Welcome to Abintra Montessori, an intentional and inclusive community centered in developing confident, self-motivated learners who creatively meet the challenges of life.

It is this intentionality of focusing on the development of self that speaks to so many of our current and prospective families. Maria Montessori was one of the first great thinkers (a medical doctor and social scientist) that recognized that all children everywhere carry the internal abilities they need for optimal development. They are not empty vessels, but never-ending wonders of internal growth, sense-making, and knowledge acquisition.

At Abintra, we are committed to offering a prepared environment coupled with dedicated adult guidance that sparks joy, fosters independence, and engenders a deep love of learning centered in interest and exploring the natural world and human connectedness.

We value and welcome all families, of all types and make-ups, as we believe that Education is the pathway to peace for all communities. Our remarkable children, welcoming parent community, and deeply trained and talented Team make Abintra Montessori an authentic Montessori educational home in greater Nashville. We hope to meet you soon!

We must see the child from the point of the future man. We must understand that it is a human right that the child should grow in the right way because the man will grow from the child in a few years. This man must have the rights of every citizen.
~ Maria Montessori, The 1946 London Lectures, p. 140

Amber Oxley,

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Administration

Amber Oxley

Head of School

With Abintra since 2023

Education:
– College of Santa Fe - B.F.A.
– Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead School of Management - M.S. Change Management and Organizational Design

Certification:
– International Montessori Training Institute – AMI Adolescent Diploma
– Empowering People in the Workplace Facilitator, Positive Discipline Association

April Crook

Office Manager

With Abintra since 2023

Education:
– The University of Tennessee - B.S Human Ecology
– The University of Tennessee - M.S. Child and Family Studies

Montessori Certification:
– AMI Primary Diploma (3-6)
– AMI Assistants to Infancy Diploma (0-3)

Certification:
– Permaculture Design Certificate

Lindsay Moorman

Business Director

With Abintra since 2022

Education:
– University of Montevallo - B.A., Business Administration, Marketing
– Regis University - M.B.A., Strategic Management

Certification:
– Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator
– Certified Positive Discipline Early Childhood Educator
– Empowering People in the Workplace Facilitator, Positive Discipline Association

Molly Henry

Administrative Director & Parent Support

With Abintra since 2000

Education:
– Vanderbilt University - B.S. Psychology

Certification:
– Planned Parenthood Trained Sexuality Educator
– Certified Positive Discipline Lead Trainer
– Highlands Certified Consultant
– Strong Certified Practitioner

Rebecka Roberts

Curriculum Coordinator and Instructor

With Abintra since 2018

Education:
– The Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden - M.A. in Music Education

Certification:
– Belmont University - Level 1 Certification, Orff Method
– Age of Montessori, Montessori Early Childhood Education Overview
– Apple Teacher
– Empowering People in the Workplace Facilitator, Positive Discipline Association

Primary

Patricia Salazar

Primary Program Director

With Abintra since 2004

Education:
– Universidad del Valle (Colombia) - B.A. Business Administration

Montessori Certification:
– Early Childhood 3-6

Certifications:
– Positive Discipline Classroom Educator
– Positive Discipline Parent Educator
– Total Physical Response (TPR)

Sonia Schilling

Primary 1 Guide

With Abintra since 2024

Education:
– Southern Illinois University, IL -
B.A. in Studio Art with a Minor in Art History

Montessori Education:
– North American Montessori Center, MO  - AMI Primary Certified

Grace Jewell

Primary 1 Assistant

With Abintra since 2024

Education:
– MTSU, TN -
B.A. in Spanish with a minor in Linguistic Studies

Montessori Education:
– Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies, AZ  - AMI Montessori 3-6 Orientation Certificate

Emily Gallagher

Primary 2 Guide

With Abintra since 2024

Education:
– Hallmark Institute of Photography - B.A. Photography

Montessori Certification:
– Early Childhood 3-6

Certifications/Licensures:
– Certified Positive Discipline Early Childhood Educator

Hadleigh Rhodes

Primary 2 Assistant

With Abintra since 2024

Education:
– University of Colorado, CO - B.S. Psychology and Education

Vanessa Swiggart

Primary 3 Guide

With Abintra since 2020, 2014-17

Education:
– Belmont University - B.A. Music Performance

Montessori Certification:
– Early Childhood 3-6

Certification:
– Certified Positive Discipline Early Childhood Educator
– Belmont University - Level 1 Certification, Orff Method

Mary Childerston

Primary 3 Assistant

With Abintra since 2024

Education:
– Azusa Pacific University, CA - M.S. Social Science & Student Development

Montessori Certification:
– Washington Montessori Institute - Early Childhood 3-6

Athena Childs Fleisher

Cultural Programming and Experiential Support

With Abintra since 2022

Education:
– Florida State University - B.A. International Affairs
– The University of Arizona - Master of Business Administration and Master in Public Health

Montessori Certification:
– Early Childhood 3-6

Certification:
– Certified Positive Discipline Early Childhood Educator

Jill Mora

Extracurricular Coordinator

With Abintra since 2024

Education:
– Lipscomb University, TN -
B.A. in French

Elementary

Claudia C'deBaca

Learning Specialist and Elementary Program Director

With Abintra since 1999

Education:
– University of New Mexico - B.A. Special Education
– Vanderbilt University - M.A. Special Education

