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 35 years, CMS has remained passionate about providing an authentic Montessori experience for the thousands of students the school has served.

Ms. Phinphana

Born and raised in Laos, a country noted for its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, Ms. Phinphana moved to the USA and dedicated herself to caring for her husband and their two daughters. In addition to her family responsibilities, she started a small business that focuses on creating unique jewelry and accessories.

Ms. Phinphana discovered the beauty of Montessori education when her oldest daughter joined the CMS Primary program. Several years later, her youngest daughter also became a CMS student, and Ms. Phinphana started working at CMS as a toddler classroom assistant.

Ms. Phinphana holds a degree in Economics and Business Marketing from Laos. In her spare time, she enjoys crafting and gardening with her daughters.

Ms. ASEL

Born and raised in Kyrgyzstan, Ms. Asel moved to California, where she devoted herself to raising her three children while also exploring her passion for wellness and mindfulness. Ms. Asel was introduced to Montessori education when her oldest daughter began attending ​Montessori School​. Inspired by the profound impact it had on her child, she chose the Montessori path for all three of her children. Her passion for Montessori education grew even stronger when she embarked on her journey as a Montessori classroom assistant. In 2024, Ms. Asel joined CMS after her family relocated to Florida. She is currently pursuing her AMI Assistants to Infancy (0-3) diploma through Montessori Northwest, with certification expected in the summer of 2026.

Ms. Asel holds a master’s degree in Economics and is fluent in English, Russian, and Kyrgyz. She is also a certified yoga & meditation teacher. Outside the classroom, she enjoys connecting with friends, studying neuroscience, and creating educational content to support and inspire other parents.

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 regularly 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 since 1995 and has worked in Montessori classrooms for over 35 years.

She was born in Wales, the United Kingdom, and is a mother of 3 sons and a nana to 5 beautiful grandchildren. Ms. Jean has a degree in Primary Education from the University College of Wales and 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 gardening, playing with paint and paper, and creating beautiful scrapbooks.

Ms. Baan

Ms. Baan has been with Community Montessori School since 1996.

She began her journey with Montessori when a family for whom she was a nanny 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!

Ms. 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. Ms. 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 since 1996.

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 Infancy 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

Born in Pakistan and raised in the UAE, Ms. Rashda is an AMI-certified teacher who has worked at Montessori schools worldwide.

She earned her B.A. from the University of Punjab in Pakistan and holds two Montessori diplomas: a Primary Diploma from the Karachi Center in Pakistan and an Elementary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota.

Ms. Rashda has been with CMS since 2007. She had two children attending 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. In 2024, he completed a two-year course to earn the AMI 12–18 Diploma from the Association Montessori Internationale, a comprehensive program that prepares educators to guide adolescents through their unique developmental journey using Montessori philosophy and practices.

As the son of two lifelong educators, working with children and teaching have always been part of his life. He has been happily married for over 20 years and has two talented children. When he’s not teaching, you can find Mr. Justin in his kitchen, playing music with his children, or napping with the dog.

Ms. Yolanda

Ms. Yolanda was born in Honduras and joined CMS as a Primary Classroom Assistant in 2001. She is fluent in both Spanish and English. Prior to her time at CMS, Ms. Yolanda worked with ESOL students in the Hillsborough County Public School System.

Ms. Yolanda has two children, and her daughter attended CMS from the age of three until she graduated in the eighth grade. She has a passion for working with children, and her favorite part of the job is making learning 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. In 2005, she moved to the United States and became a part of the CMS community in 2012. Ms. Linda’s favorite part of teaching is witnessing those "help me do it myself" moments, as children's confident smiles are unforgettable. In her free time, she enjoys reading and traveling.

Mr. Sam

Mr. Sam has worked with adolescents since 2004 and was introduced to CMS and Montessori education in 2007. He earned a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of South Florida. In 2008, he completed the AMI/NAMTA Orientation to Adolescent Studies at the Hershey Farm School and later received 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 has also been invited to lecture abroad, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and he has presented via webcast about his experiences in Montessori Adolescent programs.. He also had the opportunity to travel to Moscow, Russia, to conduct a groundbreaking training for adolescent teachers.

Mr. Sam's favorite aspect of teaching is recognizing the beauty and potential in an age group that many people tend to overlook. Outside of teaching, he is an avid gardener and outdoorsman, often spending his weekends enjoying outdoor activities.

Coach Jose

Coach Jose was born in Argentina and moved to the United States in 2001.

