Faculty & Staff

Katelyn Bratz, M.Ed, is the lead teacher for the Nature’s Classroom Institute and Montessori School’s Erdkinder Adolescent program, which she helped to create.  Katelyn has been teaching public and private school students since 2008. Her teaching career began focused on Environmental Education and agriculture, which developed naturally into an Erdkinder program.  Katelyn has earned her AMI Secondary I-II credential and her AMS Secondary I-II credential.  Katelyn also holds a Master’s degree in Montessori Education from Xavier University.

A Howard Hughes fellow who was awarded the Merck Fellowship while at Earlham College while earning her B.A.in biology, Hannah joined the Oneness-Family School team in 2009. She has a Montessori Secondary I-II credential.

Prior to joining the faculty, Hannah worked at the Thornton Friends School in Silver Spring, MD, where she served as Dean of Students in the Middle School, and as a science teacher for middle school and high school students. There she developed a 3-year integrated science curriculum for Middle School with an environmental focus. In addition to courses in the earth, biological, and physical sciences, Hannah taught courses in photography, nature writing, writing, literature, and physical education.

Hannah lives in Mt. Rainier, MD with her husband, Ben, her two children, Wells and Paley, who both attend Oneness, and their cats, Charlie and Bandit. In her free time, Hannah enjoys spending time with family, going to the beach, and cooking.

Josh Vogt (he/him) is an 11th and 12th grade social studies teacher at James N. Gamble Montessori High School in Cincinnati, OH. He has presented at the AMS Secondary Symposium and multiple Montessori Events. He also serves as a facilitator of the AMS White Antiracist Discussion Group for which he was a recipient of the 2022 AMS Service Award. He has a dog.

Krista Taylor MEd is the Assistant Principal at Mercy Montessori Center. Prior to moving into this role she was an intervention specialist and lead teacher at Gamble Montessori from 2010 to 2019. At Gamble, she worked to build a strong co-teaching model with full inclusion to support learners at all levels. She also served as a team leader, Positive Behavior Intervention Support Team Chair, and Montessori Program Facilitator. Prior to teaching at Gamble, she worked in a variety of settings including residential treatment, self-contained behavioral programs, and both suburban and urban public schools. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Kenyon College, a Master’s Degree from Wheelock College, and AMS Credentials for Secondary I and II. She is also the co-author of the book, Angels and Superheroes: Compassionate Educators in an Era of School Accountability and is co-founder of the educational blog AngelsAndSuperheroes.com.

Gideon Smith was a special education co-teacher at Clark Montessori, the first public Montessori high school in the US, for 12 years. He taught all subjects, but eventually landed in English 11 and 12 and found a true passion in working with adolescents in finding their cosmic task and developing their unique voice and talents. Gideon specializes in working with students with disabilities in all settings and this mission eventually led him to be a public school special education administrator, believing that all children need agency, choice, and a space to grow into themselves. Gideon has presented at AMS conferences on inclusion, the prepared environment, and working with LGBTQ students in Montessori secondary schools. Gideon has been a guide to Adult Learners in CMStep since 2017 for Curriculum Development, Pedagogy of Place, and Erdkinder. He also has the pleasure of being a field consultant with CMStep. He believes in the transformation of the teacher through a Montessori practice and that through that transformation, the world is a better place. He is privileged to support adult learners and adolescents in Montessori pedagogy and philosophy in any way he can. Gideon lives with his partner, their two adolescent daughters, and their cat, rabbit, and guinea pig in Cincinnati, OH. He enjoys reading, crosswords, geeking out on German Expressionist art, and attempting to see every fine arts museum in the world.

Barb taught middle school in urban public and private schools for 33 years, her last eleven at Clark Montessori where she was a lead teacher. She has served on AMS’s Teacher Education Action Commission (TEAC), as a mentor for the AMS Emerging Leadership Fellows program, and a community representative on the Clark Montessori LSDMC. Barb has presented on a wide variety of topics to individual schools in the continental United States and Puerto Rico, at AMS, OMA, and CMS annual conferences, at the International Workshop at the University of Indiana-Bloomington, and in introducing Secondary Montessori concepts to teachers in Seoul, South Korea. Serving CMStep alongside director emerita Marta Donahoe since the program was a mere idea, she is currently supporting others in leadership roles within AMS and CMStep, and takes on roles on an as desired basis with CMStep and AMS. She holds a Secondary I-II credential from AMS through the Houston Montessori Center.

