Recently Filled Positions
Leslie Harrington
Head of School
Austin, TX
Leslie Harrington – Mariposa Montessori School welcomed Leslie as their new in Fall, 2023. Leslie served as a Lead Guide for 8 years in Mariposa’s Nido environment. She was inspired to take on a leadership role and joined Mariposa’s administrative team as Director of Education in 2022. Leslie is proud to be in the HOS position where she can support Mariposa’s incredible families and staff. She is passionate, dedicated, and loves her school, her team and the children and youth of Mariposa. Her background includes working over the years across Montessori programs - Nido, Children’s House, and Lower Elementary. She received her Infant and Toddler credential from Houston Montessori Center in 2014. When not at the school, Leslie loves to spend time with her husband Ben and son Luke. She loves to go to comedy shows and explore the outdoors. Leslie is currently coached by Metro Consulting Services.
Caitlyn Solomon
Head of School
Beverly, IL
Caitlyn Solomon - Caitlyn (She/Her) was welcomed back to All Day Montessori (ADM) as a new Head of School after a brief departure of working in other Montessori schools in the Chicago area. She has nine years as a teacher and administrator, including six years at ADM. Caitlyn earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and her 3-6 Montessori certification from Xavier University in Cincinnati. Her love of learning continued as she got her M.ED in Educational Policy and Leadership with a focus on Diversity and Equity in Education from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Caitlyn also works as a white Anti-Racist facilitator for a consulting firm founded by a Montessorian in Chicago. When not in school, Caitlyn loves riding her bike, crocheting, reading, and being with her family. The ADM Board, Faculty and Parent body enthusiastically celebrated Caitlyn’s return to the school in this new leadership role. Caitlyn is currently coached by Metro Consulting Services.
Dave DeHarde
Head of School
Homewood, AL
Dave DeHarde has been hired as the new Director for Creative Montessori School, bringing almost 20 years of experience working in Montessori schools in Virginia, North Carolina and Alabama. After completing grad school and interning at Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, he started his career in school administration. Dave’s education includes an EC Montessori Credential (AMS), and a Master of School Administration, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC. “As an educator/administrator, I believe in finding a way to reach every child…I believe we make a promise to the child and the family. We will do whatever we can to help that child find that spark … We will also give them the choice to be an active and position participant in the work in which we live. How do we do this? We roll up our sleeves and reach them one at a time…” Creative Montessori Board, Administration and faculty enthusiastically look forward to Dave’s leadership.
Lauren
Welsh-Bauer
Head of School
Westminster, MD
Lauren Welsh-Bauer will move into the position of HOS of the Montessori School of Westminster (MSW), Summer 2023. Lauren is a long time, passionate contributing member of the MSW community. Lauren attended MSW as a student herself. She is a current Elementary teacher, mentors Montessori interns, and coordinates curriculum and staff for the summer camp program. She is currently completing the Educational Leadership Program (CGMS), has a M.A., St. Catherine University, and Montessori, Elementary 1 credential (Institute for Advanced Studies). She is active in the Westminster community, as a mentor and tutor, for Boys & Girls Club as well as manager, Youth Soccer Camps. When not working or volunteering in the community, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and pets. The Board and faculty welcome her leadership and a long-term commitment to the future of WMS
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.
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.