MAT Board Members
President Nelson Griffin
Nelson Griffin is a Primary Guide at the Maria Montessori School in Memphis. He graduated from the International Montessori Training Institute in Atlanta in 2013 with an AMI Primary Diploma and also completed a Masters of Education from Loyola University Maryland. He has a Bachelors Degree in American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Masters Degree in Southern Studies from the University of Mississippi. Nelson also holds a certificate for teaching Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level One, a Montessori-based religious education program. He began working with MAT in the spring of 2014 after meeting Jamie Yeager at a workshop. Nelson is a native of Durham, North Carolina, who enjoys spending time at coffee shops and traveling with his wife Miranda.
Nelson Griffin is a Primary Guide at the Maria Montessori School in Memphis. He graduated from the International Montessori Training Institute in Atlanta in 2013 with an AMI Primary Diploma and also completed a Masters of Education from Loyola University Maryland. He has a Bachelors Degree in American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Masters Degree in Southern Studies from the University of Mississippi. Nelson also holds a certificate for teaching Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level One, a Montessori-based religious education program. He began working with MAT in the spring of 2014 after meeting Jamie Yeager at a workshop. Nelson is a native of Durham, North Carolina, who enjoys spending time at coffee shops and traveling with his wife Miranda.
VP/Advocacy Chair Christine Lowry
Christine Lowry, M.Ed., has 20+ years of experience as founder, school head and lead Early Childhood teacher of two Montessori schools. Areas of expertise include policy impacts on Montessori education, school development and administration, Montessori curriculum (philosophy, child development, instruction), and special needs students. Christine joined the MAT board in 2014 and serves as chair of the advocacy committee.
Christine Lowry, M.Ed., has 20+ years of experience as founder, school head and lead Early Childhood teacher of two Montessori schools. Areas of expertise include policy impacts on Montessori education, school development and administration, Montessori curriculum (philosophy, child development, instruction), and special needs students. Christine joined the MAT board in 2014 and serves as chair of the advocacy committee.
Executive Director and Co-founder Jaime Yeager
Jaime obtained both a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and Child Development as well as a M.Ed. in Special Education from Vanderbilt University. She also holds a Montessori teaching credential from Montessori Educators International (MEI). Jaime has spent 15 years teaching and directing Montessori programs in both Tennessee and Arkansas. Jaime is the Head of School at Amare Montesori in Clarksville, TN and co-founded the Montessori Alliance of TN in 2013 with Brooks Gerber.
Jaime obtained both a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and Child Development as well as a M.Ed. in Special Education from Vanderbilt University. She also holds a Montessori teaching credential from Montessori Educators International (MEI). Jaime has spent 15 years teaching and directing Montessori programs in both Tennessee and Arkansas. Jaime is the Head of School at Amare Montesori in Clarksville, TN and co-founded the Montessori Alliance of TN in 2013 with Brooks Gerber.
Co-founder Brooks Gerber
Brooks received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts at Sarah Lawrence College. She also holds a Master's Degree in Montessori Education from Loyola University Maryland. Brooks is trained by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) and has been in the field of Montessori education for 10 years, the last 5 as a Lead Guide. Brooks believes Montessori education is not just a gift to children, but a gift to society. She dedicates her professional life to seeing the movement grow and prosper. Brooks is passionate about the needs of the whole child and enjoys incorporating her love of travel and gardening into her teaching. She calls East Nashville home and lives in a cheerful blue house with her husband, Matt, and son, Reed. In 2013, Brooks co-founded the Montessori Alliance of TN with Jaime Yeager. She is currently a Lead Primary Guide and Curriculum Coordinator at Montessori East in Nashville, TN.
Brooks received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts at Sarah Lawrence College. She also holds a Master's Degree in Montessori Education from Loyola University Maryland. Brooks is trained by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) and has been in the field of Montessori education for 10 years, the last 5 as a Lead Guide. Brooks believes Montessori education is not just a gift to children, but a gift to society. She dedicates her professional life to seeing the movement grow and prosper. Brooks is passionate about the needs of the whole child and enjoys incorporating her love of travel and gardening into her teaching. She calls East Nashville home and lives in a cheerful blue house with her husband, Matt, and son, Reed. In 2013, Brooks co-founded the Montessori Alliance of TN with Jaime Yeager. She is currently a Lead Primary Guide and Curriculum Coordinator at Montessori East in Nashville, TN.
Treasurer Dr. Jim Bernstorf
Jim's educational background includes a Masters in educational leadership and a Doctorate in educational leadership with a dissertation focused on testing and accountability. Jim is the Headmaster and Executive Director at Montessori Academy in Brentwood, TN. Jim has been married to his wife Brenda for 36 years, has two grown children, and five grandchildren. He loves sailing, boating, gardening, and enjoys playing basketball.
Jim's educational background includes a Masters in educational leadership and a Doctorate in educational leadership with a dissertation focused on testing and accountability. Jim is the Headmaster and Executive Director at Montessori Academy in Brentwood, TN. Jim has been married to his wife Brenda for 36 years, has two grown children, and five grandchildren. He loves sailing, boating, gardening, and enjoys playing basketball.
