Faculty and Board of Directors

Tamara holds a BS in Applied Learning and Development from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s Degree in Education from Loyola College.  She began her career in education teaching English as a Second Language to pre-schoolers in Austin, Texas.   She completed her AMI training at the Montessori Institute of the Northwest, in Portland, Oregon.   Tamara served as a Primary guide at the Post Oak School in Houston, Texas for six and a half years.  Most recently she was the Associate Admission Director for Post Oak’s adolescent campus in the heart of Houston’s Museum District.  Her experience with children, families, and colleagues in this role affirmed her belief in Dr. Montessori’s work and inspired her as both a teacher and a parent. She enjoys introducing new families to Montessori education and nurturing relationships with families in the community.  She also enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, traveling, reading, and listening to great music especially live or on vinyl.

Jill holds a Master’s in Education and her postgraduate Administrative Leadership License, which further deepened her commitment to school leadership. Since 2015 she has served in a variety of roles in schools, including classroom teacher, social-emotional learning specialist, and school counselor, giving her a well rounded perspective on supporting children, families, and educators. At Corvallis Montessori School, Jill brings her background in student support and school culture to foster a nurturing, inclusive environment where both students and staff can thrive. Outside of CMS, Jill teaches and practices yoga. She has two daughters, Quincy, a CMS alum, and Florence, currently thriving in the Maple class. As a family, they love hiking with their dog, Hank, tending their backyard chickens, and tackling DIY projects at home.

Lynne has been on staff at Corvallis Montessori School since February, 2012, where she served as the guide in the toddler house. Before her Montessori career, Lynne was a librarian, working in both corporate and academic libraries and for businesses that provide services to libraries.  Lynne has a BS in Journalism from Suffolk University and a Masters in Library and Information Science from Simmons College, Boston.  Lynne is active with the local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, enjoys fiber arts, loves a challenge, and is always looking for the next big home and garden project.

Ana grew up in Hood River, OR. She received her Montessori toddler training through the North American Montessori Training Center, Vancouver, BC. Ana enjoys reading and playing softball.

Bekkah was born in Medford, Oregon, and moved to Corvallis in 2021. She joined CMS in 2024 as an Assistant in the Hazelnut toddler transition classroom and became the guide for that class in 2025. She received her Montessori toddler training through the North American Montessori Training Center, Vancouver, BC. Bekkah has a Bachelor’s in Education Studies from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, OR. Bekkah loves the Oregon Coast and spending time with her cats.

Cindy joined the staff at CMS in November, 2017 and has assisted in several different classrooms over the years, mostly at the toddler and toddler transition levels. Cindy earned her 0-3 Montessori diploma in 2024.

Stephanie was raised in Minnesota, where she received a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Minnesota in 1996.  First introduced to Montessori philosophy while working as an Elementary Assistant in Portland, Oregon, Stephanie earned her AMI Primary degree in 1999 at the Montessori Institute Northwest in Portland, and shortly thereafter came to CMS.  Attending annual Montessori refresher courses keeps her practice fresh and offers her inspiration.  She loves animals, gardening, and the natural world, particularly the peacefulness of living in her countryside home tucked in the woods. She spends much of her free time camping, hiking, and practicing hot yoga.

Maria grew up in Atlanta, Ga. She moved to Oregon with her partner after a visit, falling in love with Corvallis and its community. She was introduced to Montessori education at the Philomath Montessori School, where she worked as a substitute. 

Maria was an Assistant in both the Primary and Toddler environments at CMS before receiving her Primary training through the North American Montessori Training Center in Vancouver, BC and Montessori Northwest in Portland. Maria enjoys baking, spending time with children, collecting house plants, and exploring the outdoors with her partner and dog.

Ida has been a lead guide at CMS since 2021. She discovered Montessori education in 2018, when she began working as an assistant in a primary classroom and fell in love with it. She received her Primary training at Montessori Northwest in Portland in 2022. Ida loves playing music, cycling, reading, and gardening in her spare time.

Originally from a rural community in subarctic Canada, Caroline and her family moved to Corvallis in 2022 just 3 months after her son, Stanley, was born. They have practiced Montessori methods since Stanley was born, and never even had a crib!

Professionally, Caroline has over a decade of experience working in health and safety for numerous large public academic institutions. She is a subject matter expert for hazardous materials and is currently developing and implementing a comprehensive chemical management program for the University of California, San Francisco remotely from their family’s hobby farm just outside of town.

Caroline is a dedicated public service worker committed to community, a sense of place, and ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality education. As a board member, she is eager to leverage her public administration experience, program management skills, and lean knowledge to support the school’s mission.

Growing up in growing zone zero, Caroline likes to spend time outside enjoying non-freezing temperatures and vibrant agriculture found in the Willamette Valley.

Spencer and his family live in the Corvallis area, where he owns and operates Heart of the Valley Construction, building custom homes and additions throughout the community. Two of his sons, Arlo and Cooper, are proud CMS alumni, and his youngest, Bodhi, is currently in the Maple room.

With a background in Project Management, Spencer brings a spirit of efficiency, collaboration, and community to everything he does—both in his work and his involvement with CMS and the greater Corvallis area. When he’s not working, you’ll likely find the Dixons camping, mountain biking, rafting, or exploring the woods together.

Jack and his wife, Brittany, returned to Corvallis after several years away and are now raising their daughter, Lois, in the community where they first met as students at Oregon State University. Jack works as a project manager for an engineering firm and brings a thoughtful, organized approach to both his professional work and his involvement in the community.

