Nancy has been with Staunton Montessori School since 1997. She has a BS in psychology from Longwood College, a BS in Early Childhood Education from James Madison University, and her primary AMI diploma. She recently pursued her love of writing by completing two Writing for Children’s Magazines courses with the Institute for Children’s Literature. add this sentence at the end of her bio: Nancy also serves as a Primary Montessori faculty mentor.
Emily Sproul, M.Ed. (she/they)
Chickadee Community Primary Teacher
Emily earned a BA in History (1999) and a Masters of Teaching in Elementary Education (2000) from University of Richmond. She has taught fourth and fifth grade in public schools, led preschool and elementary summer programs, and was lead teacher in the 3 year old class at Covenant Developmental Preschool. Her four children attended the primary program at Staunton Montessori School, and their experiences reinforced Emily’s love of the Montessori method in developing confident, independent, and curious young people. Emily has called Staunton home for most of her life. In addition to teaching, she has served as Executive Director of the Shenandoah LGBTQ Center, the director of the Center’s housing program (Hope House), and an adult mental health case manager for Valley Community Services Board. She enjoys traveling, hiking, photography, and making music with friends and family. Emily is currently completing her Primary Montessori training at the Washington Montessori Institute while being mentored by Nancy Breeden.
Lia Craft, M.Ed. (she/her)
Hummingbird Community Elementary 6-9 Teacher (grades 1-3)
Lia began her undergraduate studies at Radford University and completed her BA in psychology at Georgia State University. She was an assistant in a Montessori upper elementary classroom at Arbor Montessori in Atlanta for 10 years before moving back to Virginia. After a year as Nancy’s assistant, she completed the AMI elementary training at WMI and received a Master’s Degree in Education.
Alison Oelke McCaul, M.Ed. (she/her)
Cardinal Community Elementary 6-9 Teacher (grades 1-3)
Alison is a graduate of Mary Baldwin College with a BA in Sociology & Social Work. She completed the AMI elementary training at WMI and earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Loyola. She has worked with children in day cares, summer camps, puppetry workshops, and Boys & Girls Clubs in Virginia and Maryland. She loves animals, art, puppetry, games, and watching the children learn and grow.
Chrissie Hall, M.Ed. (she/her)
Meadowlark Community Elementary 9-12 Teacher (grades 4-6)
Chrissie is a graduate of Mary Baldwin College, with a degree in psychology. She completed the AMI elementary training at WMI and earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Loyola College of Baltimore. Since beginning the elementary program at SMS in 2002, Chrissie continues to focus on fostering the independence, responsibility and curiosity of all students.
Assistants
Kelly Harris (she/her)
Bluebird Primary Assistant
Kelly is a graduate of Bridgewater College with a BA in liberal studies. While at Bridgewater she also received her PK-6 teaching license. She has worked at Staunton Montessori School since 2008 and has developed a deep love and appreciation of the Montessori method.
Jenny Hinch (she/her)
Hummingbird Lower Elementary Assistant
Jenny has been working in Montessori Schools since 1998. She is excited about being at Staunton Montessori, continuing to work with children (her passion). She has lived in the area all her life. She has 2 boys of her own.
Connor Phillips (he/him)
Cardinal Assistant in Elementary Grades (1-3)
Connor started working with children in 2013 at Wintergreen Ski Resort in their children’s ski program. While there, he continued to further his education experience at the Boys & Girls Club of America before coming to Staunton Montessori in 2018. Starting in Aftercare, he now joins us as the Elementary Assistant where he hopes to further his work in education.
Brigid Bronik, M.Ed. (she/her)
Meadowlark Assistant in Elementary Grades (4-6)
Brigid earned her BA in Spanish and Women’s Studies (1995) from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, before going on to earn a Master’s in Library Science from North Carolina Central University. She has worked in public and university libraries, and she was the Library Media Coordinator at Easley Elementary School in Durham, NC, for six years before her family relocated to the Shenandoah Valley. She joined the staff at Staunton Montessori School in 2016.
Symone Edwards
Chickadee Primary Assistant
Bio Coming Soon
Aftercare Program
Rodi Sutherland, CDA (she/her)
Mockingbird Aftercare Director
Rodi graduated from Wilson Memorial High School and attended Blue Ridge Community College. She has worked in child care since 1996 with ages ranging from Infant to Adolescent. Her personal philosophy on children is to “follow the child.” She is also a credentialed Child Development Associate (CDA) and a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Cindy Curtis (she/her)
Mockingbird Aftercare Assistant
Cindy has been working for Montessori Schools for the past 29 years. She has a passion for working with children. She has an Applied Associates of Science Degree. She joined the staff at Staunton Montessori in 2020.
Bonnie Rosen
Mockingbird Aftercare Assistant
Bonnie is a Staunton Montessori School alumnus. She has been working in childcare and aftercare settings since her junior year of high school. She has her associate’s degree in liberal arts and hopes to continue to study education and psychology in the future. This is her first year working at Staunton Montessori School, and she is very excited to be part of the team.
Administrative Team
Leanne Gray, M.Ed. (she/her)
Head of School
Leanne received her BS in Early Childhood Education Pre-K to 3rd from Eastern Mennonite University, and went on to get her Masters in Education and AMI Primary Montessori certification in Columbia, MD. Leanne has over nineteen years Montessori experience, including teaching in public and private schools, mentoring teachers and parents, supporting families, and speaking at Montessori conferences. She also has completed a RIE Foundations course for supporting infants and toddlers. Leanne is thrilled to be supporting and growing the community of Staunton Montessori. She joined our staff in 2023.
Kim Nations (she/her)
Director of Enrollment
Kim received her BA in Sociology from the University of Mary Washington and went on to get her AMS Lower Elementary certification from the Institute of Advanced Montessori Studies (IAMS) in Silver Spring, Maryland. She taught lower elementary for twelve years in Virginia and South Carolina. In addition to her roles as a classroom teacher, Kim developed and led a lower elementary program while teaching in South Carolina. During her time in Northern Virginia she also worked with adult learners and taught the lower elementary Montessori Art curriculum at IAMS. In 2017 her family relocated to Staunton where she has loved cultivating a Montessori home for her two young boys. Kim’s family joined SMS in 2022 and she joined the faculty in 2024. As Director of Enrollment, Kim’s priority is supporting the current and future families at SMS and sharing the Montessori magic with the greater community.
Brittany Cleaveland
Office Manager
Brittany comes from the health industry working in women’s care, obstetrics, dermatology, and physical therapy. Seeking a less impersonal work path has led her to our school. Brittany is enjoying building personal connections with students, families, and the community.
