Our teachers & staff

Ms. Nancy

Ms. Nancy, our founder and Head of School, received her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Education Center in Mountain View, California in 1976. She had the honor of training under the late Dr. Lena Wickramaratne, a student of Dr. Maria Montessori and teacher trainer for the Association Montessori Internationale. She also completed the NAMTA Orientation to Adolescent Studies at the Hershey Farm School in 2005. Ms. Nancy founded Community Montessori School in 1989 and was Primary Directress from 1989-96. Under her guidance over the past 30 years, CMS has remained passionate about providing an authentic Montessori experience for the thousands of students the school has served.

Ms. Renae

Ms. Renae has over 16 years’ experience teaching, with over half of them at CMS! She graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in English and French and a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language as well as M.A. in Education- Curriculum & Instruction. Renae received her AMI Elementary Training at the Montessori Institute of San Diego and has also completed NAMTA’s Orientation to Adolescent Studies, as well as received her FL State Teaching Certificate. Miss Renae has taught at schools all over the Tampa Bay area and a fellow teacher introduced her to CMS, and her life changed forever! Ms. Renae loves the outdoors and when she isn’t teaching you can find her swimming, camping, dancing, enjoying the beach, or chasing around her son, who attends CMS! Ms. Renae loves to travel and experience new cultures. She is fluent in French.

Ms. LESLIE

Ms. Leslie is an AMI certified teacher with over 20 years of experience in a Montessori classroom, 13 of which have been at CMS. Born in Alabama, she received her Montessori Assistants to Infancy training at the Montessori Institute in Houston, Texas. She had the privilege of training under the late Silvana Montanaro, M.D. who taught at the 1st AMI Assistants to an Infancy training program in Italy and authored the book " Understanding the Human Being " The Importance of the First 3 Years of Life. She completed her A.A. at Hillsborough Community College. Leslie finds joy in bonding with the children, enriching language development, and encouraging independence. Her favorite pastime is listening to music.

Ms. Diane

Ms. Diane came to CMS in 1995 when she enrolled her older son in the elementary program and a year later her younger son joined the primary program.  Ms. Diane attended Brooklyn College in New York and received a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and completed her Montessori training at the Montessori Institute of North Texas, Dallas where she received an AMI Elementary diploma. Ms. Diane practices yoga on regular basis and is certified in yoga basics.  She can speak, read and write in Greek and is currently learning to play classical guitar. Ms. Diane feels privileged to see the satisfaction and joy on the faces of her students as they make discoveries, master a skill, or gain independence.

Ms. Jean

Ms. Jean has been teaching at CMS for more than 25 years and has been working in Montessori classrooms for over 35 years. She was born in Wales, the United Kingdom is a mother of 3 sons and a nana to 6 beautiful grandchildren. Ms. Jean has a degree in Primary Education from University College of Wales and she received her Montessori Primary Training from St. Nicolas College in London. She is also a certified instructor and parenting coach with the International Network for Children and Families and teaches a Redirecting Children’s Behavior class at CMS. Her favorite part of teaching is when a child “gets it”. While she isn’t teaching you can find her playing with paint, paper and creating beautiful scrapbooks.

Ms. Baan

Ms. Baan has taught for over 20 years at Community Montessori School! She began her journey with Montessori when a family who she was a nanny for convinced her to observe their child in a Montessori school. After observing, she fell in love with the idea of creating an environment where children have the opportunity to develop and become independent without external pressure from adults. She knew that this was a place she wanted to be! Baan completed her AMS Primary Training at the Montessori Teacher Training Institute of Miami, Florida. She also has a B.A. in Psychology from Pace University in New York. Ms. Baan has a working knowledge of Arabic and French which she uses in the classroom. Baan’s favorite part of teaching is watching a child concentrate on a piece of work and then be able to say “I did it!”

