Jill, I am grateful I had you as a teacher and program supervisor. You give your students the space every new teacher needs to figure out what their individual teaching approach will be while providing them the support needed to succeed in uncharted territory.

Victoria Snarr

Teacher in Residence

Jill was a ray of light in our lives! We all fell in love with her genuine passion for teaching and loving kids. Our daughter had so many wonderful experiences with Jill as her teacher and even after we moved till today we keep Jill close to us, as she always brings love, support and good vibes to our lives. I can’t be more grateful for her unique and loving personality. She is very well trained in Montessori and has years of experience that really shows throughout her way of teaching and living. We all just love her!!! Thank you Jill for being you!!

Noam Neta

Jill is an inspiration to young and old alike. She taught my sons at Montessori Day School and inspired them with Cosmic Education and Montessori values. Her high regard for the spirit of the child within gave them a lifelong love of learning. She created a strong sense of community among students, parents, and teachers. Jill inspires me with her intuitive, intelligent ideas and philosophies for education and society in general…. Jill’s belief in the power that Transformational Education can hold is particularly intriguing and timely.

Gwendolyn Butler

Jill was my daughter’s teacher at Montessori. She is amazing! She is compassionate and truly connects with the children at their level. She provides them with academic and emotional guidance. We are so lucky to have had her as a teacher!

Joni Long

Jill Bittinger developed and taught the youth of our Unity Community for years. She brought her Montessori teaching skills to the children through exciting, active classes. She also facilitated special events that strengthened community connections.

Tom Rothweiler

Her sensitivity and care make her a perfect choice as a teacher.

Simon Rohrich, Innovator and Entrepreneur

Jill is consistently well prepared to teach her courses and her organization skills come through strongly. A Program Supervisor has many roles and being able to coordinate all those areas and work with others is an essential part of her position. In her assignment feedback and communications to her students, she is thorough and timely in her responses.
Giving guidance is a strength of Jill’s. She consistently helps students with their teaching and classroom management skills to be outstanding educators. Motivating new teachers is essential and Jill goes above and beyond to do this. Often this includes helping her students find resources and additional support they may need.
She holds regular meetings with her students in cadre groups and individually with her students and is a strong facilitator. Jill consistently receives positive feedback from students.
Jill demonstrates the desire to continue to learn and grow professionally by attending college- wide meetings and training.
Her reviews are at the highest level because of her dedication to her students and her professionalism.
It is a privilege to work with Jill and she would be an asset in any educational position or setting.

VIRGINIA KRAUSS B.A., M.ED.

RIO SALADO COLLEGE

Jill, I am grateful I had you as a teacher and program supervisor. You give your students the space every new teacher needs to figure out what their individual teaching approach will be while providing them the support needed to succeed in uncharted territory.

Victoria Snarr

Teacher in Residence

Jill is a creative, motivated and talented teacher. She has:
—developed a Multicultural Arts Curriculum age appropriate Pre-K to 6th grade
—shows strong accountability towards all aspects of the classroom.
—writes lesson plans aligned with State Standards with ILLP’s to support ELL
students.
—communicates well with parents through emails and Newsletters
—is creative in lesson presentation, weaving in her background in the arts with song, movement, culture and the spirit of play that are in line with Montessori curriculum.
—brings a strong peace curriculum and peace area to her classroom environment.
Jill is a team player that works with others to share ideas to create a better
environment for the school. She brings joy to all areas of her work.
Ms. Jill is a creative, motivated and talented teacher. She has strong accountability, communicates well and is creative in lesson planning and presentation. She brings joy to all areas of her work.
Ms. Jill demonstrates a strong desire to cultivate community…She is dedicated towards uplift of body, mind and spirit and will undoubtedly weave together her unique perspective on Education, one which truly follows the Montessori path in the primacy of regarding the Spirit of the child first and foremost

Montessori Day Schools

Ms Bittinger creates a learning environment where a sensitive child can find rigor and accountability while also knowing he is supported, accepted, and cared for by his teacher and his peers. My son’s love of learning, to us, is a direct product of a Montessori classroom, and reflective of his teacher who is always
encouraging him and challenging him to do and be his best.

Daniel Shapiro

Student’s parent

One of Jill’s biggest strengths are her interpersonal skills. She connects to the parent community through her leadership and gift of excellent communication. She also shares a connection with each of her students by using compassion and care to make sure they have the tools they need to succeed. She is a natural-born leader and always showcases that with her calm demeanor in the classroom. She loved her students and school community. I never saw her without a warm, inviting smile—which was a true testament to her character

San Tan Charter

School Classroom Assistant

As Ms. Bittinger’s Principal, I have seen her in a variety of capacities as we’ve worked together. As a teacher, her passion for her craft and her love for her students shine through in her Montessori lessons on a daily basis. Her knowledge and experiences plays a great part in her classroom management and her students understand and follow her expectations.

