LOOK WHOSE TALKING!

2025 Presenter
Information

Tina Booth

Tina Booth is the Director of Adolescent Training at Train Montessori. She has worked as an adolescent guide and administrator in public, private, urban, and land-based Montessori adolescent communities since 2001. She is trained at the 6-12 and 12-18 levels and holds a BA in Archaeological Studies from Boston University (MA), and an MA in Anthropology from Northern Arizona University (AZ). She is interested in better understanding issues of equity, inclusion, accessibility, and methods of building resiliency for both children and adults in Montessori environments.

Dr. Paige M. Bray

Paige M. Bray, Ed.D. is the Director of the Center for Montessori Studies and Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at the University of Hartford, Connecticut. She has worked to address systemic inequities for over three decades. Her teaching expertise focuses on the personal “reflexes” and professional identity transitions fostered through dynamic inquiry and the use of meta-cognitive tools with pre-service teachers as well as credentialed teachers across the career continuum.  Bray integrates her research, theory, and practice through the URBAN network by focusing on public scholarship. As a community engaged scholar, Paige works with and in community using critical and humanistic pedagogy, including Montessori, to support agency and belonging.

Bodeene Amyot Cairdeas

Digital and Audiovisual Archivist at James Madison University Libraries, previously managed the Indigenous Mukurtu Hub at the University of Oregon Libraries. She holds degrees in History, Montessori Education, Information and Library Science, and postgraduate certificates in Archival Studies and Documentary Production. Bodeene's research focuses on oral histories, ethically-minded digital curation, accessible audiovisual archives, and participatory taxonomy construction.

rebecca few

Rebecca Few has been fanning the flames of reading in scholars for over two decades as an English-Language Arts teacher. While her experience ranges from middle school to college, her passion is the malleable middle grade years. Her goal is to set students on a trajectory to become life-long readers.

Kelly Jonelis

Kelly believes in the power of supporting human development through education &
inclusion. She has worked with adolescents across multiple educational environments for 15
years. She is an Adolescent Program Director and Math Guide, and Co-Founder of Developing
Education. She holds a M.S. in Math from Aurora University, a B.S. in Applied Math with a
minor in Math and Science Education from the Illinois Institute of Technology & a 12-18
Diploma from the Association Montessori Internationale.

Andrew Faulstich

Andrew is convinced that the education status quo must be disrupted. He is the Co-Founder of Developing Education, the Curriculum & Pedagogy Coordinator at the Oneness-Family Montessori School, & a Professor of Montessori Education at Loyola University. He holds a M.S.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania & an AMI Adolescent Diploma.

Geoff Bigler

Before joining the Math Institute, Geoff Bigler taught at the Montessori High School at University Circle alongside Michael Waski. Together, they developed new materials, projects, and a prepared mathematics environment. Geoff comes from a unique background of architecture before finding his way to education and Montessori. He took his AMI Adolescent Orientation training in 2012 and received his AMI Adolescent diploma in 2023.

Emma rodwin (she/her)

Emma Rodwin is the Upper School Director of Education at Butler Montessori. She has been an adolescent guide for 11 years, and recently opened a high school program! This year, Emma had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica with her students, which inspired the topic of this year's presentation.

Emma Soderberg

Emma is a 10th grader at Butler Montessori. She loves reading, playing piano, and playing with her dogs. She looks forward to presenting about her school’s goats and their impact on the community.

Caitlyn Pelkey

Caitlyn is a 10th grader at Butler Montessori. Outside of school, she is an active Irish dancer and horseback rider. She looks forward to presenting about her school’s goats and their impact on the community.

Noshaba Harji

Noshaba Harji is a visionary educator and founder of Grande Prairie Technical Institute, integrating Montessori principles with vocational training to foster hands-on learning. With expertise in curriculum development, leadership, and community engagement, she pioneers innovative education models, empowering learners with real-world skills while advocating for inclusive, student-centered education.

Jen Iamele Savage

Jen’s Montessori journey began not in a classroom, but in a moment of personal transformation. After a decade as a traditional educator, she was recruited into the Montessori world while pregnant with her first child—a serendipitous invitation that reshaped both her professional path and parenting philosophy. What started as a curiosity became a calling: she embraced Montessori not only as a mother but as an adolescent guide, eventually designing and launching a Montessori middle school program within a pre-existing elementary school. Her work expanded into instructional coaching at a public Montessori school, where she supported educators in trauma-informed, whole-child practices. Now, as a doctoral candidate in Montessori studies, Jen continues to deepen her commitment to education that honors both the child and the adult as evolving, purposeful beings.

Dr. Tyecia Powell (she/her)

Dr. Tyecia "Coach Ty" Powell has served in multiple capacities in the education sector for nearly 20 years with 5 as a founding member of a Montessori Middle and High School. She strives to inspire all to focus on their well-being journey.

Annika Cordero

Annika Cordero is a Grade 10 student of Temple Hill International School. She has a love for theatre and various other arts, and is currently a co-director of Entalablado Repertory, Temple Hill's first theatre club.

Dennis Gonzalez

Dennis Gonzalez is an 11th grade student at Temple Hill International School and an avid reader. Though he primarily expresses this passion through writing, he also enjoys acting and performing on stage. He is currently one of the heads of his school’s first theatre club, Entalablado Repertory. He will act as a fellow presenter during the presentation

leah williams

Leah Williams is a collaborative leader, serving as the wellness counselor at Sojourner Truth Montessori DC Public Charter School (Washington, DC.), as well as a core collaborator with The Movement Movement. It is her mission to lead through practical, meaningful community engagement that disrupts and dismantles systems and practices of harm.

Anders benson

Anders is a trained chef who has spent equal time in the culinary industry and teaching those skills to adolescents in Montessori environments. His students create community/culinary events, food micro-businesses, and exploratory cooking. He sees cooking as the most socially-meaningful, sensorially-engaging, culturally-relevant, and personally-empowering way to learn scientific disciplines.

Jorien van der Woude

Jorien van der Woude is an experienced Montessori English teacher 12-18. This year she successfully graduated from the Montessori Mastery Course in Amsterdam. During that course she has done research on how to find a way to incorporate AI in Montessori teaching practice instead of shying away from it.

Rachel Elkey, M.Ed

NIMBLE: Youth coach partnering with adolescents to collect and analyze data on student and peer interactions, translating findings into actionable strategies. Delivering tailored, constructive feedback that supports sustainable improvements, Rachel facilitates peer collaboration and data-informed reflection. As a dedicated coach with a passion for supporting novice teachers and early childhood caregivers in applying evidence-based practices that promote learner development, she is recognized for creating inclusive learning environments and fostering positive relationships with students, families and community members. Rachel leads ongoing learning initiatives that cultivate continuous growth, community capacity, resilience, and a culture of shared learning.

Kristy Yager

Kristy Yager supports adolescents in Montessori through her expertise in business, wellness, and therapy, fostering growth in mind and body.

Daniel Franco 

Daniel Franco is 15 years old. He was homeschooled for several years and now loves the Montessori method because he thinks it is the right way to learn and grow, allowing him to develop and find his place in the world, following his own interests and making his own decisions.

Lisa McKenzie

Lisa McKenzie, lead guide at Farm School KC, inspires students with her background in Cultural Anthropology and love of drumming, encouraging creativity and psychological exploration.

Isabella Moyano

Isabella Moyano is 14 years old. She studied at the Montessori school from preschool through elementary school and then attended a traditional school. She returned this year. Isa says that this method values independence and self-discipline. It requires more awareness and self-reflection, but that is better than having a supervisor.