Ms. Phyllis

Ms. Phyllis is an AMI Certified teacher who has taught at CMS for over 20 years. Phyllis grew up in a small town in New Jersey near the ocean, then moved to Manhattan, but later returned to complete college. Ms. Phyllis has always loved an intellectual lifestyle! She has an Associate’s Degree from the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising, NYC, a B.A. from Keen University in New Jersey, and an M.A. & PhD. from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. Phyllis received her Montessori Assistants to Infants Training in Denver, Colorado. Her favorite part of each day is "seeing" the Montessori philosophy and theory in practice. She enjoys the challenge of knowing, understanding, and loving each child for who they are and experiencing the mystery of who they are becoming.

Ms. Rashda

Ms. Rashda is an AMI Certified teacher that has worked at Montessori schools all over the world. She received her B.A. from the University of Punjab in Pakistan. Rashda has two Montessori diplomas; she received her Primary Diploma from the Karachi Center in Pakistan and her Elementary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota. Rashda has two children at CMS and is fluent in English, Urdu, and Arabic. 

Mr. Justin

Mr. Justin has been teaching and working with adolescents since 2017, beginning in public middle schools before coming to CMS in 2022. He graduated from St. Petersburg College with a B.S. in Educational Studies and Community Leadership. Mr. Justin also attended the University of South Florida as a Jazz Performance major, specializing in double bass. The son of two lifelong educators, working with children and teaching has always been part of his life. He has been happily married for almost 20 years and has two talented teenage children at home. When he’s not teaching, you can find Mr. Justin in his kitchen or playing music with his children.

Ms. Yolanda

Ms. Yolanda was born in Honduras and came to Florida 25 years ago. She has been at CMS for 14 years, working at the Primary Campus. She is fluent in Spanish and English, and before coming to CMS she worked in the Hillsborough County Public School System with ESOL students with their learning.

She has two children, and her daughter attended CMS from the age of three up until the 8th grade. She loves working with children, and her favorite part is teaching with children in a way that is enjoyable for them.

Ms. Linda

Ms. Linda was born in China and is fluent in Chinese. She graduated from XI'AN International Study University and earned a B.A. in English/Tourism. Ms. Linda worked for China Travel Service, one of the leading travel companies in China, for 8 years as a licensed national tour guide. She won numerous awards for her performance and customer satisfaction. Ms. Linda moved to the U.S. in 2005, and she later became a part of the CMS community! Ms. Linda’s favorite part of teaching is the "help me do it myself" moments. Children's confident smiles are unforgettable! Ms. Linda loves reading and traveling.

Mr. Sam

Mr. Sam has worked with adolescents since 2004 and was introduced to CMS and Montessori education in 2007. Mr. Sam received a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from USF. He completed the AMI/NAMTA Orientation to Adolescent Studies at the Hershey Farm School in 2008 and has an AMI Elementary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota in 2015. In 2019, Mr. Sam was invited back to Hershey to teach at the Orientation. Mr. Sam was invited to lecture abroad, in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and via webcast on his experiences in Montessori adolescent programs. He also had the opportunity to travel to Moscow, Russia, to run a first-of-its-kind training for adolescent teachers. His favorite part of teaching is seeing the beauty and potential in an age group that many people take for granted. An avid gardener and outdoorsman, Mr. Sam can be found playing outside somewhere on the weekends.

Coach Jose

Coach Jose was born in Argentina and moved to the US in 2001. After graduating from Instituto Provincial de Educación in Cordoba with a B.A. in Physical Education, he has dedicated his life to working on sports education. Besides his B.A. in PE, he also has his USSF License (United States Soccer Federation) for coaching soccer. He has been a PE and soccer coach for over 20 years and has spent time working at soccer clubs, at private schools, and in Montessori schools in Argentina and in CA, IN, and FL.  Coach Jose encourages young people, especially children and teenagers to do physical activity and consider it as a habit for a better lifestyle. Coach Jose is fluent in English and Spanish and can converse in Italian and Portuguese. When he is not coaching, you can find him spending time with his three children and lovely wife.

