Joining the Pieces Together for Peace

Dr. Cindy Acker (she/her) is a Montessori educator, activist, author, playwright, and keynote speaker. Cindy holds a bachelor's degree in human development, two master's degrees (educational leadership and cultural studies/spirituality, and a doctorate in educational leadership from UC Berkeley. She is a six-time award winner, recently receiving the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion award from the city of Alameda. She is former president of one of California's preschool associations and former vice president of the National Child Care Association. She sits on the International Montessori Council board as the head of the Social Justice Task Force. She is well known for her work and advocacy in diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice, and trains heads of schools and teachers regarding social justice policies, and trains teachers to understand state curriculum laws while teaching with historical integrity. Her newest book, The Road Beyond Diversity, is a tool to support teachers in the classroom. Her play, Words That Made the Difference: Brown v. Board of Education is currently touring in cities across the United States. She was trained by the late Ursula Thrush, and is head of school for The Child Unique Montessori School in Alameda, CA.

Earl Brown is a former Correctional Officer, Probation Officer, and Case Manager of an "at-risk" youth group home. He has a bachelor's degree in Political Science with a Minor in Criminal Justice. His goal when he left Georgia was to become a International Lawyer for the United Nations. While in law school, Earl worked as an Adult Probation Officer, and he became frustrated at the number of juveniles on his caseload. At intake, Earl would find out that these youth were homeless or lack family support. This led Earl to finding a way to connect with youth without them entering the criminal justice system. Earl is now a professional in the public speaking sector as a professional keynote speaker, consultant, and workshop facilitator. He currently travels to K–12 schools, college, universities, and residential facilities to speak about Resilience, Relationships, and Respect. His goal is to inspire and encourage youth to reach their full potential despite experiencing adversity.

Savannah Calaway just ended her 6th year of teaching at Cowles Montessori for the Des Moines Public School District. She received her AMS and MACTE 3–6 certificate from Nebraska Kearney University. At her school she has been the Team Lead for our six Children's House classrooms as well as the Community Lead for the school (Preschool–8th grade) as a whole. In that time she has also been developing the craft of observations and diving deep into curriculum in each area of the classroom. Savannah was selected as a 40 under 40 Montessorian for the AMS and AMI Summit in 2023.

Elizabeth Channel serves as the Head of School for Wausau Area Montessori Charter School which is an instrumentality of the Wausau School District.  She began her career in education in North Carolina where she earned her National Board Certification.  She also had the opportunity to teach in Okinawa, Japan where her husband completed his 20-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, before moving to Wisconsin to live near family.  Her passion for ensuring high quality educational experiences for all children aligns with her belief in Montessori education.  Elizabeth holds a Bachelor’s Degree from North Carolina A&T State University in Child Development: Early Education and Family Studies (Birth–Kindergarten), a Master’s Degree from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro in Curriculum and Instruction (K–6), and an additional Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in Montessori Education (E1 & E2).  She is currently pursuing her Doctoral Degree in K–12 Educational Leadership at Edgewood College.  Elizabeth has also been serving as the president of the Wisconsin Montessori Association (WMA) since 2023.

Kathleen Cotter Clayton is the daughter of Dr. Joan A. Cotter, author and developer of the RightStart Mathematics program. Kathleen is involved with curriculum development and has written or co-authored 18 mathematic manuals. She travels, teaches online middle-school classes, and speaks across the US and Canada, sharing the mission to help children understand, apply, and enjoy mathematics. In her spare time, Kathleen designs and creates quilts and loves to travel all around the world.

Joan A. Cotter, Ph.D. has a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an AMI Montessori diploma (ages 3–6), a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the College of St. Thomas (now University of St. Thomas), and a doctorate in Mathematics Education from the University of Minnesota. She started a Children's House in Hutchinson, MN. She also taught children in Montessori schools in Minneapolis/St. Paul, ages 3–6, and older children with learning challenges, and taught mathematics to students in grades 6–8. Joan is the author of the RightStart Mathematics program, Math Card Games: 300 Games for Learning and Enjoying Math, and co-author of Chemistry Card Games. Dr. Cotter is president, curriculum developer, and math consultant for Activities for Learning, Inc. and has spoken nationally in 34 states and internationally in four countries.

Adam Egherman, M.Ed., is an elementary consultant and adult educator in Des Moines, IA. Adam is AMS credentialed for Elementary I and II and is an AMS credentialed Teacher Instructor.

Ola Elserwi is an Egyptian Montessori teacher by heart, pharmacist by major. She started my Montessori journey 10 years ago when an accident happened to her daughter which drove her to open the first Montessori school at her hometown in Mansoura, Egypt. She has been studying, teaching, and experimenting Montessori since 2013. Ola has held many positions starting with teaching, coordination, teacher training, and curriculum designing. She has worked hard to spread Montessori in Egypt then moved to the U.S. three years ago to gain more knowledge and experience. Ola a way to Montessorize any topic and align it with Montessori philosophy, curriculum design is her passion.

