OCC Staff

Kathleen Holloway (Head of School)
A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Kassie also holds American Montessori Society teacher certification for the 3- to 6-year-old level from the Center for Montessori Teacher Education/NY. She taught for two years at The Village Nursery in Emsworth, PA, ran a Montessori child-care center in her home, and joined OCC’s staff in 1991. Her son Fritz graduated from OCC after attending for three years. Kassie serves as the supervisor of the teaching staff, coordinating OCC's preschool and kindergarten programs.Her Montessori experience, understanding of children, and knowledge of classroom management ensure the quality of education at OCC. Kassie is a quilt-maker and quilt-lover; she guides each kindergarten class in creating its own quilt for our gallery.

Patricia Cossick (Director)
Tricia became the director of Our Children's Center in 2004. Since she began her tenure, the school moved from Lemont, PA to a beautiful well-maintained site in downtown State College. Since then enrollment, teacher satisfaction and parent involvement has increased. Tricia is a graduate of Penn State University with a BS in Elementary Education (K-6). She is certified in PA to teach grades K-6. Tricia’s graduate coursework at Penn State focused on Language and Literacy Education, with an emphasis on Emergent Literacy. At home, Tricia enjoys hanging out with her two teenagers, shopping for bargains, thinking up ways to reuse and recycle, solving mysteries (in books and on TV shows) as well as spending time in nature.

Leigh Hurtz (Head Teacher)
Leigh is a graduate of Illinois State University with a BS in Music Education and PA Public School certification. She holds American Montessori Society certification for the 3-6 level from the Center for Montessori Teacher Education/NY. In her spare time, she teaches private music lessons and performs with the State College Municipal Band and the Little German Band. Leigh has done graduate work in Children’s Literature and, together with Kassie, has been coordinating the kindergarten program for several years. Leigh teaches full-time, and her son Will graduated from OCC last year. Both Leigh and her husband, a PSU professor, are active members of the State College music community who perform with various groups. Leigh has been with OCC since 1994.

Bonnie Cirillo (Head Teacher)
Bonnie begin as a Head Montessori teaching in 2003. She moved to State College from Southern California, where she was a lead teacher for three years at Mission Viejo Montessori in a 3- to 6-year-old classroom. While in California, Bonnie completed the primary level training through The North American Progressive Teacher Training Program, British Columbia. In addition to her teaching experience, Bonnie has worked as a nanny, a teacher’s aide in a Special Education classroom, and a dance teacher. She is a member of NAMTA and NCME and regularly attends seminars and classes to keep abreast of current issues, trends, and methods in order fully to educate young absorbent minds. Bonnie enjoys reading, music, and art.

Jen Bonsell (Lead Teacher)

Jen McElhinney (Office)