Amy Ricketts, MEd is the Curriculum & Instruction Director for CMStep, and she serves as an instructor and field consultant with CMStep as well. She is the Director of Education at The Montessori School for Shreveport, where she has also been the lead of the middle school program since 2014. She teaches English, social studies, and personal world; oversees and leads field studies, micro-economy, internship, Passion Project, and all other program components; oversees the school’s curriculum; and serves in an administrative capacity as Director of Education. In 2015 she designed Lumbertown – a virtual society curriculum that immerses students in financial and social justice choices. Amy graduated from Louisiana State University of Shreveport with a B.A. in English Education and taught traditional high school English, serving as English Department Chair and Curriculum Developer at a private school in Shreveport. However, she became increasingly drawn to the Montessori philosophy of education, especially when her own two children began attending a Montessori school. Amy began as head of the middle school program in 2014, received her AMS Secondary I-II credential from CMStep in 2015, and completed her MEd with an emphasis in Montessori Education from Xavier University in 2016.

Danielle Odom, Ed.D., is a dynamic and innovative educator with a passion for fostering inclusive and creative learning environments. With a Doctorate in Educational Leadership specializing in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix, Danielle has dedicated her career to advancing educational policy and curriculum design

In her current role as an Education Consultant at Divergent Oasis Consulting, Danielle develops curriculum extension activities that integrate interdisciplinary elements and innovative teaching methods. She ensures that learning experiences are both deep and broad, catering to diverse learning styles and fostering critical thinking and creativity among students. Additionally, her work at a national university, Danielle provides content support, creates calibration exercises, and develops training materials for new and veteran evaluators, ensuring effective and aligned evaluation processes.

Danielle also serves as a Course Instructor for the Cincinnati Montessori Secondary Teacher Education Program (CMStep), where she provides MACTE accredited curriculum to teacher-learners globally and integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Her previous experience includes serving as a Montessori Teacher and Team Leader at W.G. Sanders Middle School in Columbia, SC, where she promoted curricular diversity and equity. Danielle’s international experience includes teaching English in Abu Dhabi, tailoring lesson plans for ESL students, and integrating Middle Eastern history with English skills.

Beyond her professional achievements, Danielle is deeply committed to community service, focusing on racial justice and community support through her involvement with Trenholm Road United Methodist Church. Certified in Montessori Secondary I and II and holding a South Carolina Professional Certificate in Middle-Level Language Arts, Danielle actively participates in leadership activities and communities, including the American Montessori Society. Her research and publications reflect her commitment to social justice and educational equity, making her a transformative leader in the field of education. Danielle’s dedication to education, her innovative approach to curriculum and instruction, and her unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion continue to inspire and shape the future of educational practice and policy.

Kate is a Middle School English Language Arts and Humanities teacher at Brooklyn Heights Montessori School in Brooklyn, New York. She taught previously in Birmingham, Alabama at Joseph Bruno Montessori Academy. As a CMSTEP Alum, Kate holds an AMS Secondary I-II credential as well as a Masters in Education from Samford University. She has served on AMS accreditation teams and has contributed to erdkinder programs through developing gardening projects and experiences for students to explore the natural world.

Anthony DiRenzo (he/him) is a middle school teacher in Brooklyn, NY. He teaches Spanish and Erdkinder and previously taught humanities. He has been teaching for 13 years. Anthony is passionate about service learning, mindfulness, and work of the hand.

Natalie has been a middle school math and science teacher at Clark Montessori for 17 years. Her passions are curriculum and getting students engaged outside of the classroom. She enjoys serving on Clark’s fall camp planning team, and has served as team leader for the past three school years. She has a Masters in Education from Xavier University and currently holds an AMS Secondary I-II credential.

Tamara Brown has been teaching seventh and eighth grade English and Social Studies at Clark Montessori for 23 years. In addition to her teaching role, she serves as the junior high master scheduler and handles enrollment. Tamara is actively involved in Clark’s Local Decision Making Committee (LSDMC) and contributes to Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). She also coordinates school visits and plays a key role in the accreditation team. Tamara’s passion lies in field studies, where she believes in their transformative power on students’ lives. Her master’s thesis focused on Clark Montessori’s Andros Island Field Study, exploring the significance of curriculum-based rites of passage in adolescent development and their transition to adulthood.

Pearl Brown is a middle school teacher and poet. She has been adding to her poetry collection since she began writing, back when her sons were still little. She enjoys participating at open mikes, such as at Busboys and Poets. She also loves dancing and spending time with her 5 sons and 1 granddaughter.