Peggy Enerson holds a Master's Degree in Montessori Education from the University of Wisconsin River Falls. She is an AMS-credentialed Early Childhood Guide. Peggy works at New Discoveries Montessori Academy in Hutchinson, MN as an Early Childhood guide and Montessori mentor. Her interests include gardening and many other outdoor activities.

Ann Epstein is a Professor of Early Childhood Education at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse where she directs the undergraduate ECE program. She teaches courses addressing early childhood language, emergent literacy, curriculum and assessment. Ann's research interests include supports for young children with disabilities and effective mentoring. Ann was a Montessori teacher with 3–6-year-olds before completing her doctoral studies in early childhood special education.

Kate Garfin is a local Montessorian who has held roles as a classroom lead and a school administrator. She holds bachelor's degrees in psychology and social studies education as well as a Master's from UW-River Falls in School Supervision and Instructional Leadership. In 2019, Kate earned her Montessori diploma from AMI in Adolescent Studies. For the past 8 years, she has worked at La Crescent Montessori & STEM School where she is currently an Adolescent Guide focusing on Social Studies and Humanities Education. Her areas of specialty include research skills, genocide studies, and differentiated project design.

University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) Faculty, Cindy Goldade holds a M.Ed. in Montessori and a B.S. in preschool through grade six. Cindy taught 3&ndsh;6 year-olds at her school in Ham Lake, Minnesota for ten years before homeschooling her own children. She wrote Keys to Literacy and continues to teach the Montessori Literacy Foundations course at UWRF. She teaches locally and around the world as a Master Trainer for MN ACHIEVE, International Faculty for Brain Gym^®, tutor for homeschool cooperatives, and more. Cindy is AMI-credentialed (Primary).

Patti Cogley Hoerner holds a Master's Degree in Montessori Education from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Patti works at New Discoveries Montessori Academy in Hutchinson, MN as an E1 guide and Environmental Education Coordinator. Her interests are in music, theater, science, and discovering the wonders of our outdoor classroom.

Candace Jackson is a Montessori Certified Lead Teacher (Birth-3). She has been at Hope Montessori Academy in St. Louis, Missouri for 19 years. Candace has a bachelor's of arts degree in Psychology, and is a Montessori Mom to an energetic 4 year old boy and a wife to her husband of 9 years. She has presented at several regional Montessori symposiums and is a 3 time presenter at the National Montessori Conference (The Montessori Event). Candace has  been at Hope Montessori Academy as a Lead Educator, Supervising teacher, and is a Field Consultant for Hope Montessori Educational Institute. 

Nicolas Lepine is the athletic director, physical education instructor, and sports coach for Rogers Park Montessori School in Chicago, IL. Before working as an AD and PE teacher, he was in the Montessori upper elementary classroom for over a decade. He has a B.S. in exercise physiology from the University of Illinois and a Master's in Montessori Education from St. Catherine's University, where he completed his AMS Elementary One and Two certificates. This unique combination of skills allowed him to create Montessori Physical Education, which is a curriculum that integrates the Montessori classroom curriculum with physical education games. You can find his website at montessoriphysicaleducation.com, where you can learn more about how PE games can teach Montessori concepts, a free resources section, and links to the weekly blog and store.

Caitlin O'Connor has been a Montessorian since 2012, a 3–6 guide since 2015, and a Head of School since 2022. She lives in River Falls, Wisconsin with her husband and 3 children.

Chris Peterson is a husband, a father, and an educator. Don't ask him what he teaches because his response is always "people". He's been blessed with a number of opportunities to work with parents, students and educators all around the nation, leading workshops on classroom management and discipline, as well as parenting classes. Chris is excited to teach, and even more excited to learn, working to realize his vision to: Influence the development of the next generations of world-class citizens.

Brenda Petta completed AMS Montessori Primary Level Training at Saint Catherine's University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, a Master's Degree in Elementary Education at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Wisconsin, and two levels of MACAR training at the Shelton School in Dallas, Texas. She has taken the initial course for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
Brenda's experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco, a Children's House teacher in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and a Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University board member highlight the importance of cultural sensitivity. As many as fourteen ethnicities, and a vast array of socio-economic levels, were represented in a single classroom during her tenure in St. Paul. Brenda has conducted teacher education training and/or workshops in Vietnam, China, Greece, Poland, Morocco, Jordan, and Kenya, as well as visiting the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and India.

Brenda taught at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls from 2012 through 2018 where she developed numerous courses for the Montessori Teacher Education Program. She served as the program's Early Childhood Coordinator for three years. Her interest in supporting students with learning differences has been a driving force for her continued work in the Montessori community.

Dr. Margaret Phinney, Professor Emerita at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, currently works as a literacy consultant, academic faculty and children's book author. She is the former director of the Reading Program at UWRF and the author of Reading with the Troubled Reader. With Dr. Ward, she also co-authored Reading Development: A Handbook of Assessment and Instruction (Vol. 1 and 2) as well as three teaching strategy books: Traditional Tales, Interconnectedness, and Social Justice. Margaret worked for several years as an elementary school teacher and reading specialist. She served in the Peace Corps in Venezuela where she applied Montessori principles in her work establishing a preschool.

