Faculty AND STAFF

"The greatest sign of success for a teacher...is to be able to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist.' " // Maria Montessori

Our faculty are all highly-skilled educators, with a Montessori-certified teacher in every classroom. We are committed to the professional development of all of our teachers, staying in touch with the latest educational and child development research, while maintaining the core tenets of the Montessori philosophy. Additionally, all teachers and staff are re-certified in CPR and Basic First Aid on a yearly basis.

We are always interested in hearing from talented teachers! If you are interested in joining our team, see our Employment Page.

ADMINISTRATION

Oma Harris HEAD OF SCHOOL Deborah "Oma" Harris became the Head of School at Montessori Centre in 2001, after her grandson thrived in the Montessori environment. During his experience, she founded the PTA and later completed the VMTC AMS Infant Toddl… — **Oma Harris**
*HEAD OF SCHOOL*
Deborah "Oma" Harris became the Head of School at Montessori Centre in 2001, after her grandson thrived in the Montessori environment. During his experience, she founded the PTA and later completed the VMTC AMS Infant Toddler training.

Jen Cullison DIRECTOR Jen is our Director, and began her teaching career with a B.S. in education from Lipscomb University in 2001. She also has the NAMC Early Childhood Credential, as well as a TN teaching license for K-8. Jen taught for 17 years b… — **Jen Cullison**
*DIRECTOR*
Jen is our Director, and began her teaching career with a B.S. in education from Lipscomb University in 2001. She also has the NAMC Early Childhood Credential, as well as a TN teaching license for K-8. Jen taught for 17 years before being appointed Director. She has two children who both attended Montessori Centre, and loves to travel with her family.

**Kristen Smith**
*ASSISTANT DIRECTOR*
Kristen has worked at Montessori Centre since 2008, serving as the Assistant Director. She uses her design background to create our newsletters and to help the school run smoothly each day. Kristen has a B.A. in English from Arizona State University, and enjoys traveling, learning French, and writing.

**Amy Wormer**
*ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT*
Amy began working as our Administrative Assistant in 2013. She maintains our student and employee files for the state and plays an integral part in our daily operations. Amy is a dedicated mother to her children and was a stay-at-home mom prior to joining our team.

Barbara Sung Blackwell ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR Barbara has an accounting degree from MTSU and has been at Montessori Centre since 2014, working as our Director of Admissions and Accounting. She is the point person for our new families and helps with general administrative duties. Barbara also has a watercolor and hand lettering business called Paper by BB. — **Barbara Sung Blackwell**
*ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR*
Barbara has an accounting degree from MTSU and has been at Montessori Centre since 2014, working as our Director of Admissions and Accounting. She is the point person for our new families and helps with general administrative duties. Barbara also has a watercolor and hand lettering business called Paper by BB.

**Joshua Larkin**
*ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT*
Joshua attended Montessori Centre in the early 2000s and has joined the team to help with technology needs, yearbook and Spanish. He completed a B.S. in Computer Science in 2016 and worked for Microsoft for 2.5 years before coming home to Nashville. He enjoys watching movies, making bagels and spending time with friends.

Staff

**Alethea Goodman**
*LIBRARIAN*
Alethea began working at Montessori Centre in 2012. She earned her B.S. in Child Psychology at MTSU and received her NAMC Early Childhood Credential in 2013. Alethea worked as a Primary lead teacher until May of 2022, when she began a part time position as our librarian. Outside of school she enjoys family time, traveling, gardening and hanging out with all of her animals.

**Janani Achchillage**
*SUPPORT STAFF*
Janani moved to Nashville from Sri Lanka in 2015 and completed a Bachelors of Engineering at Tennessee Tech in 2022. She loves painting and gardening.

**John Jackson**
*MUSIC TEACHER*
John Jackson has been teaching guitar and classroom music for over 20 years at Montessori Centre and is one of Nashville’s finest guitarists, having played in the touring bands of Bob Dylan, Shelby Lynne, Lucinda Williams and many more.

