In 2005, Greensboro Montessori School eighth graders first traveled to Costa Rica for a cultural immersion experience. We were eager to connect with another Montessori school abroad with a similar adolescent program. Our research led us to The Summit School in Coronado, Costa Rica which is very close to the capital city of San José. On our first expedition to Costa Rica, we incorporated a formal school visit to The Summit School and it was the highlight of our trip. The parents made a special lunch for us, and our students assisted the younger Costa Rican children with a school project. When we returned the following year, students from The Summit School accompanied our students in our daily travels and service learning adventures. At that point, Greensboro Montessori School and The Summit School became sister schools.
Since then, the Junior High biennial trip to Costa Rica has morphed into an authentic immersion experience. Our students stay with the Costa Rican families of The Summit School students, and together, our students and the Ticos (a colloquial term for natives of Costa Rica) go everywhere together. We visit volcanoes, complete high ropes courses and sail through the rainforest canopy on zip lines. We travel to the Caribbean Coast where we walk the beach at night looking for turtle eggs to bury in a nearby protected hatchery. We travel to the Pacific side to snorkel and explore rain forests and animal sanctuaries. We spend a day in downtown San José learning about Costa Rican history, art, and government. Our weekends are spent with the host families doing what they usually do. The students also do things you would expect them to do on the weekends: they get together and go to the mall or a movie or a party at someone’s home.
Every year, when asked what our students’ favorite part of the trip is, they always say their homestay with the Tico families. Our students make friendships that last for years, and some even return to Costa Rica on their own to visit their “families.”
In 2009, the Ticos first ventured to Greensboro Montessori School to stay with our students and learn more about North Carolina. Even though we don’t have erupting volcanoes or zip lines through the rain forest, we still have a great time sharing the landmarks and natural wonders of our state with them. Our visits have included such destinations as the Duke Lemur Center, the North Carolina Museum of History, and Hanging Rock State Park. For the Tico's upcoming visit, our itinerary a day trip to Raleigh via Amtrak train, exploring Pilot Mountain, community service work, a Greensboro Swarm game, and a traditional potluck dinner. Our homestay hosts always arrange social gatherings for the students on the weekends. The Ticos typically experience some classroom time with us as well as a trip to The Land in Oak Ridge.
Our students benefit tremendously from the life-changing experiences resulting from our relationship with The Summit School. With every visit to Costa Rica, our students return with their eyes a little wider and their lives a little richer as they have their first experience actually living in another culture. They begin to see the world in a different light and develop a new appreciation for the abundance in their lives.
Emma (Krollsmith) Fairburn is back in the Triad after her educational journey and the start of her career. She graduated from GMS in 2011 and attended Grimsley High School (2011–2015), where she participated in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Emma earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology with minors in Spanish and education from UNC Chapel Hill (2015–2019) and later attended the University of Georgia (2021–2023) to earn her Master of Education in college student affairs administration.
Emma has worked as a college and career advisor at universities in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Colorado. As of April, she brought her experience back home to Greensboro to become the recruiting and professional development coordinator for Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP. Returning to the Triad has given Emma and her husband, Coleman, the opportunity to pursue new careers and settle down near family.
We had the opportunity to speak with Emma on campus to hear about all of her adventures since eighth grade graduation.
GMS: What memories are coming back to you by just being on campus?
EF: I feel like I have a ton of memories. I remember playing out here (gardens) with Walter Moore, who was our gardening teacher back then. Overall, I just have a ton of memories of spending a lot of time outside.
GMS: Do you remember any of your field trips from your time here?
EF: The Land was my favorite. We were the group that built the structures that are not there anymore, but they had porta-jons. Even my overall favorite Montessori memory would [be] The Land.
Costa Rica was also hard to beat, and I liked Arizona. I really liked the biodome (Biosphere 2) and have always remembered that. Going to Grimsley, I felt really spoiled with the field trips. We went to such cool places.
GMS: What were your Grimsley field trips like and how did Montessori trips prepare you for those?
