Dr. Joe Lubig is a teacher educator who serves as the Associate Dean for Teacher Education and the Department Head for the Center for Native American Studies at Northern Michigan University (NMU). He has a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Curriculum Design. He is an expert in the areas of civic education and adolescent literacy with a focus on critical thinking in these two areas. His current position as a teacher educator at the graduate and undergraduate levels allows him to utilize his thirteen years of public school teaching to train teachers in the pedagogy of successful classroom practice. He consistently pairs his students’ coursework with authentic experiences through NMU’s Center for Native American Studies and the two native charter schools NMU supports. His most current work revolves around accreditation and quality assurance systems and collaborating with P-12 schools to assure those systems are an ongoing component of classroom teaching.

Kathy Leitch has devoted her professional career to furthering the legacy of Dr. Montessori’s seminal work. She has served the Montessori community for over 40 years as a classroom guide, school founder, school leader, teacher educator, international school consultant, keynote speaker, and school accreditation commissioner.

Currently, Kathy serves as the Executive Director of the International Montessori Council (IMC) and Program Director for the Center for Guided Montessori Studies (CGMS) Infant-Toddler Program and Co- director of the Leadership Program.

Kathy graduated from Barry University and earned her Montessori Credentials from the American Montessori Society for 0-3 & 3-6. Additionally, Kathy is a certified Parenting Instructor and Stress Management Facilitator.

Kathy has shared her extensive experience and commitment to fully implement Montessori practices with schools and teacher education programs worldwide. She continues to serve many Montessori organizations as a collaborator and contributor.

Sungti Hsu is a founding member of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), an educator preparation program accreditor that aims to strengthen P-20 education through the excellent, innovative preparation of educators. Sungti has worked in accreditation and program approval at the state and national levels for over a decade. Although Sungti was trained and licensed as a special education and Chinese language teacher, he has worked in several state education agencies as a licensure and higher education consultant and developed educator data systems, led state educator standard revision, and coordinated redevelopment and implementation of educator licensure assessments in addition to guiding and shaping the formation and operation of state educator preparation policies.

Prior to joining AAQEP, Sungti served as the Director for State Affiliates and Partnership Support at the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). He has strengthened relationships with state education authorities, expanded state affiliates’ reaches, and initiated AACTE’s first international collaboration effort. A native of Taiwan, he holds degrees from Brigham Young University (BS and MS) and completed doctoral coursework from the University of Kansas.

Combining her legal background, extensive Montessori experience, and lifelong commitment to child-centered advocacy, Tanya L. Ryskind has devoted her professional life to advancing the well-being of women and children. With more than 25 years of service to the Montessori community, she has worked with private, independent, public, public charter, and international Montessori schools. She holds 6–12 Elementary credentials from both AMS and IMC. Her career included roles as a classroom guide, school leader, teacher educator, international school consultant, keynote speaker, and school accreditation commissioner.

Tanya served as a commissioner on the IMC School Accreditation Committee and also contributed her expertise to the IMC Teacher Education Committee. Her interest in accreditation began in 1991 during her time at Western Michigan University and has shaped much of her professional work ever since.

Huss is the director of Montessori Teachers College, Canada. He is a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) in Ontario and holds an AMI Montessori Administrators Certificate, Montessori credentials 3-6 (PAMS), 6-9 (PAMS) and 9-12 (TMI). He has a Business and Economics undergraduate degree and a Masters of Business Administration from City University. Prior to joining Montessori Teachers College, Huss was a Montessori guide, supervisor, principal and owner of three Montessori schools in Ontario for 22 years, and has assisted many Montessori leaders in establishing Montessori schools across Canada. Currently, Huss serves as a volunteer board member on the Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators which promotes standards of excellence in Montessori Education throughout Canada.

Virginia holds a Master’s in Education with focus on Montessori from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland and a  Bachelor’s Degree in History from Marquette University, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  She is AMI-trained at all three levels, having earned the Assistants to Infancy Diploma from The Montessori Institute in Denver, Colorado, the Primary Diploma from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the Elementary Diploma from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Virginia has been an Elementary guide in AMI Montessori schools in South Carolina, Colorado, Virginia and Texas.  ​Virginia currently works as Special Projects Coordinator (Remote) at the Montessori Institute of North Texas and lives with her family in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Raife Cebeci began her career opening two Montessori schools that catered to the Muslim community. Later, she established International Montessori Schools, which began with one location in Philadelphia and later expanded to five additional locations across Pennsylvania and Delaware. She serves as the Head of Schools for International Montessori Schools, as well as the executive director of the Montessori Institute for Teacher Education. In 2012, she began traveling to her home country of Turkey to nurture the growth of Montessori education in the region. There, she opened two laboratory schools and a teacher training program.

