LOOK WHO’s TALKING!

2026 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.

koen schaap

Koen Schaap (MEM) is an all-round 12-18 Montessori teacher, developer, coach and trainer at the Montessori Study Center Amsterdam. He is also one of the designers of the AMI accredited MSA Montessori Mastery Course.
He has been working as a Montessori social science teacher in various secondary schools in the Netherlands and has a background as a school leader and subject didactics specialist. His expertise lies in connecting Montessori theory to practice, and his favorite Montessori quote as an educator is: "Education is not something which the teacher does, but it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being.” (The Absorbent Mind).

ROGIER OVERSTEEGEN

Since 1987 I have been a mathematics teacher at Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam, also serving as Cultural Coordinator and gifted education coach. Alongside my teaching career, I work as a visual artist. I am completing the Montessori Mastery programme, researching Montessori education and giftedness, which I will present at the MAPS Conference.

ANDREW CHRISTOPHERSON

Andrew Christopherson began his career in 2000 as a middle school social science teacher and joined the Grove School in 2006. Andrew served as Head of School from 2019-2024 and returned to the position in 2026. He holds a masters degree in school administration, and an AMI 12-18 diploma.

MILENA BURLO

Milena Burlo is a 10th grader at The Grove School and has been in a Montessori classroom for 14 years. She has been the president of the grove school pride club
for 3 years, she is part of the Raven Success Coach Program, and is a manager for The Grove theater.

AnNELISE TOLKSDORF

Annelise Tolksdorf is a tenth grade student at The Grove school in Redlands. She has been a part of the Montessori community at Grove for four years. Getting
involved in her school’s farm managing club (AAES), acting for the school’s theater, helping out at her neighboring Primary Montessori school, and is a Raven Success Coach.

RHIANNON HAIRE

Rhiannon Haire is in 10th grade at The Grove School and has been in Montessori education for 14 years. She is an active and dedicated member of the Applied
Agriculture and Environmental Science Club and a Raven Success Coach

OMAR SEYAM

Omar Seyam is an 11th grader at the Grove High School in Redlands, California who is graduating a year early. He is an active volunteer in and outside of school and strongly advocates for struggling homeless individuals. Omar is also running for president of the
Environmental Club. He also has a strong love and interest for science and wants to become a doctor.

ROE LAUVÅS Jr.

Roe Lauvås Jr. is a Montessori educator and serves on the board of Montessori Norway. Alongside his work in Montessori education, he is actively engaged in science outreach and educational development, where he focuses on creating meaningful connections between research, educational practice, and innovation. Roe has a strong commitment to fostering student agency and advocates for a broader understanding of how education can empower children and young people to become active participants in shaping society.

Patrick Oudejans & Jip Bartels

Patrick Oudejans and Jip Bartels are co-founders of Montessori Sports, an AMI strategic partner integrating Montessori principles into sport and physical education. With backgrounds in coaching, education, and international training, they support schools and educators worldwide in creating child-centered, purposeful movement environments.

Paige Bray, Ed.d.

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. A community engaged scholar, Paige works with and in
community using critical and humanistic pedagogy, including Montessori, to support agency and
belonging.

rache elkey, m.ed.

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.

Teng-Chien yu, m.ed.

Teng-Chien Yu, M.Ed. is an AMI Primary Trainer. He has conducted Primary training programs with several training centers in the US, Canada, Taiwan, Czech Republic, and Thailand since 2019. Prior to his Montessori career, he was a Community Social Worker in Taiwan. He looks at human development from an ecological system point of view. He believes that the Montessori principles are universal and can be applied in any age levels and forms of communities.

boDEENE AMYOT

Bodeene Amyot Cairdeas is Co-Director of the Montessori Glossary Community Project at the University of Hartford’s Center for Montessori Studies, where she leads a participatory vocabulary initiative grounded in shared authority and epistemic justice. Bodeene holds a Master of Education with a Montessori concentration from the University of Hartford, an AMI Primary Diploma from Montessori Northwest, and a Master's in Library and Information Science. She currently serves as the Digital Collections Archivist at JMU Libraries. Her research focuses on oral histories, ethically-minded digital curation, the knowledge commons, and participatory taxonomy construction.

FEliz Perez

Feliz Perez of the Laren School in the Philippines. She will share their interpretation and application of Montessori’s adolescent education principles through their field school program. She will be co-presenting with her students on their experiences and opinions about field school.

Logan Obusan Trinidad (he/him)

Logan is a year two student. Logan enjoys biking around his neighborhood, exploration, and stick fighting. He is the self-proclaimed number one field school enjoyer.

Daniella Contreras

Daniella is a year 4 student with over 5 field schools. She dislikes work but loves trying new things. She is constantly tired but enjoys the thrill of going through experience. Her goal is to leave a good mark for the people in field school, and hopes to see things end for new things to begin.

Mary Zapanta (she/her)

Mary is a year 2 student who is going through the 3rd field school and would want to learn more. She is willing to chase her dreams, cooking for the family, and to explore new places one by one.

Andres Jimenez Cornejo

Andres is a year two student in the middle of a third (but already wants a fourth) Field school. Who loves doing too much too fast.

Czarina Trinidad (she/her)

Czarina is a year 4 with 6 field schools so far, and is probably napping on the common room couch. She goes head first into whatever activity she believes won’t kill her and has a love-hate relationship with rain.

Cara Oria (she/her)

Cara is a year 3 student, and has been to 5 field schools so far. She has never touched dirt until field school, and would still rather avoid it. She will take any chance to be in the kitchen, but will most likely be found either where the noise is, or where there’s least noise.

TO BE ANNOUNCED