Introducing Cohort 5 of the AMS Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program

MARCH 2, 2022—The AMS Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program is a professional development initiative that provides a year of structured learning, mentoring, and networking opportunities to Montessori-credentialed teachers who have not yet assumed leadership positions in the Montessori community—but would like to. Fellows develop the skills and confidence to raise their commitment to Montessori education to the next level. They also earn 60 hours of continuing professional development.

Each fellow is paired with a mentor who offers learning experiences tailored to meet their unique needs, interests, and qualifications. The fellows participate in monthly video conference calls that offer opportunities for collaboration and problem solving; have access to an online forum that provides further opportunities for facilitated discussions; and are guided in creating a capstone project that addresses a need at your current organization—and a potential solution.

The fellowship program begins at The Montessori Event with an intensive 2 days of professional development and concludes at The Montessori Event the following year, with another 2-day learning experience in the next conference city. All fellows are expected to attend both conferences in person and their registration is complimentary.

Learn more about Cohort 5 of the Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program, who will begin their journey this month in Nashville.

Meet the Fellows

Jordan Banko



Pittsburgh Public Schools (Early Childhood)
Pittsburgh, PA

Tessa Benner

Tessa Benner


Montessori School of Dayton (Secondary I – II)
Kettering, OH

Leslie Irving Cannon

Leslie Irving Cannon


St. Paul Episcopal Montessori School (Early Childhood)
San Antonio, TX

Lorna Cohen

Lorna Cohen


Countryside Montessori Charter School (Elementary I)
Land o’ Lakes, FL

AaLeiyah DeSimas

AaLeiyah DeSimas


Valley Montessori School (Early Childhood)
Livermore, CA

Jennifer McGonagle Dziedzic

Jennifer McGonagle Dziedzic


Inly School (Secondary I – II)
Scituate, MA

Celeste Fan

Celeste Fan


Guidepost Montessori at Museum Mile (Early Childhood)
New York, NY

Patricia Forero

Patricia Forero


Steele Montessori Academy
San Antonio, TX

Kim Hahn

Kim Hahn


Kirkwood Children’s House (Early Childhood)
Kirkwood, MO

Katja Hill

Katja Hill


Mariposa Montessori School (Elementary II)
Austin, TX

Joelle Huot

Joelle Huot


Neurodevelopmental Institute of New Hampshire (Early Childhood)
Hooksett, NH

Rebecca Konecki

Rebecca Konecki


Valor Montessori High School (Secondary I – II)
Dayton, OH

Bree Linton

Bree Linton


Richmond Montessori School (Elementary II)
Henrico, VA

Bettina Delgadillo Lozano

Bettina Delgadillo Lozano


Colegio Montessori Sierra Madre (Secondary I – II)
San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Shehrat Muzib

Shehrat Muzib


STEAMspark Montessori Experience (Early Childhood)
Farmers Branch, TX

Aderonke Okesola

Aderonke Okesola


Barrie School (Early Childhood; Elementary I)
Silver Springs, MD

Rachel Oslund

Rachel Oslund


Bowman School (Elementary I – II; Secondary I – II)
Palo Alto, CA

Leigh Owen

Leigh Owen


Cedar River Montessori School (Secondary I – II)
Renton, WA

Dee Slavin

Dee Slavin


Inly School (Early Childhood)
Scituate, MA

Ozgul Tamur

Ozgul Erol Tamur


Alamo Montessori School (Early Childhood)
Alamo, CA