Hollis Montessori School

Dedicated to authentic Montessori education, the faculty and staff at Hollis Montessori are energetic, optimistic, talented, and want to make a difference. We strongly believe that great teachers are our best asset.

Kari Headington - Head of School

Kari began her Montessori journey 35 years ago and continues to be passionate about the Montessori method of education. She joined Hollis Montessori in 2009 as our Children's House Lead Teacher and became Head of School in 2010. Kari completed her AMI Primary Diploma at the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota in St. Paul. She received her B.S. in Special Education from Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota. Prior to coming to Hollis, Kari was the Lead Teacher in Montessori Primary classrooms in both Massachusetts and Minnesota. Kari is a previous board member of the Montessori Center of Minnesota, an AMI teacher training center and of the Montessori Administrators Association. She is currently serving on the Montessori Schools of Massachusetts Board of Directors as the Membership Chair. Outside of teaching, Kari enjoys travel, reading, hiking and visiting the sights of New England with her family. Her two sons enjoyed a Montessori education through 9th grade at HMS.

sarah shor - Director of business Operations

Sarah joined Hollis Montessori in 2019. She holds an Ed.M. in Technology in Education from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and a B.A. in History from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. She helped found two charter schools, Polaris Charter School, and Kreiva Academy, in Manchester. She also founded the Polaris Educational Foundation. Previously, she worked for museums and in online course creation. Come winter, Sarah is a Cross Country Ski Instructor at Waterville Valley Resort. In her free time, she enjoys painting, singing, cooking, yoga, Pilates, roller blading, and walking knee-deep in the ocean. Her child is a graduate of Hollis Montessori.

Carli Ford - Admissions and Marketing Coordinator

Carli joined the HMS community in 2022. Prior to joining the school, she worked in Montessori schools in Texas as a Co-Director/Assistant Head of School. Carli has her primary Montessori teaching certification, AMI Montessori Administrators Certification, National Administrator's Credential, and Director's license for childcare management in the state of TX. She has been involved in Montessori education and leadership for over 10 years. Like Dr. Montessori, Carli believes that "the child is both a hope and a promise for mankind" (Education and Peace), and strives to help guide children to their full potential. Carli and her husband reside in Hollis, along with their three children. She enjoys everything outdoors, including gardening, running, and exploring new hiking trails with her family.

Cheryl Reimer - Office Manager

Andrew joined the Hollis Montessori Upper School faculty in 2014. Andrew completed the NAMTA/AMI Orientation to Adolescent Studies and has a B.S. in Physical Science Education from Brigham Young University and a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law.  Prior to joining Hollis Montessori, he taught chemistry, physical science and math at the high school level for four years. In addition to his education experience, Andrew practiced law at a litigation firm in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Andrew enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding, hiking and camping. He loves to travel and spend time outdoors with his wife and young children. His son and two daughters attend Hollis Montessori. 

Susan joined the Hollis Montessori Upper School faculty in 2019. Susan holds an AMI Elementary diploma from Washington Montessori Institute and an AMI adolescent diploma. She received her BS and MS in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan and the University of Vermont and her MEd in Montessori education from Loyola University Maryland. She has been on the faculty of the AMI Orientation to Adolescence for many years and has spoken at national Montessori conferences. Prior to joining HMS, Susan taught at Hershey Montessori's Adolescent Program, was the Director of the Mountain Laurel Montessori Jr. High School, and was the founding Adolescent Guide at The Children's House Montessori in Northern Michigan. Susan was a Montessori child from age 2 - 5th grade. Susan loves hiking, gardening, being outdoors, singing, playing guitar and fiddle, and making pottery. Her son attends Hollis Montessori School.

Meesa joined the Hollis Montessori Upper School faculty in 2014. She has a Masters in Education from Simmons University and a B.S. in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University with minors in Spanish and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Meesa has studied abroad in the Dominican Republic and spent a year and a half volunteering in Brazil. Prior to joining Hollis Montessori, she taught at a dual language school for ten years. Meesa completed an introduction to Adolescence workshop with Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). She has also done volunteer work with adolescent girls. She enjoys the outdoors, camping, hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and snowboarding, as well as yoga, reading, piano, cooking, traveling to Latin American countries and spending time with her young family. Her three children attend Hollis Montessori. 

Shannon welsh - Upper Elementary guide

Shannon joined Hollis Montessori in 2015 as our Upper Elementary Lead Guide. She earned her AMI Elementary Diploma from the Washington Montessori Institute and her M.Ed from Loyola University, completing both programs in 2007. She holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Anthropology/Sociology and a Minor in Fine Art from the University of Maine at Farmington. Shannon has taught in Montessori elementary classrooms in Massachusetts and also worked as a course assistant for the AMI elementary teacher training program at the Montessori Institute Northwest in Portland, Oregon. Her two children attend Hollis Montessori.

Zoe Castro - Lower Elementary guide

Zoe joined Hollis Montessori in 2010 as our Lower Elementary Lead Guide. As a child, Zoe attended Montessori schools through fifth grade. After completing her AMS Montessori Upper Elementary training at Michigan Montessori Teacher Education Center, Zoe went on to complete her AMI Elementary Diploma at the Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola University in Maryland. She received her B.A. in English and Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Michigan. Zoe taught in Elementary classrooms in Michigan, Texas, and Massachusetts before joining the Hollis Montessori community. Zoe enjoys quilting and other crafts, spending time outdoors, and traveling, especially around New England. 

