Guides
Gina Applegate, Lower Elementary Guide
Gina Applegate graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Radio-Television-Film and spent a few years working in advertising, marketing, and communication before becoming a teacher. She later went on to earn a Masters in Education from Texas State University – San Marcos, and in 2007, and completed the AMI Elementary training at the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee. She began teaching lower elementary at Community Montessori School the same year. She is married to a fellow teacher and they have a son who attends CMS. Her favorite past time is traveling with her husband; they are proud to have over 50 stamps between the two of them in their passports.
Chrissy Davol, Children’s House Guide
Chrissy received her AMI Primary Training Course in Mexico City at Centro de Estudios de Educaccion in 1979. Her teaching experience includes:
2 years at La Escuelita de Montopolis Bilingual Montessori School Austin TX. 1979-1981.
1 year as a Toddler Assistant at CMS from 1987-1988
1 year as a Primary Assistant at CMS from 1988-1989
23 years as Primary Guide at CMS!
In the Summer 2011 Chrissy Davol attended the first Summer session for the Assistant to Infancy AMI Course in Denver, Colorado, and will complete this training and certification by 2013.
Chrissy has 2 sons who attended CMS from the Casita through Lower Elementary (at the time CMS only went through Lower Elementary). Both sons are now college graduates and Eagle Scouts! Chrissy enjoys cooking, backpacking, hiking, and fishing. Chrissy and her husband, Frank, who have been married for 30 years, are very involved in the Boy Scouts of America and are leaders and have been trainers of both Adults and Youth at the Council and National Level for 16 years.
Jinny Gonzalez, Casita Guide
While attending college in Puerto Rico in 1999 and studying child psychology, Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) opened a Primary training course in Puerto Rico and it was then that Jinny Gonzalez decided to pursue certification in Montessori education. Jinny obtained her certification in 2002 and during training, worked at Universidad del Nino in Puerto Rico, assisting in an Infant Community and then a Primary Classroom with 35 children. After training, she moved to Austin Texas and began working at Escuela Montessori de Montopolis. Escuela Montessori is a Dual Language, high quality Montessori program geared toward serving the needs of low income families and Hispanic, non English speaking children. This was a humbling experience and one that allowed Jinny to give back to the community. Jinny Gonzalez has been working at CMS since 2004 when she first worked with the All Day Community and later with a traditional class which she has been leading since 2005. This traditional class will once again transition into an All Day Community and Jinny Gonzalez will be facilitating this transition through out the year.
In the Summer 2011 Jinny Gonzalez attended the first Summer session for the Assistant to Infancy AMI Course in Denver, Colorado, and will complete this
training and certification by 2013. In addition, Jinny Gonzalez acts as a Liaison for both the Children’s House and Casita levels.
Jinny and her husband , Robert, have three sons: Kevin, Joshua and Sebastian. All three of their children have attended Montessori in both the Infancy and Children’s House levels and Sebastian is currently enrolled one of the Children’s House communities at CMS. Jinny enjoys reading, traveling, exercising and dancing as well as advocating for the benefits of natural births, breastfeeding, prepared environments, yoga, psychology and nutrition. She also loves sharing good times with family and lots of friends.
Nancy Gribble-Tay, Children’s House Guide
Nancy Gribble-Tay is a degreed educator with a lifelong teaching certificate from the state of Texas. Her children brought her to the Montessori system 15 years ago in Germany. Through observing her children and witnessing their remarkable development, Nancy decided to receive AMI training from the Montessori Institute Northwest in Portland, Oregon. In her years as a Montessori guide, she has learned as much from the children as they have learned from her! “Working at Community Montessori School has been a joy. Being a part of the school community has enabled me to build lasting relationships with families. The children gain so much academically, socially, and emotionally from their experience at CMS. They are lifetime learners.”
On this journey with Nancy is her husband, Mike, of 21 years and children: Simone and Gisele. Nancy enjoys gardening, creating art through acrylics, mixed media, fibers, and glass. Nancy is active daily through a variety of exercise.
John Hooper, Upper Elementary Guide
John Hooper attended Loyola University, and Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts where he received his undergraduate degree. He has both Primary and Elementary Montessori training and certification. He also holds a master’s degree in education from Loyola University in Baltimore.