**Aleah Tolbert**
*SUPPORT STAFF + TODDLER AFTER CARE LEAD*
Aleah is a new and eager member of our family! She was born in Kentucky, earned an A.A. of Psychology from Nashville State and also studied at Trevecca Nazarene University. She loves to make people laugh, spend time with her friends and family, painting and reading.

**Padma Kankanamala**
*SUPPORT STAFF*
Padma has been at Montessori Centre since 2016. She helps keep our school clean and steps in as float staff wherever she is needed. Before moving to the U.S. from Sri Lanka with her husband and two children, Padma earned a Montessori Early Childhood Credential and taught for three years in a toddler classroom. In her free time, Padma loves making art and spending time with her family.

**Natalie Ledezma**
*SUPPORT STAFF*
Natalie was born and raised in Nashville. Her love for children brought her to work at Montessori Centre, and she has worked in Montessori education since 2021.

**Stephanie Mendez**
SUPPORT STAFF
Stephanie is Nashville born and raised! Her son attends Montessori Centre , and was a stay-at-home mom prior to joining MC. She enjoys spending time with family and learning more about the Montessori approach.

**Molly Henderson**
*SUPPORT STAFF + PRIMARY AFTER CARE LEAD*
Molly has a passion for the Montessori philosophy and is always ready to give a helping hand. She worked as a classroom assistant in another Montessori school before joining us in 2020.

FACULTY

**Megan Gibson**
*ROBINS CO-TEACHER*
Megan joined our team in 2014 and is a co-teacher in the Primary “Robins” classroom. She earned a B.S. and M.A.T. at Belmont, and has both her TN K-3 teaching license and the AMS Primary certification. Megan has two sons who both attended Montessori Centre.

**Ashley Queen**
*ROBINS CO-TEACHER*
Ashley joined our team back in 2009 and is a co-teacher in the Primary “Robins” classroom. She earned a B.A. at Lipscomb University, and has both her TN K-6 teaching license and the NAMC Primary certification. Ashley has three children; her oldest son Wayland graduated in 2022, and her daughter Avery and son Baxter are currently enrolled at Montessori Centre.

Erica Hernandez WARBLERS CO-TEACHER Erica earned her NAMC certification in 2008 and her AMI Montessori certification in 2014. She has been a part of the Montessori Centre community since 2005. Prior to being our Warblers lead, Erica was a toddler assistant as well as an infant lead teacher. Erica has three children who have all graduated from Montessori Centre. — **Erica Hernandez**
*ROBINS ASSISTANT TEACHER*
Erica earned her NAMC certification in 2008 and her AMS Montessori certification in 2014. She has been a part of the Montessori Centre community since 2005. Prior to being our Warblers lead, Erica was a toddler assistant as well as an infant lead teacher. Erica has three children who have all graduated from Montessori Centre.

Jessica Muñoz CHICKADEES LEAD TEACHER Jessica joined our team in 2004, and her four daughters all attended Montessori Centre. She is our Toddler teacher in the "Chickadees" classroom, and earned the NAMC Infant/Toddler and Early Childhood Credential, as well as the VMTC AMS Infant Toddler Credential. — **Jessica Muñoz**
*CHICKADEES LEAD TEACHER*
Jessica joined our team in 2004, and her four daughters all attended Montessori Centre. She is our Toddler teacher in the "Chickadees" classroom, and earned the NAMC Infant/Toddler and Early Childhood Credential, as well as the VMTC AMS Infant Toddler Credential.

**Emy Gildea**
*CHICKADEES ASSISTANT TEACHER*
Emy began teaching children as a literacy tutor while earning her B.A. at Belmont University. She then went on to earn her M.A. in experimental psychology from MTSU. Emy is delighted to be practicing the Montessori philosophy at Montessori Centre. She loves how it encourages autonomy and respect for the environment. We are proud to have her working with our toddlers.

**Sophie Langworthy**
*SPARROWS LEAD TEACHER*
Sophie hails from Minnesota and went to college in San Diego, CA. Prior to moving to Nashville, Sophie worked at the Montessori School of Raleigh. This will be her 7th year teaching. Sophie is a MACTE certified toddler teacher and also completed the NAMC Primary Montessori credential in July 2023. In her free time, Sophie enjoys playing beach volleyball, working out and spending time with friends.

