Recently Filled Positions
Claudia Wright
Head of School
Springfield, VA
Claudia Wright began her tenure as a new Head of School at St. Mark's Montessori in Fall 2020. She is a seasoned Montessori teacher, teacher leader, teacher educator and consultant. Her experience is vast, including the role of Assistant Head, Springs Montessori and Instructor and Teacher Educator, Institute
Advanced Montessori Studies. Her impressive background includes ten years as a lead toddler teacher with expertise in parent education and program development. Credentials include a B.S. in Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Studies and an AMS Infant/Toddler Credential. Claudia brings her first-hand experience running and managing all the different components of a school.
Jayne Martin
Head of School
Lafayette, CA
Jayne will commence her position as Head of School at Diablo Valley Montessori School , Lafayette, California, in the summer of 2021. With 17 years of employment and volunteerism at Valley Montessori School (VMS) as a teacher leader, Montessori elementary teacher and active parent. Jayne is praised for her proficiencies in supervising and mentoring new teachers, cultivating strong, trusting parent relationships and contributing positively to the VMS community through her leadership and love of Montessori education. Her expertise and experiences range from the AMS accreditation process, strategic planning, fundraising and the AMS Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program.
Jennifer Spikner
Head of School
Chicago, IL
Jennifer brings to the Montessori Academy of Chicago over twenty plus years of successful Montessori leadership and administrative experience. She was the previous Head of School, Elizabeth Academy, in Salt Lake City, Utah and also served as an Assistant Visiting Professor & Co-Program Director, Institute for Montessori Innovation at Westminster College, Salt Lake City. She is known for her work with the inclusive Montessori Education Model and presentations at numerous national and international conferences. Her credentials include a Master of Education, Educational Leadership, and Montessori certification, Elementary.
Jonelle Cotone
Head of School
Fort Washington, MD
Jonelle brings Montessori expertise and experience to her new role as Head of the Beddow Montessori School. She has over 8 years of Montessori
Primary teaching experience and school leadership. Her expertise included creating training and supervisory programs for Montessori assistants, leading parent education programs, and developing inclusive practices to support children with learning differences. Jonelle provided the leadership for creation of distance learning programs for her previous school’s primary program to support teachers, parents and children during the Covid-19 crisis. Her credentials include AMS Primary Credential and Early Childhood Development course work.
Michelle Edwards
Head of School
Rensselaer, NY
After much research and deliberation, the decision was made to hire an internal candidate - the best candidate, Michelle Edwards at Woodland Hill Montessori. As the Assistant Head of School, she exemplified her strengths, and her dedication and love of the school, Michelle joined the Woodland Hill community in 2012 as lead toddler teacher helping to develop our new toddler program. In 2016, Michelle joined the administration team. Most recently she organized and led the re-accreditation process. Michelle holds a Bachelors of Arts in Education from Grove City College and a Master of Education in School Administration from Lamar University and Montessori Certification.
Susan Kambrich
Executive Director
New York, NY
Susan brings an impressive level of Montessori educational and professional leadership to the Twin Parks Montessori Schools. A bright visionary, Susan is a talented and pragmatic administrator with notable financial and personnel management skills. For the past 20 years, Susan has been the Head of School at the Woodland Hill Montessori School in Rensselaer, strengthening academic excellence, hiring and retaining excellent Montessori educators, increasing enrollment and creating successful programs for faculty development and parent engagement. She also recently completed her doctorate in educational leadership with a dissertation in Montessori education.
Vicki McCarthy
Head of School
Amelia Island, FL
Amelia Island Montessori School welcomes Vicki as the new Head of School for the 2022-2023 school year. Vicki is passionate about supporting others. She is a highly organized person and can see the big picture to help guide the students and teachers to be the most successful that they can be.She has been in education for over almost 20 years and has worked as a Montessori school administrator for 13 years. Her key strengths are teacher mentoring, Montessori outreach, and business acumen. Vicki has Montessori certifications Birth through Elementary II so she brings a wealth of experience to Amelia Island.