Mr. Barr

Mr. Barr has been playing guitar and other instruments since the fifth grade! He attended Loyola University in New Orleans on academic and music scholarships and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Classical Guitar Performance. He also did Master of Music studies at both Loyola and Tulane Universities and taught guitar and music theory at both schools and at the New Orleans Institute of Music. Besides classical music, Mr. Barr also performed electric guitar, bass, voice, and keyboards in bands for a number of years, including performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and performing as the opening act for such bands like The Ramones and Duran Duran. In 2005, Mr. Barr began the Adolescent Guitar Program at CMS. Now he teaches Upper Elementary Music and Band, the Lower Elementary Music Program, the Violin Program, and the Adolescent Recording Technology Program!  Mr. Barr also provides private instruction in guitar, keyboard, and violin.

Ms. Vanessa

Ms. Vanessa graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Florida with a degree in American Studies. Both of her children currently attend CMS. Having found such enjoyment and enrichment as a CMS parent, Vanessa is honored to share her love of gardening with the students. It is a joy to be able to support the wonderful CMS teachers and to witness the children extending the classroom into the garden. Vanessa believes it is a privilege to observe even the youngest Primary students taking ownership of the flowers, herbs, and vegetables in their gardens! 

Mr. Tyler

Mr. Tyler is a CMS alumnus, attending from elementary through 9th grade as part of the first Adolescent graduating class. After leaving CMS, he went to Howard W. Blake High School, where he studied Classical Guitar. Mr. Tyler graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Religious Studies and Minor's Degrees in Anthropology and Psychology. Mr. Tyler has also been fencing since he was introduced to the sport in the CMS Adolescent Program.

Ms. Mansa

Ms. Mansa earned her Bachelor's Degree in Physical Therapy from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, India, and a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from Mumbai University, Mumbai, India. Mansa has worked with undergraduate physical therapy students, supervised interns, and taught a virtual science course to 6th-grade students in rural India. Mansa received a training certificate in yoga from the Yoga Institute, Santacruz, Mumbai. She practices yoga and meditation regularly. She is fluent in Hindi, Sindhi, Marathi, and Nepali and can converse in Marwari and Punjabi. Mansa loves watching the enormous creativity that children display every day as they quench their thirst for knowledge! 

Ms. KALPANA

Ms. Kalpana has a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics with a minor in Physics and Electronics and a Master's degree in Mathematics from Andhra University, India. She taught mathematics to undergraduate students in India, worked as an exam Proctor and Grader for High schools, and as a software consultant. Before joining the CMS family as Math Assistant, Ms. Kalpana worked in various Hillsborough county public schools as a substitute teacher. She can speak, read, and write in Telugu and Hindi. 

Ms. Kalpana discovered the Montessori teaching method when her son joined a Montessori school in Texas. When the family moved to Florida, they choose CMS to continue the Montessori education. Ms. Kalpana enjoys watching the children grow, learn, and thrive while finding their independence and building friendships. She finds herself learning and growing as an individual right along with them.

Ms. chamali

Ms. Chamali was born and raised in Sri Lanka, where she received her AMI certification from Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre. She has 11 years of teaching experience in AMI-certified schools in Sri Lanka and the USA. Her favorite part of teaching is that children are recognized for their success. She believes that giving children freedom in the Montessori-prepared environment will lead them to independence, self-reliance, and intrinsic motivation; it also positively impacts enhancing self-esteem, self-confidence, and inspiration to continue to learn. In her free time, Ms. Chamali enjoys paper crafting, reading books, listening to music, and spending time with her family.

Ms. atlanta

Coming Soon

Ms. cortnie

Ms. Cortnie has been teaching for almost 20 years in both the public and private sectors and has experience working with special needs children. She received her AMI certification from The Montessori Institute of Milwaukee in Kansas City, Missouri. She received her AA degree from Florida State University and graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Florida, earning a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. One of her favorite teaching parts is seeing the spark shine bright when a child experiences an “AH-HA!” moment. She has a son currently attending the CMS primary program. Ms. Cortnie enjoys painting, gardening, dancing, listening to music, and spending time with her family.