Mrs. Sarah Laramie Principal

San Tan Learning Center

Jill developed programs in the classroom as workshop series in the New York City School Districts. Her style as a teaching artist has always demonstrated the highest caliber of teaching skills by addressing the learning standards, bringing a certain level of focused quality and joy to the children, and sustaining the program through solid lesson plans and support material. She has provided curriculum development/staff development for teachers so they may enhance their lesson plans through her vision.
… Jill’s achievements as a teaching artist in Early Childhood Development and Special Education has made her one of the most sought after teaching artists in the area. Her strength as an assembly/performing artist providing a full spectrum of diverse/cultural dances has added to her demand.

Stephanie Eley-Yahjian,

Associate Program Director, Arts Horizon

During her time at El Centro de Education Creativa in Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jill has made quite a special connection with our students. …From my various perspectives, as a teacher in a bilingual kindergarten class, as a music teacher and as a mother, I have seen how enriching Jill’s presence has been. I especially appreciate her dedication to creating multi-dimensional lesson plans, capturing the students’ attention with her enthusiasm, and involving body, mind and heart in every activity. For example, within her dance lessons with our energetic kindergarten class, Jill has artfully integrated letter/sound association in both English and Spanish, the mechanics of letter formation, and multiculturalism. Jill’s recognition of the connection between careful planning and preparation and successful classroom management will insure that she continue to grow and blossom as a teacher.

Beth Quinn

Teacher at Cloud Forest School

Jill is a talented artist but also a wonderful teacher. She connects so well with the young children. She has great ideas and is well-prepared. She is generous with her time and is willing to do more than could ever be expected. If you could have seen the faces of the children in my class during our dance sessions, you would have seen pure delight, joy and pride. All of us, teachers and students, benefited from these classes.

Carolyn Malone

PS 38 New York, Arts Residency School

Ms. Bittinger has demonstrated those
qualities necessary to succeed in working with children and helping them to reach their
highest potential. She is compassionate, responsible and, above all, dedicated to helping children succeed.

Wildon Rodriguez

PS 38 Staten Island, New York

Under the City of Tempe Arts Grant, The Early Childhood Multicultural Arts Education Program was an outstanding program. Jill Bittinger provided us with 10 sessions in which she introduced various cultural dances and music. Jill was wonderful with the children. They had the opportunity to explore with movement and music from cultures around the world. Many parents attended this program and were thrilled with what their children learned. The program far exceeded my expectations. The major benefit was the exposure to the diverse world cultures. Not only did the children learn about them, but they became active participants in them as well. I learned that the very youngest of children could learn to appreciate the differences in cultural arts if they are actively involved and participate. The children developed an appreciation for each musical and dance style. It is a great way to introduce diversity and tolerance at a very young age.

Donna S. Troisis

School Director,, Tri-City Jewish Center

Jill bought an abundance of dedication to her work. She exhibited good planning knowledge, including thoroughness and attention to detail, and a consistent reference to Arizona state standards. Her ability to integrate the standards into lessons is that of a veteran teacher. She utilized creative activities to stimulate interest and her learners responded in positive ways to her efforts.
Ms. Bittinger developed a warm, positive tone in the classroom. The students demonstrated that they respect and appreciate her teaching style. It showed in their interactions with her as well as in their learning. Ms. Bittinger enjoys excellent student relationships. This quality, when combined with her enthusiasm, and general teaching aptitudes, suggests a very high likelihood for early success.

Jill was creative and her lessons encouraged students to be actively involved in learning. Her curiosity and enthusiasm about learning were contagious, and she demonstrated strong skills in communicating with students and addressing individual needs. She was caring and respectful in her interactions with children. Jill was eager to learn and grow as a professional, was responsive to suggestions
from her cooperating teacher, and sought input from other staff members. She is a capable, talented person with great promise for an outstanding career in teaching.

Jill is highly qualified, a fine teacher, and an excellent role model for her students. …. She is curious, open, receptive, responsible, and capable.
She works steadily combining her keen intelligence with personal sensitivity which is alert to ethical and emotional issues which affect people. ….As a leader, administrator, and mediator, Jill is strong, fair, and honest. She takes initiative when others sit back, she willingly handles emotionally charged situations because not to do so would be dishonest, and she works independently with professional authority even in the face of new challenges.

Professor, Judith Alter

World Arts & Culture/Dance, UCLA

I was Ms. Bittinger’s academic advisor when she entered the UCLA
M.A. graduate program with a focus in Dance Education. As a student, Jill was well-prepared, contributed effectively to discussions, and sustained a positive rapport with her peers. Jill was always keen on understanding with depth any issue discussed or presented. I observed her work as a Teaching Assistant, teaching non-dance majors beginning level modern dance technique and creative work. Her concern for student learning, facilitating positive self-esteem, and researching effective teaching methods were keystones to her culminating comprehensive examination project.

Beyond the academic work during her studies at UCLA, I observed Jill take part in many other aspects of the Dance Department – from presenting choreographies, performing, to productions and administrative work. Additionally, I was faculty advisor of the first Dance Education Forum of which she was Co-Chair. This annual event was developed and implemented to provide a forum for graduate students, researchers, and practitioners in the field to present their work. Jill produced an effective first-time event – from inception, administration, to its culmination and eventual turn-over of the leadership to the next chairs of the forum. Resourceful, organized, thoughtful, imaginative, warm, and caring are only a few qualities that truly describe Jill.