EF: I actually went on an exchange program where we stayed with host families, and I feel like my experience with Costa Rica was super helpful. We stayed in the Dominican Republic, and it was definitely a growth moment for me. I got paired with a girl who had only taken French courses, so my Spanish background that started here (GMS) helped me greatly.
GMS: If you had not gone to Costa Rica, would you have felt confident enough to go on the Dominican Republic trip?
EF: My parents may not have felt comfortable with me going if it was not for Montessori and that travel experience that I had before. It was a good learning experience.
GMS: How have things changed here on campus since you last were here?
EF: I think the rules have changed a lot. We did not even have gates around campus back when I was here. I feel like we were given so much freedom and independence, but I never felt unsafe. They just trusted us to take care of ourselves and each other. It led us to bond more with each other with experiences like sleeping in the rain at The Land or trying to cook for each other.
I’m sure everyone who graduates from here thinks their class was the best class here, but I think that my graduating class was one of the superior class years.
GMS: Do you recall what your transition from here to Grimsley was like?
EF: I loved Grimsley. I had a really great experience there. We (Emma and fellow GMS alumni) all had different friend groups when we got to Grimsley, but we still had that connection through our time there.
Montessori gave me some confidence going into Grimsley, even though it was completely different from Montessori. I still knew how to hold my own there and make my own path. I’m grateful I had both Montessori and Grimsley to contrast each other.
GMS: What are some aspects of Montessori that helped you in high school?
EF: Teamwork, collaboration, interpersonal communication skills. I knew how to do group projects and ask my teachers for help if I was struggling, which allowed me to be successful even if I did not know the actual content.
GMS: What led you down the path of studying education?
EF: Some family influences for sure. My dad was a professor and my mom is a therapist counselor. I decided to minor in education on a whim, even though I knew I did not want to become a teacher.
I also did an AmeriCorps program after I graduated from UNC for the College Advising Corps, so I worked in two public high schools doing public advising. Since I loved that, I decided to earn my master's degree in education.
GMS: While you were at the University of Georgia, you worked as a career advisor. What was it like doing career advising for college students, when you were just in their position?
EF: It was fun because when I was at Georgia and Colorado College I felt like I could still relate to them. It was fun giving advice, but I also had to take my own advice.
GMS: You went from college advising to recruiting professionally for Brooks Pierce. How has that change been?
EF: A lot of people move from college career services to professional recruitment because they are so similar, and it’s something that I have always been interested in. We were moving back to the Triad, and I figured if there was a time to pivot, it would be now.
It was a big change from college students to a very professional work environment, which I think was good for me. I am beginning to learn about law from my coworkers and am coming from a place of curiosity about their cases.
We had interns this past summer and we got to plan activities for them, which was one of the reasons I was drawn to this role. We were then able to extend a few full-time offers, which allow me to watch them grow in their careers.
GMS: You stated that “We moved to the Triad;” how did you meet your husband, Coleman?
EF: I met my husband at Grimsley my junior year, and we started dating our senior year. We have been together since then. We have similar goals, and we both loved growing up in Greensboro, but we knew we did not only want to live here our whole lives.
When we both realized we had always lived in the Southeast, we decided to move to Colorado for a couple of years. Then we wanted to settle down and buy a house, so we moved back here.
GMS: How has being back home been with both your family and your husband’s family?
EF: We moved to Winston-Salem because we were not ready to move right back to Greensboro, so the city is still new and exciting. It’s been really nice to be close to family because now we can come over for birthdays and have casual family dinners on weeknights.
GMS: Are you familiar with any of our GMS parents who work at Brooks Pierce?
EF: Jimmy (Chang) works on my floor, and he is funny. He found out I went to Montessori and then found my eighth grade photo to show me. Dan Smith and Noah (Hock) are great too as I work with associates who are moving to becoming partners a lot. It’s honestly such a great law firm, and the people that work there are so smart and dedicated. They go above and beyond for clients and each other. I never would have thought I would know partners, but they are really laid back and super nice people.
