Maureen Walter, Founder and Executive Director of MIT
In the fall of 2005 Maureen realized her long time vision to serve the families of the intown neighborhoods by establishing Montessori In Town. Since then, Maureen’s dream has grown to include three Primary classes and a Montessori Elementary program. Maureen has been a Montessori educator for more than 30 years and has lived in the in town neighborhoods for as many years. She has been the founding teacher of four AMI-recognized Montessori schools in the Atlanta area. Maureen has served our local AMI teacher training center, Montessori Institute of Atlanta, by acting as Course Assistant for many years as well as serving as the President of the Board of Trustees. In the course of her career she has taught Primary classes, directed after- school and summer programs, served as Educational Director and Level Coordinator and particularly relishes mentoring new teachers. Maureen has enjoyed developing other support programs for women, children and families that provide pregnancy education, exercise, yoga, creative movement, and infant massage classes throughout the years in her community and at schools in the metro area.
Nikki Torres, Educational Director
Montessori has been a part of Nikki’s life from the beginning. The daughter of a Montessori educator, Nikki was a Montessori student in the laboratory school of an AMI teacher-training center in Philadelphia. Nikki holds her Montessori Elementary certificate from the Washington Montessori Institute and has taught both Lower (6-9) and Upper (9-12) Elementary classes in Chicago and Atlanta. Additionally, Nikki was the Founding Teacher and Program Coordinator of a Montessori Adolescent program, the second of its kind in the Atlanta area. Nikki has served as the Administrator of Montessori Institute of Atlanta and is the Founding Board President of the Montessori Administrators of Georgia. Nikki continues to follow her passion of educating the “older” child by acting as an Elementary Consultant and Parent Educator to local Montessori schools.
Anne King Ursery, Primary Guide
Anne joined the Montessori In Town community in 2007 when she began MIT's second Primary Classroom. Anne received her AMI teaching diploma from the Montessori Institute of Atlanta and holds an undergraduate degree in French. Anne has previous Montessori and non-Montessori teaching experience with pre-school through high school aged students in Colorado and France. Anne’s love of travel and the outdoors is a gift she shares with the children in her environment.
Leah Denison, Elementary Guide
Leah joins Montessori In Town as the founding teacher of the Elementary Program commencing August 2011. She received her AMI Elementary diploma from Washington Montessori Institute in 1999 and a Master's of Education in Montessori Elementary Education from Loyola College of Maryland. After receiving her diploma, Leah taught for five years at an AMI-accredited Montessori school in Atlanta until her daughter was born. Before the birth of her son, Leah was a part of the Montessori In Town administrative team and supported admissions and parent education programming. She has worked with children of all ages in many different settings including wilderness camps for youth-at-risk and teaching riding at 4-H summer camp. In her free time Leah enjoys cooking, sewing, reading, and knitting - all things she looks forward to sharing with her class.
Clarissa Logsdon, Primary Guide
Clarissa began her Montessori experience at Montessori In Town in 2008. Having earned her degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University, she chose to forgo opportunities within the traditional education system in order to pursue her interest in Montessori education. She served as a Primary assistant for two years at MIT before leaving in order to earn her AMI Primary teaching diploma from the Montessori Institute of Atlanta and her Master’s Degree in Education from Loyola University. She returns to MIT this year as a Primary guide, eager to serve the families of her hometown community.
Laura Morris, Primary Guide
Laura joined Montessori In Town in early 2012 bringing with her a wealth of experiences with children and their families. A native of Atlanta, Laura attended Kennesaw State University and received her AMI Primary training at the Montessori Institute of Atlanta. Laura has been an active member of the Atlanta Montessori community since 1991 and developed the first All-Day Montessori Primary Program in the Atlanta area. Laura has spoken nationally and internationally on this and other topics and has been published in professional journals, resource guides, and local magazines.