About Us

/About Us

Our mission is to help public schools deliver high-quality, personalized education through Montessori.

The National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector is an independent non-profit organization supporting the growth of public Montessori with tools and resources, training and orientation, and direct school services.

We cultivate a robust network of teachers, coaches, leaders, policy-makers, and researchers who share a commitment to child-centered developmental education—and the life-changing transformations that result.

Founded initially by the American Montessori Society in 2012 and incorporated independently in 2015, NCMPS has grown to national stature, working directly with dozens of schools, supporting hundreds of teachers, and impacting the lives of tens of thousands of children in public Montessori programs throughout the U.S.

NCMPS co-founder and visionary inspiration Jackie Cossentino passed away in December, 2019. You can read more about her and access her published work here: Remembering Jackie Cossentino

About Us

Advancing Montessori education in the public sector

A robust network of practitioners, researchers, parents, and leaders

NCMPS 131 Public Schools Supported

146

Public Schools Supported

NCMPS 1,023 Teachers Served

1,294

Teachers, Coaches, and Leaders Supported

NCMPS 368 Coaches Trained

45

Tools Published

Total Reach

5,000+ adults • 500+ schools and organizations • 50,000+ children

Our Team

Sandra Wyner AndrewSandra Wyner Andrew

Montessori Specialist

sandra.wyner@public-montessori.org

Sandra supports online learning and teacher residency for NCMPS.

David Ayer, Communications DirectorDavid Ayer

Communications Director

david.ayer@public-montessori.org

David oversees communications and serves as Editorial Director for MontessoriPublic. He is a Montessori parent and spouse, and has worked as a Montessori teacher, program developer, administrator, writer, speaker, and advocate. Full Bio →

Katie BrownKatie Brown

Director of Professional Learning

katie.brown@public-montessori.org

Katie oversees NCMPS’s professional learning offerings and manages select research projects. Full Bio →

Maria CarvajalMaría Carvajal

Program Manager and Coach

maria.carvajal@public-montessori.org

Maria supports schools, organizations, and the Montessori Teacher Residency for NCMPS. Full Bio →

Laure FlemingLaure Fleming

Program Manager and Coach, Mid-Atlantic Region

laure.fleming@public-montessori.org

Laure supports schools and organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region through program development and coaching. An experienced educator, administrator, and advocate, Laure understands the complex challenges faced by public Montessori teachers, leaders, and schools as they work in service to children. Full Bio →

Allison JonesAllison Jones

Senior Associate

allison.jones@public-montessori.org

Katy MattisKaty Mattis

Director of Assets and Tools

katy.mattis@public-montessori.org

Katy coordinates the creation, dissemination and editing of NCMPS tools and supports DERS training and implementation. Katy has worked in private, charter and magnet Montessori programs teacher, instructional leader and principal. Full Bio →

Karen SimonKaren Simon

Bilingual Montessori Specialist

karen.simon@public-montessori.org

Karen supports Spanish-speaking teachers and leaders in public Montessori schools. Her work includes adapting and translating tools and resources, and creating and delivering professional development opportunities. Full Bio →

Elizabeth SladeElizabeth G. Slade

Director of Coach Montessori

elizabeth.slade@public-montessori.org

Elizabeth has been a Montessori educator since 1987. Her extensive work in the public sector has included posts as a teacher, mentor, coach, and Coordinator of Teaching and Learning. In addition, she consults for public Montessori schools across the country and is a frequent presenter at regional and national Montessori conferences and contributor to Montessori and non-Montessori publications. Full Bio →

Sara SuchmanSara Suchman

Acting Executive Director

sara.suchman@public-montessori.org

In her role as Acting Executive Director, Sara oversees the administration, programs and strategic plan of NCMPS. Sara was a Montessori child, and has worked as a teacher, administrator, and curriculum & program designer for public and private schools in the U.S. and abroad. She is deeply committed to building schools that honor the wisdom of children and the teachers who guide them. Full Bio →

Maati WaffordMaati Wafford

Race and Equity Advisor

Maati advises NCMPS on race and equity issues as well as presenting and teaching courses on culturally responsive Montessori implementation.

maati.wafford@public-montessori.org

Seth D. Webb

Program Manager and Coach, Rocky Mountain Region

seth.webb@public-montessori.org

Seth designs and organizes school-based support, training, and program development for Montessori schools in the Rocky Mountain region, centered in Denver and reaching out to surrounding states. Full Bio →

Keith Whitescarver, Executive DirectorKeith Whitescarver

Director of Entrepreneurial Initiatives

keith.whitescarver@public-montessori.org

 

Keith works to change the national conversation by bringing internally developed tools to scale with partners and schools within and beyond Montessori. Keith is a Montessori parent, an historian, and a former high school history teacher and university professor. Full Bio →

Partners and Associates

David C. Bagnoli, AIADavid C. Bagnoli, AIA

Consulting Architect

info@studiombdc.com

Phil DosmannPhil Dosmann

Senior Associate

phil.dossman@public-montessori.org

John FreemanJohn Freeman

Senior Associate

john.freeman@public-montessori.org

Iheoma U. Iruka

Senior Research Associate

IIruka@highscope.org

Projects

Teach Montessori is an invitation to learn more about Montessori teacher jobs, Montessori training, Why choose Montessori and more…

MontessoriPublic is a digital and print communications & advocacy platform bringing Montessori into the public conversation.

The Montessori Census collects data about Montessori schools (public and private) in the U.S. and around the world. The Census currently has information for 500+ public programs and 2,000+ private schools in the U.S.

The DC Montessori Teacher Residency promoting teacher success in high-need, urban schools striving for fully implemented Montessori in the public sector.

Breakthrough Montessori offers free, high quality Montessori education to families in Washington, DC.

Our Funders & Supporters

We are grateful to key funders who have supported NCMPS’s growth and impact over the years.

The Walton Family Foundation
Trust for Learning
Harold Simmons Foundation
CityBridge Education
American Montessori Society
McCall Kulak Family Foundation
Moving Kids Forward (MKF)

Our Board

NCMPS is governed by a Board of Trustees which includes leaders from both the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) and the American Montessori Society (AMS), as well as funders and strategy experts with experience in the education reform world.

Bob Burakoff

Independent Consultant, Former ED of Harvard Business School’s Social Enterprise Initiative

Jennifer DavidsonJennifer Davidson

Secretary, Trustee for AMI Global, former ED of Montessori Northwest, Head of School of Montessori in the Redlands

Jeff KutashJeff Kutash

Chair, Executive Director of Peter Kiewit Foundation, Montessori parent, former management consultant

Marianna McCallMarianna McCall

Treasurer, Founding Partner, Trust for Learning, Montessori parent and expert, philanthropist

Richard UngererRichard Ungerer

Former ED of American Montessori Society, Independent Montessori Consultant