By Nichole Smith, Communications Manager
Montverde Academy is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Kristen Kladiva as the new Associate Dean of the Lower School. Mrs. Kladiva holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in early childhood education, both from Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a second master’s degree in educational leadership from Southeast Missouri State University.
Mrs. Kladiva taught fourth grade for one year and kindergarten for 11 years at Westridge Elementary in St. Louis before moving with her family to Central Florida in June of 2020. She taught kindergarten for one year at Orlando Science Charter and then became their ELA instructional coach and intervention specialist for the next two years. Most recently, she transitioned into administration and served as Assistant Principal of Leesburg Elementary.
Since living in Central Florida, she has been drawn to Montverde Academy for its unique sense of community, and she is excited about meeting the students and their families in the fall. At the core of who she is as an educator, she believes in the importance of gaining the trust of the students and becoming partners in education with their families. “As an administrator, my focus is visibility with the students,” said Mrs. Kladiva. “Being with the students, talking with them, getting them to feel comfortable, building that relationship, being visible with families, being out in car line, getting to know all the families here, learning names, all of that is my number one priority in my first 30 days of when students and families start arriving.”
Mrs. Kladiva is eager to learn about the honored traditions and history of Montverde Academy. “There is a lot of tradition and history here, so I definitely want to take the time to learn what the parents, students, and staff value; to see what is working really well for the school; and then keep the momentum going,” she said. With the continued expansion of the Lower School, she plans to communicate with teachers, students, and families to learn what support they need, to hear their ideas, and to see where there is room for growth.
In her free time, Mrs. Kladiva enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, Alex, and two sons, Ian (age 12) and Joel (age 10). “We love to go to new cities and towns and take tours. My husband and I are big history buffs. Anytime we go to a new city or a town, we always try to do a walking tour of the city, and then we usually try to find a running tour or a biking tour.” Both of her sons play lacrosse, which affords her family wonderful opportunities for travel. Her son Ian will be enrolling in the Middle School at Montverde Academy this fall. “We did a family tour, so we got to see the Middle School. It’s beautiful,” she said, excited about the diverse opportunities he will have at MVA.
“I look forward to working with Kristen,” said Ms. Meristell Shackelford, Dean of the Lower School, “and I’m excited about the educational experience she brings to MVA.”
“It is my great pleasure to welcome Kristen Kladiva as our new Associate Dean of the Lower School,” said Mr. Jon Hopman, Head of School. “We are thrilled to have her join our school community. Kristen brings a wealth of experience and an unparalleled zeal for education. We are excited to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly have on our students and the entire Montverde Academy family.”
A quote that hangs in Mrs. Kladiva’s new office and serves as her personal mantra is “Be kind, speak truth, show grace, have courage, be grateful.” With these guiding principles, Mrs. Kladiva embraces this new chapter, fully committed to fostering a positive and supportive environment.