Outside of work, Jack enjoys residential remodeling, film, music, podcasts, softball, and bringing people together through social events. He values meaningful conversation—whether over a walk or a shared drink—and is always happy to connect.

John, his wife Erin, daughter Madeleine, and their flock of chickens moved to Corvallis from Portland in 2021—returning to a place close to John’s heart, where he earned both a B.S. and M.S. in Applied Mathematics from Oregon State University. While in Portland, he served on the Humboldt Neighborhood Association board for over three years.

John works as a manager of planning and analysis at the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, focusing on long-term regional power system planning. His work blends project management, mathematical modeling, and public policy.

In his free time, he enjoys disc golf, hiking, music, gardening, natural building, fermentation, and exploring regenerative systems. A former teacher from a family of educators, John values high-quality education and is excited to support the CMS experience for current and future students.

Joel was born and raised in Corvallis, Oregon. Growing up in the community, he has been involved in a variety of local institutions as a graphic designer, musician, brand manager at the First Alternative Coop, and now the Assistant Director of Digital Marketing and Marketing Intelligence at Oregon State University Ecampus. He brings more than 14+ years of marketing, design and community dialogue to his service on the Board. His family have a love for good food and time outdoors on local hiking trails (Finley Wildlife Refuge is a favorite).

He and his wife Sarah both come from a family of educators and believe that Montessori education cultivates thoughtfulness and social/emotional values at a critical phase of life. Their son Sloan joined the Ginkgo classroom in 2022 and has thrived amongst his peers and teachers. Their younger son Finley joined the Ginkgo classroom in the Fall of 2023 and has already benefited from the value of the Montessori community.

Jackie grew up on a small farm 30 miles west of Portland. She attended Oregon State University and earned her Honors B.S. in Animal Science. Over the last 15 years, she has held leadership roles with nonprofit and private organizations dedicated to farm animal welfare and organic agriculture; provided consultancy, facilitation, and special projects management in the agricultural certification space; and just finished three years at USDA as part of the National Organic Program. Jackie is excited to support CMS through a board role and looks forward to bringing project management, leadership and organizational skills to the table.  

Jackie and her husband Mark moved back to Corvallis in 2013 after a stint on the East Coast, and have been delighted to get to know Corvallis outside of the university over the last 12 years. Their son Ryland (nearly 5) is going into his third year at CMS and second year in Maple Classroom, and it has been a joy to watch him grow and thrive in the Montessori community. In her down time, Jackie can be found cooking, gardening, crocheting, hiking with their dog Titus, spending weekends helping at the family farm, and enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. 

Levi was raised in rural Minnesota and came to Corvallis in 2007 for both the splendor and the school. While completing his Master’s in Horticulture at OSU, he found his calling as a
teacher. Levi taught at Linn-Benton Community College, where he served on the Board of the PTFA to advocate for
adjunct faculty. He now supports farmers and food systems through his role at local non-profit Oregon Tilth.

Levi has been an ardent supporter and admirer of Dr. Montessori’s work long before he and his partner Margot had children, thanks to some of his closest friends being Montessori educators and administrators. When Levi and Margot’s children began their journey at CMS, they were able to witness Dr. Montessori’s principles put to practice as their children blossomed and flourished. They are over the moon with the genuine care, compassion, and commitment of CMS staff and the diverse village of CMS families. 

In the hypothetical moments he has outside of being a workin’ dad, Levi pursues crunchy passions like grafting strange fruit trees, crabbing, fishing, krauting, making hoshigaki, and trying to uncover the mythical snacks at
Trader Joe’s that only moms can seem to find……

Ethan brings a background in community development and organizational leadership, with a focus on creating inclusive spaces for youth and families. As Chief Operating Officer at the Mid-Willamette Family YMCA, he has spent the last six years supporting the growth of programs and facilities that prioritize access, belonging, and community impact. His work has included everything from launching new initiatives and partnerships to leading large-scale facility improvements.

Originally from Corvallis, Ethan was a CMS student himself and continues to value curiosity-driven, child-centered education. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Oregon State University and spent five years living and working in Japan, where he taught English to students of all ages, from young children to older adults, in language schools, universities, and private settings. During that time, he also stayed active in the local soccer community, managing both adult and youth academies while serving as a player, coach, and mentor.

Ethan lives in Albany with his wife, Ty, the founder and Executive Director of KinCultivate, a nonprofit focused on cultural connection and identity development for youth of African descent, and their daughter, Oriana, who currently attends CMS. In his free time, he enjoys reading, soccer, tabletop games, and family adventures

Jennifer is a dedicated community planner and advocate for sustainable development, currently serving as the Community and Economic Development Director for Stayton, Oregon. Originally from New England, she moved to Oregon in 2022 with her husband and their son, Moriarty. The family settled on her husband’s 40-acre farm in Scio, drawn by the opportunity to raise their son amid the natural beauty of the Willamette Valley.

With a Master’s Degree in Regional Planning and over 15 years of experience in the field, Jennifer has supported various planning boards and commissions throughout her career. She has also served on several boards in Rhode Island, including the Statewide Technical Advisory Committee for Planning and a historic district board. Jennifer’s early education in a Montessori school, from ages 3 to 9, sparked a lifelong love of curiosity-driven learning—something she is eager to pass on to her son. The Montessori philosophy continues to guide her in both her personal life and her collaborative approach to professional work.