The Hearts Gathered Waterfall School is an Okanogan immersion Montessori school in Omak, Washington, USA, on the Colville Reservation. Hearts Gathered is dedicated to revitalizing the nsəlxcín (Okanogan Salish) language and traditional cultural practices through the holistic development of children from birth to adulthood, based in Montessori education.
Melissa Campobasso, or qʷʕásqiʔ, serves as the education director and the Okanogan- Montessori guide in the elementary classroom, for children ages 6-12. In 2017, Melissa earned her Association of Montessori Internationale (AMI) Elementary teacher diploma from Montessori Northwest.
Korey Carden serves as the guide in the primary classroom, teaching children ages 3-6. He completed training in 2024 to be certified as a Montessori primary classroom guide from Authentic Institute of Montessori, a training center accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council of Teacher Education.
Tim Erb Jr. works as a language specialist, supporting the primary classroom. Tim completed his training as a Montessori classroom assistant in 2016 at Montessori Northwest. His daughter was one of the first students enrolled in 2010, prompting him into immersing himself in the language, as our culture has always been an extremely important part of his walk of life.
Katie Chalmers is currently in training to be an elementary guide at Montessori Northwest and is set to complete her training program in August 2025. She is co-teaching and assisting in the elementary classroom.