Certification:
– Positive Discipline Classroom Educator

Carriga Camp

Lower Elementary 1 Lead Guide

With Abintra since 2008

Education:
– College of Charleston - B.A. English

Montessori Certification:
– Early Childhood 2.5-6
– Elementary Training 6-9

Certification:
– Total Physical Response (TPR)
– Total Physical Response through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS)
– Orton-Gillingham for Language
– Positive Discipline Classroom Educator

Professional Development:
– Junior Great Books Training

Justice Dobson

Lower Elementary 1 Assistant

With Abintra since 2021

Education:
– Lipscomb University - B.S. Business Management

Certification:
– Elementary Montessori Classroom Assistant
– Elementary 6-9, Candidate
– Certified Positive Discipline Early Childhood Educator

Leah Graby

Lower Elementary 2 Lead Guide

With Abintra since 2007

Education:
– Pennsylvania State University – B.S. K - Elementary Education

Montessori Certification:
– Early Childhood certification 3-6
– Elementary Certification 6-12

Certification:
– Orton-Gillingham for Language
– Positive Discipline Classroom Educator

Sohpie Horsman

Lower Elementary 2 Assistant

With Abintra since 2024

Education:
– Manchester School of Art, Manchester, United Kingdom - B.A. in Photography

Certification:
– Age of Montessori, Elementary Montessori Classroom Assistant

Jodi McDaniel

Lower Elementary Support Guide

With Abintra since 2004

Education:
– University of New Orleans - B.G.A.

Montessori Certification:
– Early Childhood 2.5-7
– Elementary 6-9
– Field Representative for Teacher Certification: Age of Montessori

Certification:
– Positive Discipline Classroom Educator

Professional Development:
– Tennessee Performing Arts Center education workshops
– Tennessee Arts Academy education workshops
– Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History virtual classes
– Tennessee State Museum education workshops

Jonell Smith

Upper Elementary Guide

With Abintra since 2009

Education:
– East Tennessee State University - B.S. Elementary Education

Montessori Certification:
– Elementary 6-12

Certification:
– Positive Discipline Classroom Educator

Anja Honselmann

Upper Elementary Guide

With Abintra since 2022

Education:
– University of Münster, Germany - Diploma program of Educational Science
– University of Münster, Germany - Teaching License in Primary Education

Montessori Training:
– Primary/Elementary 3-14

Brittany Fluman

Adolescent Guide

With Abintra since 2023

Education:
– B.A. Cognitive Behavioral Psychology
– M.A. Humanistic Psychology

Montessori Certification:
– International Montessori Training Institute - AMI Adolescent Diploma, Candidate

John Toomey

Elementary/Adolescent Specialist

With Abintra since 2012

Education:
– Murray State University - B.F.A. Drawing, Painting

Montessori Certification:
– Early Childhood 3-6

Certifications:
– Positive Discipline Classroom Educator
– Mindfulness Institute

Professional Development:
– Nurturing the Roots, The Tracking Project
– Archery Certification, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
– Yoga for Children, The Asheville Yoga Center

Caroline Cercone

Elementary/Adolescent Specialist

With Abintra since 2021

Education:
– Philipps University, Marburg - M.A. Japanese Studies
– Keiko University, Tokyo - Japanese Language/Art Studies
– Pinland School of Crafts - Pottery Studies

Adolescent

Kristin Romberg

Adolescent Director & Guide

With Abintra since 2023

Education:
– Dartmouth College - B.A. Music; Human Development and Learning

Montessori Certification:
– International Montessori Training Institute – AMI Adolescent Diploma (ages 12-18)
– Center for Guided Montessori Studies – IMC Elementary Diploma (ages 6-12)
– June Shelton School - Montessori Applied to Children at Risk, Level I and Level II

Certifications/Licensure:
– Certified Academic Language Practitioner
– State Certified K-8 Classroom Teacher
– State Certified PK-12 Music Teacher
– State Certified K-12 Special Education Teacher
– Level I Certification, Orff Method
– 4MAT Teacher Certification and 4MAT Trainer Certification

Caroline Cercone

German as a Foreign Language/Ceramics Instructor

With Abintra since 2021

Education:
– Philipps University, Marburg - M.A. Japanese Studies
– Keiko University, Tokyo - Japanese Language/Art Studies
– Pinland School of Crafts - Pottery Studies

John Toomey

Art Guide

With Abintra since 2012

Education:
- Murray State University – B.F.A. Drawing, Painting

Montessori Certification:
- Early Childhood 3-6

Certifications:
- Positive Discipline Classroom Educator
- Mindfulness Institute

Professional Development:
- Nurturing the Roots, The Tracking Project
- Archery Certification, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
- Yoga for Children, The Asheville Yoga Center

Support Team

Larry Keeling

Facilities and Landscape Manager

With Abintra since 1999

Emi Canahuati

Human Growth & Dev. and Positive Discipline Facilitator

With Abintra since 2017

Education:
– New York University - M.A. Counseling Psychology
– Florida International University - B.A. Psychology

Certification:
– Sexuality Educator - AASECT
– Positive Discipline Parent Educator
– Positive Discipline Educator

Benton Moore

Photographer and Social Media Support

With Abintra since 2019

Kristen Slocum

Substitute

With Abintra since 2017

Education:
– Middle TN State University - B.S. Early Childhood

Montessori Certification:
– Early Childhood 3-6

Certification:
– Certified Positive Discipline Early Childhood Educator