Charlie Biggs
~M.Phil., English; Columbia University; New York, NY
~M.A., English; Columbia University; New York, NY
~B.A., History & American Studies, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
~25 years’ experience in nonprofit management, communications, and fundraising with Knoxville Montessori School, the Highlander Research and Education Center, Soundings: An Interdisciplinary Journal, and the Youth Project, among others
~17 years’ experience teaching English and American Studies at the City College of New York and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Charlie is the Director at Knoxville Montessori School.
~M.Phil., English; Columbia University; New York, NY
~M.A., English; Columbia University; New York, NY
~B.A., History & American Studies, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
~25 years’ experience in nonprofit management, communications, and fundraising with Knoxville Montessori School, the Highlander Research and Education Center, Soundings: An Interdisciplinary Journal, and the Youth Project, among others
~17 years’ experience teaching English and American Studies at the City College of New York and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Charlie is the Director at Knoxville Montessori School.
Communications Chair Bobbe Spink
Bobbe has been involved in the Montessori community since 1973 when she founded her first school. She has taught at the 3-6, 6-9, and 9-12 levels holding her diplomas from the St Nicholas Training Center, London, England. Bobbe has also been a head of school for the past 42 years and a trainer for the St Nicholas Center for about a decade. As a mother of 3 children who attended Montessori through 6th grade, she is enjoying her 3 grandchildren who are or will be Montessori preschoolers. Helping to support exemplary Montessori for the future, in Tennessee and elsewhere, is now her passion!
Bobbe has been involved in the Montessori community since 1973 when she founded her first school. She has taught at the 3-6, 6-9, and 9-12 levels holding her diplomas from the St Nicholas Training Center, London, England. Bobbe has also been a head of school for the past 42 years and a trainer for the St Nicholas Center for about a decade. As a mother of 3 children who attended Montessori through 6th grade, she is enjoying her 3 grandchildren who are or will be Montessori preschoolers. Helping to support exemplary Montessori for the future, in Tennessee and elsewhere, is now her passion!
Sherry Knott
Sherry graduated from Belmont University with a B.A. in English and Secondary Education. She received her M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from the University of Georgia and an Ed.S. in Montessori Education from Barry University in Miami, Florida. Sherry has worked in public schools and nonprofit development. She has volunteered for the past 20 years in local politics, the Tennessee Prison for Women, and on Northwest Davidson County environmental issues. She is a member of the American Montessori Society. Sherry is the Executive Director at Abintra Montessori in Nashville, TN.
Sherry graduated from Belmont University with a B.A. in English and Secondary Education. She received her M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from the University of Georgia and an Ed.S. in Montessori Education from Barry University in Miami, Florida. Sherry has worked in public schools and nonprofit development. She has volunteered for the past 20 years in local politics, the Tennessee Prison for Women, and on Northwest Davidson County environmental issues. She is a member of the American Montessori Society. Sherry is the Executive Director at Abintra Montessori in Nashville, TN.
Webmaster Priscilla Hicks
Priscilla completed Montessori teacher training at Belmont University and holds an American Montessori Society credential. She is the Director and Lead teacher at Prana Montessori, a homeschool hybrid program in Smyrna, TN. She has three daughters (ages 13, 11, and 10) who attend Prana Montessori. Her children are her motivation to bring Montessori to the home school community. Priscilla lives in Murfreesboro with her husband Ben, her 3 girls, and 3 kitties.
Priscilla completed Montessori teacher training at Belmont University and holds an American Montessori Society credential. She is the Director and Lead teacher at Prana Montessori, a homeschool hybrid program in Smyrna, TN. She has three daughters (ages 13, 11, and 10) who attend Prana Montessori. Her children are her motivation to bring Montessori to the home school community. Priscilla lives in Murfreesboro with her husband Ben, her 3 girls, and 3 kitties.
Ella Jones
Ella received a Bachelors of Arts Degree in English Literature from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She also holds a Master's Degree in Montessori Education from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland. Ella is AMI Montessori trained at the Primary level and received her training at Montessori Northwest, in Portland, OR. As a Montessori child, Ella has been involved in the world of Montessori for most of her life. Ella has taught at Montessori schools in Maine, Oregon and Tennessee and in 2007, along with her mother, Ruth Jones, opened Mead Montessori School in Knoxville, TN where she is currently Head of School. Ella loves down time with her family which includes husband Jeff, children Arthur (2) and Eva (5), and their dog Nola.
Ella received a Bachelors of Arts Degree in English Literature from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She also holds a Master's Degree in Montessori Education from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland. Ella is AMI Montessori trained at the Primary level and received her training at Montessori Northwest, in Portland, OR. As a Montessori child, Ella has been involved in the world of Montessori for most of her life. Ella has taught at Montessori schools in Maine, Oregon and Tennessee and in 2007, along with her mother, Ruth Jones, opened Mead Montessori School in Knoxville, TN where she is currently Head of School. Ella loves down time with her family which includes husband Jeff, children Arthur (2) and Eva (5), and their dog Nola.