John has 25 years of Montessori teaching experience and maintains the same enthusiasm for the philosophy and methodology that he started with! One of John’s memories of upper elementary (9 – 12 year old students) )Montessori was walking into a classroom to see children quietly working and reading and then noticing that the teacher was not even in the room. “Wow, this Montessori is really something for these children to have such self control. I have seen the upper elementary children accomplish some amazing things, and one common thread I’ve seen in Montessori across the country is that, no matter what they are learning, they love learning it.” John Hooper
Judith Kemper, Casita Guide
Judith Kemper and her husband, Will, along with several friends seeking the same type of learning experience for their children (teaching more about life, living and exploring), helped found Community Montessori School here in Georgetown, Texas in 1981. Although it was her original intention to discontinue involvement after launching the school, she went on to receive her A.M.I. Assistance to Infancy training in Houston, Texas in 1985-86 under the direction of Dr. Sylvana Montenaro and Ms. Judi Orion and has been connected to the school since.
She directed the Casita for the eight years and left in 1988 to work for a publishing company. Eventually, she returned to CMS to work as a substitute teacher and later accepted a position in an all – day Children’s House classroom with Rebecca Lowe. She received her Primary certification in 2004 and has been teaching in that capacity ever since.
Judith is excited about returning to the Casita in the fall of 2011. “Working in the various capacities here at CMS has afforded me the very best of life’s experiences. By observing children of different ages as they discover, work, and succeed, I am continuously in awe and amazement to be a part of this process. What a gift to have the opportunity to live and work at what I love most in life!”
Judith and Will (who also works at CMS) have eight children who all attended Montessori schools to varying levels and twenty three grandchildren! In addition to working with children, Judith enjoys reading, playing the piano, working puzzles, and swimming. My favorite time is enjoying the quiet of early morning as she sips coffee on the front porch with her sweetheart!
Cindy Ma, Children’s House Guide
Born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, Cindy’s schooling experiences cover a plethora of places across the world which also include Australia and Canada. Having a BA in English Literature from ACU as well as an AMI primary diploma from the AMI training centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, she now works in Georgetown, Texas, and has been teaching as a CMS guide since 2003. Cindy’s passion to enrich the children around her is far reaching as she hopes to touch even more with the Montessori Method. Her efforts and aspirations are inspirational, made evident as she was one finalist of many
nominees to receive the Austin Teacher of the Year Award in 2010 from a Fox 7 News competition.
In addition to her fondness for teaching, Cindy’s pastimes include gardening, sewing, beading, and other hobbies of the arts and crafts genre. She and her husband Trent, a Chiropractor, share interests in traveling, music, reading, and spending time with their two lovely cats.
Veena Rao, Lower Elementary Guide
Veena Rao Sukumar has been associated with CMS since 2001. She has a Bachelor’s degree in education from Bangalore and her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education (working under Prof. Lilian G. Katz) from the University of Illinois in Urbana –Champaign. Prior to joining CMS she taught Montessori in Phoenix AZ, Catania (in Sicily), Italy and Austin, TX. She spent thirteen years teaching primary and has worked with elementary children for the past seven years. Veena comes from a family of Montessori teachers. Her grandmother started a school in Italy in 1942 that continues to thrive and even serves more than 2000 students!
Veena is married and has two daughters who are alumni of Montessori primary and elementary. She enjoys cooking and traveling with her children and family.
Stephanie Sayre, Casita Guide
Stephanie Sayre received her AMI training in London in 1991. She has 9 years experience as a primary Guide. Stephanie has been at CMS for 3 years, this is her first year as a Guide here. Practicing Montessori as both a Guide and a parent has been a joyful and deeply enriching experience. Stephanie and her husband Vasken are parents to Lily (8) and Noah (6), both Lower Elementary students at CMS. Her family are board game affeciandos!
Administration
Shawn Edwards, Executive Director
Shawn Edwards became the Executive Director of Community Montessori School in July of 2010. She brings with her a background in psychology, human services, child development and years of experience teaching and administering in Montessori schools. Shawn obtained a Bachelor’s of Art degree from Mercer University where she majored in psychology and human services and spent five semesters interning in local schools, hospitals, and mental health facilities. After working for a year as an assistant teacher at the Post Oak School in Houston, Texas, she fell in love with the Montessori method and enrolled in the Washington Montessori Institute where she received an advanced education and elementary, Montessori teaching certification.
Shawn spent 16 years at the Post Oak school in the capacity of assistant, lead teacher and eventually administrator. Four years prior to moving to Georgetown, she was the Executive Director of Alcuin Montessori School. Under her leadership, Alcuin experienced increased enrollment, technical advancement including the launching of its first professional web site, and the beginning of a bi-lingual Spanish program. Shawn is most proud of the high – quality Adolescent program that she developed and launched in 2008.