Raife received her Law degree from Istanbul University and her master’s degree in educational psychology from the College of St. Rose. She earned her AMS early childhood credentials at PCTE.

Raife loves nature and gardening with her grandson; her latest pursuit in the garden is becoming a beekeeper.

Floyd Creech is a teacher educator who serves as the director and early childhood specialist of the Palmetto Montessori Teacher Training. He earned a doctorate in Early Childhood Education with Dr. Kevin Swick and had completed additional specialized training with Resources for Infant Educarers, Emmi Pikler Institute, and 0 – 3. He is an expert in the Birth to 6 curriculum focusing on effective teaching, program leadership and family inclusion. His current position as a teacher educator and program consultant for rural public Montessori schools in South Carolina allows him to utilize his knowledge as a teacher and program leader of schools for young children, appropriate assessment of young learners and full inclusion of families in their child’s education. His specific knowledge in Montessori education includes an AMS 3 – 6 credential, Preparation for Parenthood with Dr. Silvana Montanaro, leadership roles on state and national Montessori boards, and various services as a visitor and team leader for accrediting agencies including MACTE.

Emily Daggett is a graduate student at the University of Virginia pursuing a PhD in developmental psychology. Her research focus is Montessori education, inspired by her experience as a student in Montessori schools from ages 3 to 14. She received her BA in English and Comparative Literary Studies from Occidental College in Los Angeles, California and M.Ed from Loyola University Maryland. She also holds three AMI diplomas (0-3, 3-6, 6-12) from Montessori Northwest in her hometown of Portland, Oregon. After working in the classroom for six years, Emily joined Montessori Northwest as an administrator, supporting communications and outreach. More recently, Emily worked as mentor and instructor to teachers and caregivers at Higher Ground Education, where she delivered online seminars, developed training content, and guided adult learners. Prior to working at Montessori Northwest, Emily served on the Board of Directors from 2012-17. Her love of travel led her to volunteer for the Association Montessori Internationale in the Netherlands and Fruitful Orchard Montessori School in Nigeria. She hopes her research and service work positively impact the lives of children and families worldwide.

Laure Fleming, M.Ed., is the Director of Montessori Teacher Residencies at the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector (NCMPS). She brings more than two decades of Montessori experience, including 16 years in public schools, across classroom teaching, curriculum coordination, school administration, and leadership. As Director of MTRs, she cultivates new training partnerships, guiding the design and implementation of residency-based educator preparation that meets both program standards and local community needs.

Laure first encountered Dr. Montessori’s “Education for Peace” while studying anthropology as an undergraduate, a discovery that shaped her lifelong dedication to Montessori education. Her career includes experience in district, charter, private, and non-profit school settings in the U.S. and abroad, including three years leading schools in Central America. She holds AMI Primary and AMS Elementary certifications, as well as Maryland State Department of Education licensure for Teachers and Principals. Laure earned her M.Ed. in Montessori Education from Loyola University Maryland and a post-graduate certificate in School Administration and Supervision from Johns Hopkins University. She resides in Laurel, Maryland, with her husband and son.

Paige Geiger has worked in education since 1972, beginning her career in the United States before joining Escola Graduada in São Paulo, Brazil in 1975. From 1984 to 2012, she served as Early Childhood and Lower School Principal at the Graded School. Her participation in accreditation reviews with SACS and AMS broadened her knowledge in accreditation and school quality. She later served on the Board of Directors of Graded School from 2013 to 2021, as Vice President from 2019 to 2021. Paige founded the Montessori Education Center of São Paulo in 2012 with MACTE accreditation and continues to provide consultation as the São Paulo TEP transitions to new leadership in 2025. Paige lives in Brazil with her husband, Claudio.

For well over a decade, Rosemary has been a central figure in shaping Montessori education in China, leveraging her 17 years of classroom teaching experience and a passion for educator development. This work is grounded in her robust teaching background, which includes 6 years of program leadership in a school setting and 8
years as an instructor at Sheridan College. An AMI credential holder, Rosemary combines deep pedagogical knowledge with a visionary approach to teacher education.

Carrie Horwitz Lang is the Director of Montessori Education and a Clinical Assistant Professor at Loyola University Maryland. As an AMI trained Primary and Elementary guide, Maryland state certified teacher, special educator, and school administrator with 20 years of Montessori experience, she designs and leads innovative graduate programs that engage Montessori professionals in advancing inclusive leadership, culturally responsive practice, and advocacy for educational change. With expertise in program development, accreditation, professional coaching through International Coaching Federation (ICF) programming, and educational leadership, Carrie is dedicated to empowering diverse voices in Montessori education and fostering equitable opportunities for children and educators worldwide.

Gulsevin Kayihan is a Montessori educator with more than 40 years of experience. She has been involved with MACTE since 1991.In addition to her service for MACTE, she serves on the Pacific NorthWest Montessori Association Board, Washington State Private Schools Advisory Committee,Washington Federation of Independent Schools. She is involved with the education issues in Washington State.