Katie Keller Wood, Ed.D., is the Executive Director of CMStep: the Cincinnati Montessori Secondary Teacher Education Program, and she has been joyfully teaching adolescents and adults since 2004. She earned both her bachelors and her doctorate from the University of Virginia, and she believes that educational spaces can be a vehicle for the more equitable, just, peaceful, and sustainable world our hearts know is possible.

In addition to her years teaching middle and high school students, Katie has taught Intro to Adolescence for undergraduate students at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development, a variety of master’s-level courses for Xavier University (since 2016), and has taught and supervised doctoral students at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls’ EdD program since 2022. She served on the board of directors of the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) from 2017-2023, including as vice chair from 2019-2023. Since 2016, Katie has supported and engaged in Montessori research through the Montessori Research Working Group, housed at the Center for Learner Agency Research and Action (CLARA) at the University of Kansas. Katie is passionate about adolescent and adult development, including how applications of the Montessori method can inform adult learning and development. She gave her first TEDx in 2023, and her book Alignment: A Montessori Approach to Reimagining Work-Life Balance is expected in late 2025 with Page Two publishers. Katie is a sought-after keynote speaker and presenter, connecting with audiences that have ranged from 6 to 600. Her professional memberships include the American Educational Research Association and the American Montessori Society.

Steph Bijoch, MEd is the Director of Practicum & Instruction for CMStep. She also serves as an instructor, guide, and field consultant. In 2013, Steph helped to found Parkway Montessori, the first public Montessori middle school in Saint Paul, MN where she joyfully taught choir, piano, and guitar. In 2019 Steph’s adventures took her out west to Denver, CO where she began working as a Restorative Practice Coordinator for Denver Montessori Junior and Senior High. Steph earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, a Master’s Degree in Secondary Montessori Education, and holds an AMS I-II Credential. When she’s not teaching you can probably find her in the mountains, on a dog walk, or playing nerdy board games.

Erika has over 25 years of Montessori expertise, serving in capacities as a teacher, administrator, and school principal. She has designed and led elementary and middle school programs across public and private Montessori schools and has played an important role in advancing Montessori education in various leadership capacities. Erika’s commitment includes board service for the United Montessori Schools of Indiana (UMSI), teaching graduate-level courses at Xavier University, and chairing the Local School Decision Making Committee (LSDMC) at Clark Montessori High School.

Since 2017, Erika has joyfully guided adult learners at CMStep, where she continues to support educators in Montessori methodologies in the roles of instructor and Deputy Director. She holds Montessori credentials across Elementary I-II, Secondary I-II, and Administration, in addition to an M.Ed. in Montessori Integrative Learning.

Beyond her professional dedication, Erika enjoys outdoor activities, often hiking and biking with her family and dog.

Nan Marsh is the Director of Operations at CMStep, where she serves as the primary point of contact for individuals pursuing secondary Montessori training and their administrators. A 2021 graduate of the University of Virginia, Nan holds a Bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Poetry Writing.

Passionate about innovative and inclusive education, Nan brings a creative approach to her role, helping streamline processes that support both prospective and current adult learners—from the initial application to Secondary I-II credentialing. She has been instrumental in refining CMStep’s systems, ensuring a smooth experience from application to completion.

Her background in arts education, including her time as a docent at the Fralin Art Museum and her work with Arts & Minds NYC, a program for individuals with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers, reflects her deep commitment to fostering confidence and connection through learning.

Outside of work, Nan enjoys making music, spending time with her cat, and taking walks with friends. 

Marybeth Flaspohler has spent the past 30 years at Mercy Montessori Center as a Lower Elementary and currently an Upper Elementary Directress. Marybeth joined Xavier University as an adjunct professor in their Montessori TEP in 1999 where she has taught both Elementary I and Elementary II Classes. She holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin, a Masters in Education from Xavier University, and Elementary I and II credentials from AMS. She has three children who are all graduates of a Mercy Montessori preschool and elementary education. When not in the classroom sharing her passion for the Montessori Cultural Subjects, she enjoys gardening, hiking, and hanging out with family and friends.

Drew is a high school Social Studies teacher at Clark Montessori where he has taught since the high school was launched in 1997. Drew has created and participated in many intersessions including the Civil Rights Tour of the South, Habitat for Humanity in Eastern Kentucky, Peace and Justice in El Salvador, Hiking the Appalachian Trail, the Southwest Quest to the Grand Canyon, and a local study of the Underground Railroad. He has served as a Clark team leader, a Lead Teacher for Cincinnati Public Schools, and coach of the Mock Trial team. He currently holds National Board certification and an AMS Secondary I-II credential.

