Tom Crowe
President, Co-Founder, Member of the Board, Elementary Guide
President, Elementary Guide, and Member of the Board
Tom Crowe has lived in the Labelle neighborhood of Steubenville since May 2008. He has been involved in non-profit, mission-oriented organizations dedicated to helping people improve their lives his entire professional life. After he and Noëlle were married in 2017 he learned more about the Montessori method and its underlying philosophy and recognized that it had significant potential to aid what ails the society around him. He and Noëlle founded Hilltop Children’s House in 2017, with the children’s house opening in fall 2018. Since the founding, Tom has served as president of the organization, chief maintenance man, chief fundraiser, web guru, assistant to the guide in the Primary program, and whatever else is needed.
As of the 2022-23 school year he took on the role of lead guide in our newly launched Elementary Program, with the aid of a very capable assistant, Rebekah Feeley. Tom has completed the orientation training for both the Primary and Elementary levels through the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies, one of the AMI facilities in the United States. He is currently working on the Elementary Guide diploma course through SIMS.
Noëlle Crowe
Vice President, Co-Founder, Member of the Board, Primary Guide
Director of Programs, Primary Guide, and Member of the Board (also Secretary)
Noëlle Crowe earned her bachelor’s degree from Franciscan University in 1995 and then lived in the Labelle neighborhood of Steubenville for two years while she was earning her MBA, also at FUS. She then left Steubenville, but moved back in 2016. Noëlle’s professional career has been mostly in education, particularly as a leader of religious education programs. She received training in all three levels of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which is the Montessori method applied to religious education. From that foundation she sought other opportunities to bring the Montessori method to others who could benefit from it. After she and Tom were married in 2017 she introduced the idea of establishing a Montessori program in the Labelle neighborhood, where many families are struggling.
In 2021 Noëlle significantly upgraded her Montessori expertise by completing the primary guide certification program through the AMI-certified Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies.
Since opening the doors in fall 2018, Noëlle has served as the guide in the children’s house, as well as vice president of the organization, plus as a major fundraiser, and whatever else has been needed.
Members of the Board of Trustees
Tanner Whitham
Chairman of the Board
Tanner Whitham works in the Marketing and Communications Office at Franciscan University of Steubenville. He and his wife have two children at Hilltop Children’s House. Tanner has served as chairman of the board since early 2023.
Heidi Ryan
Treasurer
Heidi Ryan and her husband, Bill, own and operate Dungeon Hollow Brewery and had two children in attendance at Hilltop Children’s House. Heidi has a passion for making things happen and helping others to improve their lives.
Paul Crowe
Paul Crowe is the founder and former president of Crowe’s Cabinets, Inc. He is a past member of Rotary Club of Hubbard, Ohio, and has extensive experience as a volunteer on community projects and with organizations in which he is involved.
Holly Coakley
Holly Coakley has had children at Hilltop Children’s House since we opened our doors in 2018. She and her husband have four children at HCH at present, with two more students on the way. She is a member ex-officio due to her position as president of the Home-School Association.
Robert Corzine
Robert Corzine lived in the Labelle neighborhood of Steubenville from 2003 to 2021, and still works in education in Steubenville. He is a charter member of the Board of Hilltop Children’s House, and served as chairman of the Board between our founding in 2017 and 2023.
James Wurzler
James Wurzler has a background in Montessori education and had two daughters at Hilltop Children’s House. He has lived in the Labelle neighborhood of Steubenville for many years and loves opportunities to make a difference in others’ lives.