Sarah Gilleeny - Lower Elementary guide

Sarah joined Hollis Montessori in 2016 as an Elementary Assistant. She completed her AMI Elementary Diploma at the Montessori Training Center of the Northeast in Hartford in the Spring of 2019.  She graduated from Ithaca College with a B.S. in Cinema & Photography and a minor in Anthropology, and then went on to obtain her MFA from Pratt Institute with a focus on Photography. Prior to pursuing her Montessori career, she worked full time as a wedding and portrait photographer, running her own business for 10 years.  She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, running, being outdoors and being artistic. Her children attend Hollis Montessori.

Carla Carney - Children's House guide

Carla joined Hollis Montessori in 2010 as a Children's House Guide. A Montessori child herself, Carla earned her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Institute of Atlanta and her B.A. in Organ at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. She has taught in Montessori schools in Georgia and Massachusetts, and has taught English in Tai Yuan, China. Carla enjoys running marathons, sewing, quilting, traveling, cooking, and knitting. Her younger daughters attend Hollis Montessori and her older daughter is a graduate.

Leela Balasubramanian - CHILDREN'S HOUSE Guide

Hannah Mason - Upper Elementary Assistant

Hannah joined the Hollis Montessori Upper School faculty in 2023. She holds a B.A. in psychology from Bard College with a minor in cognitive science. Hannah has worked with children of all ages, from caring for toddlers in a nursery to teaching environmental conservation to middle and high schoolers. She engaged in curriculum building for her son's correspondence school program in New Zealand, where she also learned about the Montessori philosophy.  Hannah currently lives in Hollis with her husband and son. She enjoys doing activities with her family such as arts and crafts, baking, and exploring in nature. Her son attends Hollis Montessori.

Susie Poore - Lower Elementary Assistant

Susie joined Hollis Montessori in 2024. She holds a BA in English and Political Science from Lehigh University and MA in Media, Culture, and Communication from NYU. Susie has worked with children of all ages through her roles in youth sports, summer camps, and outdoor education. She is especially passionate about fostering kids' appreciation for the natural world. Susie is excited to begin her Montessori career with Hollis Montessori School. She enjoys hiking, playing basketball, being outdoors, and spending quality time with family.

Katie Brown - Lower Elementary Assistant

Katie joined Hollis Montessori in 2023. Katie has a BS in Wildlife Conservation Biology and a BA in Music Performance from the University of New Hampshire. She has taught music to elementary and high school students.

Katherine Skinner - Children's House Assistant

Katie joined Hollis Montessori the year the school opened, in 2008 as a Children’s House Assistant. She holds a BA in psychology from Saint Anselm College. Katie attended Montessori school as a child and grew up in a Montessori home with a mother who was a Children’s House teacher for many years. Prior to Hollis Montessori Katie was a para-professional in the special education department of Hollis Brookline High School and before that was the assistant coordinator of Teen Programs at the Manchester NH YWCA. In her free time she enjoys traveling around New England to watch her children play soccer, reading, photography, gardening, cooking, exploring New England towns, and spending time with her family and yellow lab.

Jessica Enquist - Children’s House Assistant

Sylvie Stewart - floating classroom Assistant

Sylvie joined Hollis Montessori in 2023. She brings a depth of experience to this role that serves all classrooms in the school!  She has an M.Ed. in Education, an M.A. in Vocal Performance, and a B.A. in Music Education. She has many years of experience as a music teacher, permanent substitute, and educational assistant and has worked with children of all ages. In addition to her work as an educator, Sylvie is a meditation teacher.

Andrea Seddon - Language Specialist

Andrea joined Hollis Montessori in 2013 as our Language Specialist. A seasoned language teacher in both French and Spanish, Andrea started the elementary language program for the Carlisle Public Schools and spent eight years teaching adolescents in the Newton Public Schools. She has her B.A. in French from the University of Arizona and her Masters in Teaching from Simmons University. Some of her most precious teaching memories come from time spent with students abroad and seeing the language come alive through their eyes. Andrea enjoys cooking for family and friends and is passionate about educating herself and others about traditionally prepared foods and their healing properties. She has lived and studied in France, Mexico, and Costa Rica and loves to incorporate those foods and traditions into her life and the lives of her students. Outside of teaching, Andrea enjoys traveling, hiking, photography, exploring nature, and spending time with her family. Her younger daughter attends Hollis Montessori and her older daughter is a graduate.

John Schulte - Facilities Manager

John joined the Hollis Montessori staff in 2021 after doing voluntary repairs and projects at the school the prior two years.  He joins his daughter Sarah Gilleeny, LE2 Guide, as well as three of his grandchildren, June, Clark and Oliver who currently attend the school. He enjoys fixing things and solving problems involving hands-on work with tools.  Seeing family while doing this work is a plus and source of great pleasure. John retired after a long career with Crane Paper Company in Western Massachusetts where he held positions in manufacturing, general management and finance.  Many years ago he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture from Michigan State and holds an MBA degree from Harvard University.  He and his wife moved to Hollis in 2016. In his free time he enjoys numerous activities with family and regular trips north to snowmobile during the winter.

JAMES WEBSTER - faculty EMERITUS

Jim joined Hollis Montessori in 2011 as our Upper School Lead Guide and retired in 2015. He continues to support our school with his time and talents in a variety of ways. During his career as a Montessori teacher, he enjoyed working in different environments ranging from Primary to Adolescent. Prior to coming to Hollis, he taught as an Adolescent Guide at the Hershey Montessori Farm School in Ohio. Jim has been a speaker at several AMI/NAMTA conferences. He holds a B.A. in English Literature from Dartmouth College. He completed the NAMTA Orientation to Adolescent Studies and his AMI Elementary training at the Washington Montessori Institute under Margaret Stephenson. Jim enjoys adventures and using his hands as well as his head. He is the father of two adult children who completed their Montessori educations in the Hershey Adolescent Program. He lives on a small farm in New Hampshire with his wife, who is also a retired Montessori teacher.