. I have grown to love the vast beauty and open spaces of Montana and its kind and loving community.

My background as a preschool teacher comes from a Waldorf & Montessori inspired school in Vermont, where classrooms are uncluttered, learning centers are filled natural materials, and teaching tools aren’t commercialized.

I brought with me a vision of a school that I wanted to create here in Montana that offers a safe and loving environment for children to explore, learn and grow through play. I believe in working as partners with parents and extended families, as we are all in this teaching/parenting journey together.

My passion is offering children a loving and peaceful place to learn and grow while giving them the tools to explore the world. We offer bi-annual parent/teacher conferences to promote open feedback and continuous improvement.

“Jennifer has an amazing gift for working with children, and I highly recommend Heartworks Montana for your child!”

- Kelly Libby

After Work

I live with my husband (Taylor), my two stepsons (Zane and Roam), two cats (Pip and Freyja) and two horses (Reign and Belle).

In my free time, I enjoy running, hiking, and spending time at the barn. I have been riding since the age of ten and cherish the peace and partnership horses provide. They require a delicate balance of love, trust and communication, something that I find useful in all facets of life, especially my teaching!

Join Our Waitlist

Book a tour and meeting (required), then we’ll add your child to our waitlist if we’re a great fit.