He graduated from the Instituto Provincial de Educación in Córdoba with a B.A. in Physical Education and has since dedicated his life to sports education. In addition to his B.A. in Physical Education, he holds a USSF (United States Soccer Federation) coaching license for soccer. With over 20 years of experience, Coach Jose has worked as a Physical Education and soccer coach at various soccer clubs, private schools, and Montessori schools in Argentina, California, Indiana, and Florida. He encourages young people, particularly children and teenagers, to engage in physical activity, viewing it as a vital part of a healthy lifestyle.

Coach Jose is fluent in English and Spanish and can also converse in Italian and Portuguese. When he is not coaching, he enjoys spending time with his three children and his lovely wife.

Mr. Barr

Mr. Barr has been playing the guitar and other instruments since the fifth grade. He attended Loyola University in New Orleans, where he received academic and music scholarships, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance. He also pursued Master of Music studies at both Loyola and Tulane Universities.

Mr. Barr taught guitar and music theory at schools as well as at the New Orleans Institute of Music. In addition to classical music, he performed on electric guitar, bass, vocals, and keyboards in various bands for several years. His performances included appearances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and serving as the opening act for bands such as The Ramones and Duran Duran.

In 2005, Mr. Barr established the Adolescent Classical Guitar Program at CMS. Currently, he teaches Upper Elementary Music and Band, the Lower Elementary Music Program, and the Violin Program. Mr. Barr also offers private lessons 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 attended CMS. After finding great joy and enrichment as a CMS parent, Vanessa is excited to share her love of gardening with the students. She feels privileged to support the exceptional CMS teachers and to witness the children extending their learning from the classroom into the garden. Vanessa loves observing even the youngest Primary students taking ownership of the flowers, herbs, and vegetables in their gardens!

Mr. Tyler

Mr. Tyler is a CMS alumnus who attended our school from elementary through 9th grade, as part of the first Adolescent graduating class.

After leaving CMS, he studied classical guitar at Howard W. Blake High School. He then graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Religious Studies, along with a Minor in Anthropology and Psychology, and returned to CMS.

Mr. Tyler received his AMI Elementary training from the Montessori Center of Minnesota. He 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 in India and a Master's Degree in Physical Therapy from Mumbai University in Mumbai, India. She has experience working with undergraduate physical therapy students, supervising interns, and teaching a virtual science course to 6th-grade students in rural India. Mansa also received a training certificate in yoga from the Yoga Institute in Santacruz, Mumbai, and she practices yoga and meditation regularly.

Ms. Mansa is fluent in Hindi, Sindhi, Marathi, and Nepali and can converse in Marwari and Punjabi. Mansa enjoys witnessing the incredible creativity that children display each day as they satisfy 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 a 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 chose 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 earned her AMI certification from the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre. With over 10 years of teaching experience in AMI-certified schools in both Sri Lanka and the USA, she is passionate about education. Her favorite aspect of teaching is recognizing children's successes. Ms. Chamali believes that providing children with freedom in a Montessori-prepared environment fosters independence, self-reliance, and intrinsic motivation. This approach positively influences their self-esteem, self-confidence, and inspiration to continue learning.

Ms. Chamali has been a part of the CMS community since 2022. In her free time, she enjoys paper crafting, reading books, listening to music, and spending time with her family.

Ms. cortnie

Ms. Cortnie has been teaching for nearly 20 years in both public and private sectors and has experience working with children with special needs.

She obtained her AMI certification from The Montessori Institute of Milwaukee in Kansas City, Missouri. Ms. Cortnie earned her AA degree from Florida State University and graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Florida with a bachelor's degree in Social Work. One of her favorite aspects of teaching is witnessing the moment when a child experiences an "ah-ha!" insight.

Ms. Courtnie has a son who attends CMS. In her free time, Ms. Cortnie enjoys painting, gardening, dancing, listening to music, and spending time with her family.

MS. DIANNE

Ms. Dianne, also known as Ms. D, is a Tampa native. As a mother of three, she has volunteered in several classrooms throughout her children's educational journeys. This experience inspired her to start her own after-school care and summer camp program. In her free time, she enjoys music and loves witnessing the excitement in children's eyes as they learn, discover, and grow.

MS. Devika

Ms. Devika was first introduced to the Montessori method when her son started attending the Primary program at CMS. From the very first classroom visit, she fell in love with the Montessori approach and its focus on nurturing children's growth.

Originally from New Delhi, India, she earned her Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Delhi. In 1991,​ her family moved to the USA, ​where she spent 11 years working in travel and tourism for American Express.

Before joining CMS, Ms. Devika worked in a preschool setting, teaching 3-year-olds. 
In​ her free time, ​she enjoys reading, listening to music, traveling, and playing tennis.

MS. JAMEY

Coming Soon!