Gulsevin Kayihan is the co-author of more than 20 volumes of Montessori education textbooks for Montessori teachers. She is the recipient of several awards including the MACTE Wisdom of the Elders.. Gulsevin Kayihan studied general science at the American College for Girls and has a degree in administration from the University of Bosphorous, Istanbul. She did her graduate studies in Montessori education at the University of Puget Sound. She was the Head of School, has taught Early childhood through 8th grade and is a Montessori instructor at the Early Childhood and Elementary I-II levels.

Gulsevin loves nature, math, and science, gardening, and is an avid reader. She does international consulting and seminars.

Gulsevin completed her second term on the MACTE Board in 2015 and continues to act as a Board member Emeritus/ advisor to the MACTE Board of Directors.

Dr. Ashley Morris is the director of the Montessori Teacher Education Institute of Atlanta. Ashley holds degrees from the College of William and Mary in neuroscience (B.S.) and Kennesaw State University in early childhood education (Ed.D), as well as AMS and PAMS early childhood credentials. She is a recognized instructor for Bright from the Start in the state of Georgia and enjoys working with Georgia’s Montessori advocacy group, Montessori Administrators of Georgia. Before teacher training, she worked as a primary teacher and then moved into administration as curriculum director.

Ashley loves to travel, hike, and read books.

Dorothy has earned two Montessori Early Childhood diplomas and two Master’s degrees (one in early childhood and one in elementary education) from Barry University, an Elementary Level I-II certification. She holds a Professional Educator’s Certificate from the State of Florida Department of Education for Pre-Kindergarten/Primary education, Elementary education, and ESOL. Dorothy enjoys spending time with her two adult children and is an avid sports fan.

Alan Preece, MSc (Psych), has worked in international education for over two decades as a CEO, COO, marketing director and consultant. His responsibilities have included oversight of university partnerships, K-12 operations and language schools in private education service businesses. He also led international marketing and student activity at two global top-200 ranked universities. Since 2019 he has worked with Association Montessori Internationale in roles engaging with US-based training centers and global communications.

During his early career in the retailing and utility sectors he devised award winning programs of communications and led advocacy campaigns resulting in changes to legislation.  He is a member of the UK Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and was a founder member of its Education and Skills Group. In 2023 he was named among the 50 “voices of North America” by international education publication, The PIE.

Vanessa has nine years of administration experience and 14 years of teaching experience, including teaching positions in both public and private Montessori schools. Vanessa is a certified public school teacher for grades Pre-K through 6th grade and holds Early Childhood and Elementary I-II teaching credentials. Vanessa also has experience as a former Associate Professor and Program Director/Program Coordinator for Montessori Elementary I & II at Xavier University-College of Professional Sciences in Cincinnati Ohio. Vanessa is a trained CLASS Teachstone observer. A lover of travel, Vanessa also enjoys reading, creating art at the easel, and playing tennis.

Alyssa Schwartz joined the Cornerstone Montessori Schools in St. Paul, MN, in 2018.  Alyssa serves as Head of School for Cornerstone Montessori Elementary School, a K-6 public charter school, and Cornerstone Montessori School, a program of the Montessori Center of Minnesota serving children 16 months through age 5.  She is a Montessori child (18 months through 6th grade).  Alyssa received her BA from Stanford University and MA from the Stanford University School of Education.  She completed her AMI Primary training at the Maria Montessori Institute in London, before spending 6 years as a Children’s House guide in California.  Prior to moving to Minnesota, Alyssa was the Educational Programs Director and Interim Executive Director of AMI/USA in Washington, DC.  She serves as Board Secretary of the Montessori Public Policy Initiative and is chair of AMI’s Global School Accreditation committee.

Debbie is Montessori credentialed to teach Early Childhood, Lower and Upper Elementary (San Diego), and Secondary I (Houston). She spent many years as a classroom teacher as she earned her Montessori credentials. She was offered the opportunity to teach in a Montessori teacher education program while still in the classroom. Debbie taught in the EC, EI and EII teacher education programs. She became assistant TEP director for the Montessori Center for Teacher Education (MCTE) in San Diego in 2015 and became director in 2017. Debbie holds a B.S. in Business (economics) and an MBA in finance and marketing. Before her Montessori teaching career, she worked in corporate finance for several years. She is now retired but continues to teach, during the summer, for MCTE in San Diego. She is a member of AMS and have presented at several conferences and have been a MACTE verifier for several years. In 2023, she was awarded the MACTE Wisdom of The Elders award. Being a MACTE verifier allows her to give back to the Montessori community as well as stay involved in the world of Montessori. As a lifelong learner and for fun, she is currently trying to teach herself to paint using gouache paints.