Tori is an enthusiastic and passionate educator. She is the Events Coordinator & Middle School Consultant at Princeton Montessori School in Princeton New Jersey. Previously, she was the founder and lead Middle School teacher at Xavier University Montessori Lab School for 6 years. She has experience in both public and privat Montessori settings as well as a skill and passion for setting up classroom environments. She served on the Montessori committee as the CMSTEP liason and the accreditation committee for school accreditation at Princeton, Gamble and Xavier’s Lab School. She was the co-chair and then chair of the Cincinnati Montessori Society Conference and has presented at the Cincinnati Montessori Conference, New Jersey MAC, and the American Montessori Conference. She is also facilitating the AMS Innovation Fellowship Think Tank groups. She has a Masters in Education from Xavier University and currently holds an AMS Secondary I-II credential.

Anne Slamkowski MEd has taught Montessori middle school for 7 years, assisted in a Montessori elementary classroom for 2 years, and taught traditional preschool for 3 years. She is currently instructing and observing Montessori classrooms for CMSTEP while she pursues her Executive Juris Doctorate from Purdue Global. After graduating from Indiana University with a Business degree, Anne spent several years in the Consumer Electronics Industry. Anne left the business world and studied Elementary Education with an emphasis in middle school math at Illinois State University. Anne holds a Secondary I/II Montessori Certification along with a M.Ed. in Montessori Education from Xavier University. Before moving to Cincinnati, she was instrumental in starting a new Montessori middle school program in the Indianapolis area. Anne and her husband, Pete, moved to Cincinnati in 2018 and have three adult children. She loves reading, writing, walking, and spending time with her family. Anne has been a presenter at the UMSI Conference in Indiana, the New York State Montessori Alliance, and at several Montessori Events through American Montessori Society.

Kristin Simonson, MEd helped launch the first, public, urban secondary Montessori program in Minnesota. Kristin has taught middle school science at Parkway Montessori in St. Paul, MN since 2013. She serves on the school’s leadership team, restorative practice team, and is a member of the curriculum writing team within the St. Paul Public School District. Kristin earned her Masters in Secondary Montessori Education from The University of WI- River Falls and holds an AMS Secondary I-II credential.

For over a decade, Tessa has been working alongside adolescent students at the Montessori School of Dayton. She guides students in the running of their microeconomy project – a full-service coffee shop. Her love for writing and reading extends into her teaching, where she inspires students through creative, expository, and research-based writing. Tessa also prepares students to engage with global issues by guiding them in drafting position papers for the Montessori Model United Nations. A passionate advocate for the arts, Tessa introduces students to theater, performance, videography, and scriptwriting both directly and by weaving it into the broader curriculum.

In 2023, Tessa transitioned into the role of head of school at MSD, where she now collaborates with teachers to cultivate a strong, inclusive community that empowers all children to become lifelong learners.

Rosemary is currently Head of School at Xavier University Montessori Lab School and Teaching Professor for XU Montessori Teacher Education Program. Rosemary holds AMI credentials (EC, EI-II) and has over forty years of experience in Montessori classrooms with children ages 3 – 12. She has also been a strong lecturer for AMS and MACTE accredited programs. She is passionate about Montessori Education, consulting and lecturing with schools nationally and internationally.

Corinna is the director of the adolescent program at Williamsburg Montessori School in Williamsburg, Virginia where she also teaches all things Humanities, Art, and Peace and Justice Education. When she began her time at WMS in 2010, she taught all levels of Spanish from the toddler room to high-school credit Spanish I-II. She has since worked to illuminate disappeared narratives in her curriculum, help her students to become enchanted with poetry and forest-bathing, incorporate hands-on citizen historian and scientist projects into her students’ lives, and teach them how to citizen locally, nationally, and internationally. Prior to entering the Montessori fold, she earned her BA from William & Mary and lived in East Jerusalem, Palestine, where she obtained her MA in Coptology and Religious Studies and taught English to Sudanese refugees. In Fall 2024, Corinna will begin her doctoral studies at the University of Virginia’s School for Education and Human Development in Curriculum and Instruction. Corinna holds her AMS credential in Secondary I-II.

Garry has been the lead Upper Elementary (9-12) teacher at the Montessori School of Westfield in Westfield, Indiana for over 20 years. He has both elementary I and II (AMS) credentials. He has also been involved in Teacher Education Programs for the past 15 years, specializing in the curriculum for LE(6-9) and UE. He has presented at AMS conferences and consults with fledgling programs in Indiana in philosophy and curriculum. Garry moonlights as a travel soccer coach in their academy programs.