Augusta McDonald
Head of School

Augusta brings a wide array of skills to this position. Originally from New Zealand, she graduated from the New Zealand Drama School in 1982. While acting in television and theater, Augusta taught improvisation, dance and creative movement to three to twelve year olds. Since moving to the U.S. in 1991, she has been a manager, a mother, and a maverick—creating and managing her own business for nine years. She completed the American Montessori Internationale primary teacher training in May 2011.

In her role as the Director of the Garrison Afterschool Program, Augusta built a vibrant, happy, and creative program. Augusta joined MIT in 2011 and is delighted to be able to continue her work of creating a meaningful environment for children, families, and staff that fosters a strong sense of community.

Annabelle Lawrence
Assistant Head of School

Annabelle has been working with children since her teenage years. Seeing first-hand that traditional early childhood education could go only so far, she was inspired by the Montessori approach to developing the whole child and decided to leave her role as a preschool teacher to receive AMI Primary training. Annabelle holds a BA in Children's Learning and Development from UMass. She graduated from the Montessori Institute of Atlanta in 2009.

Annabelle joined Montessori In Town in 2015. She brings experience from her previous work at other Atlanta Montessori schools, both as a Primary guide and administrator. Now, as a mom to four beautiful children, she continues to learn what it means to parent the Montessori way.

Holly Michael
Accounting

Holly has a Bachelor of Administration from the University of West Georgia. She decided to leave her corporate job to raise a family. Holly began working in a Montessori school in 2013, when her eldest daughter began in Primary, and came to Montessori In Town with her youngest. As a native Atlantan, Holly loves living in our wonderful city and spending time with friends. She and her husband stay busy with their two daughters and tending to their family's urban farm.

Shonda Ferguson
Toddler Assistant

Shanda was born in Mississippi and was raised in Portugal, Arizona, Italy and Florida with a parent in the Air Force. She moved to Atlanta to attend The Art Institute of Atlanta. Shanda is an accomplished Fashion Illustrator and Fine Artist. Shanda’s interest in Montessori started after the birth of her son, who currently attends MIT.

Mari Carmona
Toddler Community Assistant

Shanda was born in Mississippi and was raised in Portugal, Arizona, Italy and Florida with a parent in the Air Force. She moved to Atlanta to attend The Art Institute of Atlanta. Shanda is an accomplished Fashion Illustrator and Fine Artist.

Shanda’s interest in Montessori started after the birth of her son, who currently attends MIT.

Andreale Mitchell
Primary Classroom Assistant

Drea was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She has earned a BA in Psychology and Human Services. Drea has worked with children for 10 years. A close friend introduced her to Montessori, the philosophy made perfect sense to her, she has been with Montessori In Town since 2022.

In her spare time, she enjoys writing poetry. Her daughter also attends MIT.

Destiny Walker
Primary Guide

Destiny Walker discovered an unexpected passion for early childhood education at 19 while working as a substitute teacher. She began her career as a two-year-old teacher before moving into Pre-K and later serving in school administration as the Program Director. After discovering Montessori, she began observing in a local Montessori school in her hometown of Carrollton, Georgia, where she knew she had found her calling! She completed her initial Montessori training through NAMC and gained experience in both Toddler and Primary environments. Years later, eager to deepen her Montessori journey and further immerse herself in the philosophy, Destiny earned her AMI Primary Diploma through the Washington Montessori Institute. She is passionate about fostering children’s independence, confidence, and concentration through purposeful work, careful observation, and a thoughtfully prepared environment. Outside the classroom, Destiny enjoys reading, singing, practicing yoga, hiking, cooking healthy meals, decorating, and anything involving the water from swimming to parasailing.

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.

Jodi Dunn
Lower Elementary Guide

In college, Jodi studied in Hotel and Restaurant Management. She later worked in the hotel industry for 5 years (miserably). As a parent to be, Jodi came to a community information session at Montessori In Town. She knew right away, “This was something I needed to be a part of.”  She felt inspired, and the path into Montessori Education has been clear and steady ever since. Jodi moved into Montessori education in 2008, she began by substituting in local Montessori schools and later assisted in in an Upper Elementary for three years. She went on to complete her AMI Elementary Montessori training in Atlanta in 2013. She will be completing her Orton Gillingham training in December 2020. She loves to attend workshops, AMI refresher courses as well as the EAA Summer Conference when she can.

In her spare time, Jodi enjoys cooking, yoga, house projects, and spending time with my family especially her daughter, Penny.

Katie Bryant
Lower Elementary Assistant

Katie was born and raised in Atlanta. Before she came to Montessori In Town in 2017 she worked mental health therapy for children and adolescents. Katie has a master’s degree in social work. She also has a white fluffy dog named Nonny.

Rosa Ayala
Spanish Teacher

Rosa is originally from Puerto Rico. She was a theater major and loves the arts. She utilizes her performing skills to engage children. Teaching her language and culture has been more than a job for Rosa, it is her passion and mission.

Rosa has been working in Montessori schools for the past eight years, first with the Toddler community and then as a Spanish guide. She joined the MIT community in 2021.

Rosa enjoys exercising regularly because it brings her peace and purpose.

Lindsay Rauen
Primary Guide

Lindsay is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts. She studied Fine Arts in Italy and Botany in Costa Rica. Lindsay was working on her second degree in teaching 1st - 8th grade when she had the opportunity to observe a public Montessori school. She loved what she saw, researched Montessori, and enrolled in an AMI Primary Montessori training.

Lindsay has been working with children in various roles for 20 years. She has worked in public schools as a Montessori guide and as an art teacher. Lindsay, who has two boys who attend MIT, joined our school in 2022. She enjoys spending time with her family, camping, hiking, cooking, and listening to live music.

Ellen Barneycastle
Elementary P.E.

Bio Coming Soon

Carmen Draper
Maintenance

Carmen is a highly skilled craftsman whose skills across the construction industry - electric, plumbing, carpentry, and finishing have been invaluable to the renovation of the three buildings that now comprise Montessori In Town. Carmen had thirty-five years of experience in construction before coming to Montessori In Town.

Carmen ensures that the three buildings are all well maintained and everything is in good working order.

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.