**Lauren Walker**
*SPARROWS ASSISTANT TEACHER*
We’re thrilled to have Lauren on our team. She is from Memphis, TN and holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Education from Lipscomb University. In Lauren’s free time she enjoys spending time with loved ones and studying history and the arts.

Kajin Tahir WARBLERS CO-TEACHER Kajin joined our team in 2017, and is a Toddler co-teacher t in the "Warblers" classroom. She has an A.S. degree from MTSU and completed her AMS toddler certification in May 2020. Kajin has one daughter and her love for young children brought her to Montessori Centre. — **Kajin Tahir**
*HUMMINGBIRDS LEAD TEACHER*
Kajin joined our team in 2017, and is a Toddler lead teacher in the "Hummingbird" classroom. She has an A.S. degree from MTSU and completed her NAMC toddler certification in May 2020. Kajin has one daughter and her love for young children brought her to Montessori Centre.

**Sabrina Wood**
*HUMMINGBIRDS ASSISTANT TEACHER*
Sabrina joined MC in 2023 and we are so excited she did.

Isabella “Bella” Daniels SUPPORT STAFF & PRIMARY AFTERCARE DIRECTOR We are so happy to have Bella on our team. This will be her 6th year at Montessori Centre. A fun fact: Bella was adopted as an infant from Guatamala! She has lived in Nashville her whole life and loves working with childen. — **Isabella “Bella” Daniels**
*WARBLERS LEAD TEACHER*
We are so happy to have Bella on our team. This will be her 7th year at Montessori Centre, and she completed her NAMC 0-3 certificate in March 2023. A fun fact: Bella was adopted as an infant from Guatamala! She has lived in Nashville her whole life and loves working with childen.

**Nena Tahir**
*WARBLERS ASSISTANT TEACHER*
Nena’s love of children brought her to Montessori Centre and we have been fortunate to have her on our team for the past four years. She is currently earning her degree in education for grades K-5.

**Annie Sapp**
*WRENS LEAD TEACHER*
Annie is the lead teacher in the Wrens classroom. She received her NAMC Montessori training in 2020. Annie was a Montessori student from primary (3-5) to 8th grade, and has a unique personal education under the Montessori Method. Annie is an alumni of Interlochen Arts Academy, and has danced with The Nashville Ballet. After retiring from dance, she came back to find roots in a Montessori community. In her spare time, Annie enjoys painting, collecting plants and advocating for eating disorder recovery.

**Isabella “Izzie” Huljev**
*WRENS ASSISTANT TEACHER*
Izzie moved to Nashville last year after spending her childhood and early adulthood in Southern California. She earned her B.A. in Visual Arts in 2022 from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. In her free time, she loves to work on film sets, rock climb, and bake. Izzie is thrilled to dive into the Montessori philosophy this year!

Elizabeth Bagger BLUEBIRDS CO-TEACHER Elizabeth joined our team in 2018 after relocating to Nashville from the southwest. After receiving her B.S. from the University of California, she completed her Primary AMI training in 1990, and has worked with infants, toddlers, primary and elementary-aged children. In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys crafting, sewing, woodworking and gardening. — **Elizabeth Bagger**
*BLUEBIRDS CO-TEACHER*
Elizabeth joined our team in 2018 after relocating to Nashville from the southwest. After receiving her B.S. from the University of California, she completed her Primary AMI training in 1990, and has worked with infants, toddlers, primary and elementary-aged children. In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys crafting, sewing, woodworking and gardening.

Spencer Thompson BLUEBIRDS CO-TEACHER Spencer began working at MC in 2015 as a toddler assistant, but over the years has worked with children ages 3 months to 6 years in multiple classrooms. She received her NAMC infant/toddler certification in 2016… — **Spencer Thompson**
*BLUEBIRDS CO-TEACHER*
Spencer began working at MC in 2015 as a toddler assistant, but over the years has worked with children ages 3 months to 6 years in multiple classrooms. She received her NAMC infant/toddler certification in 2016 and earned her B.A. in early childhood education from Lipscomb University in May of 2020.