Caroline Robbins (she/her) is a public Montessori administrator and doctoral student in Montessori Studies. She currently serves as assistant principal of Maryland Avenue Montessori School in Milwaukee Public Schools and is studying for an Doctorate of Education at UWRF. Caroline holds an AMI Primary diploma and has worked as a Primary guide, bilingual guide, admissions director, family liaison, and ESL teacher in both public and private Montessori communities. She is also trained in Self-Compassion for Children, has backgrounds in mindfulness and arts integration, and is a graduate of the Whole School Leadership Institute for Montessori school leaders. Caroline has two Montessori children in elementary and adolescent programs, who have been on their own Montessori journeys since infancy.

Kai Rodgers is in her second year as the principal at River Falls Public Montessori Elementary. Prior to this, she was the Curriculum Coordinator at Rochester Montessori School and Head of School at Red Cottage Montessori School. She holds a B.A. in Sociology, B.Ed. in Elementary Education, M.Ed. in Montessori, and M..S in Instructional and Educational Leadership. She received her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of MN.

Raised in a Montessori home, by a mother who is a Montessori teacher, I also attended Montessori school through Upper Elementary. I taught in a Montessori school and have two daughter who attended Montessori through Middle school. I am a Montessori child, student, teacher and parent.

I've authored Ballet's Child, a full-length contemporary ballet documenting the autobiographical story of a young girl recovering from an eating disorder. I have a forthcoming memoir centered around raising children in the midst of grief and also a book centered around fostering emotional intelligence in parenting.

In my private practice I've served as an Educational and Parenting Consultant across the country, working with parents of students in ESE, Gifted, students with Autism, Dyslexia, Sensory Processing Disorder, and various learning and behavioral differences. I hold a B.F.A. from Emerson College and an M.F.A. from Sarah Lawrence College.

Having taught in private and public schools, I've worked with children of all ages. I've created Profession Development on Social Emotional Learning, serving as a mentor.

At the age of 18, I earned my certification to teach infants and children to swim. Teaching over a thousand children while educating parents about their child's emotional, physical, and developmental stages.

Satomi Shinde is Professor of Special Education and Chair of Education Department at University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF). Dr. Shinde has a clinical background and has worked with individuals with a variety of abilities. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, specializing in special education, from the University of Minnesota. Currently, she teaches special education courses at the UWRF. Her research interests include health and well-being for people with developmental disabilities, co-teaching, assessments for students with individual education plans, self-determination for students with disabilities, employment for individuals with disabilities, and technology to support individuals with disabilities. She understands issues related to inclusion for individuals with disabilities in both the United States and Japan, where she is originally from. Additionally, she has received/was involved with multiple federal and international research grants

David Shelton-Dodge, AMS 0–3, Med, AGC is the infant-toddler practicum director at Hope Montessori Educational Institute in St.Louis, MO. He spent 36 years as head of school at Hope Montessori Infant-Toddler Community — 26 of those years as a toddler guide. He also is coordinator of a regional Montessori conference each year in St. Louis, MO.

Wyatt Tolles has been a part of the Montessori community since 2012. He spent his first three years in Early Childhood and receiving his certification. Since then, he has received his ELI-II certification while teaching in classrooms of different ages (6–9, 6–12, and 9–12). He has also joined the West Side Montessori School TEP as an instructor and field consultant at the Elementary I and II levels. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, being with his dogs, and spending time outdoors hiking, kayaking, or camping.

Bruce Trueblood has been teaching practically since birth, having come from generations of teachers. He has taught in public, private, parochial, charter and corporate settings. In addition to teaching, Bruce enjoys traveling, reading, games, and numerous hobbies and crafts.

Dr. Gay Ward is the 2024 AMS Living Legacy. She is a Professor Emerita currently working as a consultant and academic faculty for the Montessori Graduate Teacher Education Masters and Ed.D. programs at UW River Falls. She is the former director of the Montessori Teacher Education Program and the Early Childhood Major and Minor programs at UWRF. She also taught in the Reading Program. Dr. Ward taught Montessori Elementary for several years and is E1 credentialed.

Hi there! I'm Eryn Weems. As a native of Colorado Springs, Colorado, bride to my "Mr. Incredible" and a mother of three wonderful children! My journey to discovering Montessori has been quite an adventure! After serving as an Intelligence Analyst in the Air Force in the D.C. Metropolitan area for over 10 years, I realized I wasn't fulfilled. That's when I stumbled upon my true calling: Montessori education. Immersing myself in research and exploration of this pedagogy, I found that the Montessori Method perfectly aligned with my personal beliefs, values, and goals. I completed my Montessori Early Childhood Education in 2020 and have since served as a Classroom Directress. Now, I am proud to be Mountain Willow's Co-Founder and Head of School. Every day, I have the privilege of partnering with amazing children, families, and guides. I am convinced I have the best job on the planet!