Cidney Carlton
Toddler Community Assistant

Cidney is a valuable addition to our team, offering patience, compassion, and a calming presence in the fast-paced world of young explorers. With a CNA certification and over five years of experience in childcare, she has a solid background in child development and health. Cidney plays a key role in helping toddlers navigate their big emotions, build first friendships, and master the essential skill of putting their shoes on the right feet.

When she’s not in the classroom, Cidney loves exploring her creative side through writing, painting, and photography, passions she often brings into her work to inspire and connect with her students. You might also find her hiking nature trails or chasing waterfalls, as she has a deep love for the outdoors. Nature is a true passion of hers, second only to her little ones, of course!

Sandra Cruz
Toddler Community Assistant

Sandra was born in Georgia, she went to Georgia State University and studied Applied Linguistics to receive a TEFL Certificate. Sandra began working with children in the midst of the pandemic. She learned about Montessori through a conversation with a co-worker, the more she learned the more the philosophy made sense to her. After working with toddlers and Primary-aged children for two years Sandra joined MIT in 2022.

Sandra enjoys going to festivals and visiting family in Mexico. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering in the Latin community and spending time with family and friends.

Jennifer Ray
Toddler Community Assistant

Jennifer was born and raised in Chicago and moved to Georgia in 2018. Jennifer was working as an office assistant at a Montessori school when she was asked to help in a classroom. She loved it so much, they asked her to stay in the classroom.

Jennifer, who has always loved working with children, has worked with children for seven-plus years and joined Montessori In Town in 2023. She has taken many online courses to learn more about early childhood development. She has three children; Joseph (15), Jiselle (9), and Jada (8). Jennifer loves to read and bake with her girls.

Amya Gasby
Primary Classroom Assistant

Amya grew up in New York, where her babysitting skills evolved into classroom skills and her enjoyment of working with children grew. She has seven years of experience working in various classroom settings. Amya joined Montessori In Town in 2023 and brings a lot of creative craft ideas with her.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, poetry, and watching documentaries.

Julia Johnson
Primary Guide

Steve Jobs said you can’t connect the dots looking forward —you can only connect them looking back. That idea seems to capture my journey of coming to work with children.

I grew up surrounded by children. With four older brothers and a childhood spent at the at-home daycare across the street, being around little ones felt as natural as breathing. As early as 7 or 8 years old, I remember learning the monthly milestones of a child's first year of life. By my teens, I became the neighborhood babysitter. I was able to purchase my first car, my own first milestone. As the youngest in my own family of 5 siblings, I very much welcomed the opportunity to lead other children for once!

In early adulthood, life led me to a year of service in New York City, where fate had placed me, among all possible nonprofits, in an early-literacy nonprofit for underserved children. Later, my path would take me abroad to Japan for two years, teaching English to young learners — experiences that deepened my understanding of child development, the universal language of play, the realities of different learning environments, and our shared humanity across race and culture.

When I returned home, I found work as a preschool assistant at a local Montessori school and would begin my journey into its philosophy. The respect for the whole child, the beauty of the materials, and honoring the natural rhythm of development deeply resonated with me. I pursued both on-the-job and formal training — an intense, transformative process that allowed me to bridge theory and practice. Eventually, in 2019, I stepped into my own classroom, ready and eager to guide young souls in their whole development.

I continue to grow every day in my role, just like the children. My goal remains the same: that children enjoy coming to school to see their classmates and teachers, fall in love with their work, explore their interests, embrace challenges, and to feel deeply for one another-and to do all of this with a healthy dose of humor! All of this is the heart of my work, and it’s why I’m here with your children today! My professional experience includes working in the toddler, primary, and elementary environments as well working as an Assistant, Lead Guide, and Admissions Director. I received my Bachelors of Arts from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, and Masters of Education from Loyola in Baltimore, Maryland. I've lived in NYC, Tokyo, London, and Washington DC, but Atlanta is home!

Lynn Stephens
Primary Classroom Assistant

Lynn has been a valuable and experienced assistant in the primary community of Montessori In Town for more than ten years. She holds a BA in early childhood along with Montessori Assistant training courses. She took a hiatus in 2017 to pursue an important opportunity but thankfully returned to us in 2021. Lynn generously shares her Native American heritage with the children. Lynn is a mother of four children, who are each a source of pleasure and pride.

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. Clarissa began as a Primary guide at MIT in 2010; she continues to take pleasure in the opportunity to serve the families of her hometown community.

Krisann Clark
Primary Classroom Assistant

After Krisann’s first child was born, she started a tutorial service to encourage reading and writing for children and families in her community. Around this time she read an article about Montessori that resonated with her, she continued to read and learn about Montessori. Krisann taught elementary and middle schoolers, substituted in K-12 classrooms, tutored K-college students, and mentored middle and high school students, incorporating Montessori principles as much as possible. Krisann has been a substitute at Montessori since 2016.

Krisann enjoys reading and writing, walking outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

Missy Richardson
Primary Classroom Assistant

Missy is the proud owner of Two Assured Hands, who cater to variety of people, including the elderly, disabled, and autistic. Missy stumbled across Montessori education as an expecting mother and feel in love with the interaction between the guide and child, as well as the independence and the freedom that the child has in the classroom. She has taken assistant training at the AMI institute. We are so glad to have her with join us this year. Missy has one son who is now a welder, she enjoys long hikes with her hubby, singing, and a mug of hot cocoa.