Aubrey Cupit first started volunteering at GMS in the fall of 2008 as a student of Dr. Charlie Headington, founder of our permaculture gardening program. He officially joined the team in 2009 and has worked in a variety of positions including CASA faculty, substitute teacher, and facilities staff. Today, Aubrey is a member of our environmental education team and our garden coordinator. He holds his Permaculture Design Certificate and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting with a minor in anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Aubrey is a well-known face at our School and in the greater Greensboro area. In addition to his life on campus, Aubrey has his own farm, Gate City Harvest, where he runs a weekly farm stand serving fresh produce from Gate City Harvest and other local farms. Since taking his first class from Charlie, Aubrey has rooted his life in the art of permaculture: a systems-based approach to growing which involves working with and enhancing the natural systems of the Earth.
GMS: Why do you choose to work at our School?
AC: I’m passionate about working with my hands and creating outdoor learning environments that not only offer a diverse learning space for children, but also support the natural world. I enjoy connecting with our students and getting them outside. The School gardens celebrate our collective ecology through permaculture and offer such a unique learning experience for children. They need to be outside!
GMS: How did your job as garden coordinator come to be?
AC: As Charlie was beginning to step away from GMS, there was a need to create stability with the School's garden management. This is how I became the garden coordinator. I’m grateful to have had such a good mentorship with Charlie that allowed me to take on the gardens. My goal is to continue to improve and bolster the garden systems and ecology and perhaps one day, years down the road, I’ll have the opportunity to mentor the next steward of the gardens.
GMS: How has Charlie inspired you over the years?
AC: Back in college, Charlie would bring all of his students to his house at the end of the year and have a big dinner. His house was a full permaculture landscape, and when I walked in it for the first time, I was amazed at the fact that humans still lived the way he did. It was paradise. I knew from that moment I wanted to be involved with working in a garden.
I have spent nearly 20 years now taking permaculture classes, going to workshops and conferences, visiting other programs, working on farms, and installing permaculture landscapes around Greensboro with Charlie.
GMS: What does permaculture mean to you?
AC: Permaculture is more than just gardening. It is the idea that we are supposed to take care of people — a very cooperative way of thinking. It means caring about people, caring about the earth, and sharing whatever I can whether that be knowledge or food.
GMS: What do you love about your job at GMS?
AC: I can’t seem to get enough, and I love sharing my passion with others, along with the many hats I get to wear (literally and figuratively). I get to have my hands on the work but also manage the systems and build schedules. It’s nice to get a little of both. I enjoy working with a team to support the curriculum of the environmental education program, which now has a whole separate culinary arts side to it. The gardens of GMS really bring incredible value to the School and set us apart from any other outdoor education program in the area, if not the state.
“We have such a unique campus, as we have a full system of a garden. It’s not just box beds and mulch. If it was only that, I don’t think the impact would be the same. I think the students are able to explore and interact with it much more.”
Aubrey Cupit, GMS Garden Coordinator
GMS: What aspect of the Montessori method inspires you the most?
AC: I like that Montessori is about the process just as much as the outcome. We learn by doing, by playing, by trying and failing, and by working through hard problems. Dr. Maria Montessori has a great way of allowing children to have this “guided struggle” that ultimately leads to the outcome. I often tell the kids 80% of it is the hard, often boring work, and 20% is the actual harvesting, eating, and cooking with the food. I’m glad to be a part of education that lifts up the process of learning through hands-on work and play, and isn’t just about the end result of assessment and standardization.
GMS: What do you enjoy learning from our students, and what do you enjoy sharing with them?
AC: Children have a great way of bringing you back to the present, to enjoy the moment. I think about the word linger a lot. They still know how to linger. I think as adults we often forget to just stop and linger on some beautiful thing about our day. An example that comes to mind is while working in the garden with them, at any moment one student will find a skink or a frog and the whole class will stop and focus on that moment of life. Instead of seeding or spreading mulch, it’s about enjoying watching this frog, maybe building a little habitat for it, or wondering what it’s doing or where it is going. It’s so nice to be reminded to take that pause because as adults, we are trying to get things done or have seen it so often that we don’t pause to be amazed like we used to. But it’s all so amazing still!