Shawn loves working with children and loves the work of parent education, staff development and planning strategically for school growth and enhancement. She is happy to be back in Texas where she is close to extended family and friends. When she is not working, she enjoys running, playing tennis, reading, camping and spending quality time with her loved ones. Shawn and her husband, Shannon, have three children: a 19 year old daughter who currently attends Baylor University and two boys: 14 and 15 who attend Georgetown schools. They began their educations in Montessori schools as toddlers and stayed through elementary and middle school. ”Montessori gave my children a wonderful foundation. Not only are they comfortable with academic rigor; they are comfortable in life. They have become independent, young adults who are self directed and self correcting. Montessori gave them education for life – the ability to make good decisions, work cooperatively with others, and the desire to reach their full potentials.” Shawn Edwards
Jody French, Learning Specialist/Director of Special Programs
Jody French is a certified , AMS (American Montessori Society) Primary Guide and received her training at the Houston Montessori Center in Houston, Texas. Jody became interested in working with children at an early age and began tutoring younger children when she was in sixth grade. Upon graduation she looked for opportunities to continue working with children and became acquainted with Montessori. She brings to CMS 25 years of classroom experience.
Jody values the Montessori philosophy of educating the whole child. She appreciates allowing the children to progress at their own pace and the opportunity children have to explore their areas of interest in depth. Her daughter, Genessee, attended through her fourth grade year in upper elementary here at CMS. Her son, Anthony, attends Griffin High School in Austin. Jody loves the outdoors and she loves to hike and camp with her children. She and her family are animal activists, maintaining a feral cat colony and rescue facility for abandoned and/or abused animals. Jody loves gardening and sharing her love of nature with children. She feels it is of utmost importance to teach children to care for and respect the earth and all living creatures.
Jody discovered a passion for working with children who learn differently while helping her son navigate various learning challenges. She and Rebecca Lowe started the Solid Ground Program several years ago to help make Montessori accessible to as many children as possible. Solid Ground provides extra support to children with a variety of learning differences, thus the title of Learning Specialist. Jody also directs the enrichment and summer camp programs at CMS.
Allie Guajardo, Office Manager
Camey Harned, Business and Finance Manager
Jodi Johnson, Advancement Manager
Jodi Johnson began working at CMS in 2000 at CMS’ previous location. She started as a kitchen/program aide and then when moving to our current campus began her position as Office Manager. In the summer of 2006 Jodi left CMS and in June of 2010 joyfully returned to CMS as the Manager of Marketing and Admissions. In the summer of 2011 Jodi became CMS’ Advancement Manager.
In her spare time Jodi enjoys spending time with her nephews and niece and reading.
Auxillary
Rachael McConnell, Spanish Program Coordinator
Rachael McConnell came back to Community Montessori School in January of 2010 to implement the Spanish Immersion Program. Rachael is an alumna of Community Montessori School; attending three different campuses from 1988-1993, and having the wonderful opportunity of being a student of Rebecca Lowe. She later attended Georgetown schools and graduated from Georgetown High School in 2003. While in high school Rachael noticed she kept combining her love of music with her passion for working with children, whether it was teaching a math/music lesson at Math Rocks! Camp or serving as the musical director at VBS. Rachael began her university studies singing Opera at TCU, but transferred to The University of Texas at Arlington, after she understood her true calling was indeed in the field of education. She completed her Bachelors of Arts inPsychology with a minor in Music in 2008. During her psychology studies she focused on Cognitive and Developmental Psychology, and examined how the brain learns at different ages, and how to fully engage a child’s desire to learn.
A few months after graduating, Rachael moved to Argentina with her husband, Joshua, and their son, Isaac, where they lived for two years in Esquel, Chubut; a Patagonian town in the Andes. There she taught English at Colegio Fundacion Educativa Esquel, gave birth to a dual citizen, became enamored with South American culture, and developed relationships with two other area schools that she continues to stay in contact with to provide penpal exchanges.
Rachael and Joshua are also proud CMS parents. Their youngest son, Esmond, will start his Montessori journey in Children’s House this year. Rachael also looks forward to beginning training and certification as a Montessori guide in the very near future. Rachael enjoys reading, singing, eating and cooking international foods, continuing here ducation in the Spanish language, and laughing and dancing with all the boys in her life.
Assistants
Casita (18 months – 3 years old)
Mary Erlandson
Yurkio Lyne
Krysten Peters
Margarita Rodriguez
Children’s House ( 3 – 6 years old)
Denise Mazulo
Stephanie Nunez
Jenny Ochoa
Vanessa Batista
Rosa Whaley
Lenaire Grigsby
Elementary (6 – 12 years)
Maria Bunkley
Katlyn Guerrero