GMS: You have a few GMS alumni who have worked on your farm, what is it like to have that connection between your own business and the School?
AC: I've hired alumni, and it's just tenfold the difference between them and someone who does not have Montessori experience. It’s the grace and courtesy and the way they interact with people, how they think on their feet, how they are engaged, and the fact that they are self-led and just have their own leadership on what to do next.
GMS: Tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t learn from your résumé or CV?
AC: I’m a triplet. My mom had three boys at one time, four boys total, and somehow she is still a completely sane person. I can only hope to have her strength.
GMS: Where did you grow up, and do you mind sharing one favorite memory from childhood?
AC: I grew up in Greensboro and one of my favorite memories is making milkshakes with my grandmother. To this day I still can’t make them like she could, but I will keep trying.
GMS: Do you have any pets? If so, what are they and what are they named?
AC: Currently no pets. I have about 50,000 plant-pets per farm season. But I think a dog and a couple of donkeys are in my future.
GMS: Of all the places you’ve traveled to, what is your favorite destination and why?
AC: That’s a tough one. But I think so far, Ecuador was my favorite. I was able to visit Walter Moore, one of our past Spanish teachers there. It is such a beautiful country with an incredible culture.
Jean-Lou Paré is a member of Greensboro Montessori School's class of 2017. He graduated from The STEM Early College at N.C. A&T for high school and attended Georgia Tech, where he was also a Division I Track & Field athlete. After earning his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in only three years, Jean-Lou remained at Georgia Tech for his Master of Science in mechanical engineering, specializing in aviation and power solutions engineering. He has held internships at Volvo, Ampere, and GE, and most recently completed the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail (AT).
Jean-Lou summited Mount Katahdin on August 19 after almost five months on the trail, but his story has only just begun. He has met friends, seen new places, learned life lessons, and even received a nickname along the way. We got an inside scoop from him and how his time as a GMS Panther prepared him for the adventure of a lifetime.
GMS: What inspired you to take on the AT?
JP: I’ve been wanting to do the AT for a while. In 2018 I did a 110-mile section of the AT in Maine, and that’s when I first learned about what it truly was. I really enjoyed that trip and told myself that at some point I’d want to do the whole thing. I was drawn to the physical and mental challenge of it, as well as the change of pace from everyday life. Throughout my time in college, I always knew I wanted to take some time off before getting a job, and as I neared my masters graduation last year, I figured now would be as good a time as ever to give hiking the AT a go.
GMS: Who have you hiked with along the way?
JP: While I set off on this adventure alone, I have met so many great and amazing people along the way. The AT is known for being a very social place where “tramilies” (trail families) often form as you hike around the same people for a period of time. Over the course of the trail, I have been a part of multiple, some tighter knit and some looser than others. I finished the trail hiking with three other people, all of whom I have met along the way: Squirelly, from Connecticut; Lil Beast from Lexington, N.C., and Entity from Roanoke, VA. Those are their trail names, as that is how we know and refer to each other on trail. Over the course of the last few months, I have also had many friends and family come join me for a weekend to a week. My latest visit was Alex Kotis '18 back in Pennsylvania.
GMS: Do you have a trail name?
JP: Yes. Ratatouille is my trail name. I got it because my mom, Flory, is from France and my dad, Pat is from Quebec. The guy who gave me my name started off wanting to call me “Frenchie,” but after I told him that was very basic he came up with Ratatouille.
Trail names are a way of referring to others on the trail. There are no set rules to how they come about or who comes up with them. They can come from someone’s background, physical traits, an embarrassing story, or anything else. They are useful as they usually end up being unique and make it easier to identify individuals, especially when many people could have the same first name.
GMS: What was your start and finish date?
JP: I started March 20 and finished August 19, putting me under the five month mark. The average time is around six months with people taking anywhere from under four to over eight months to complete it.
GMS: Which state has been your favorite?
JP: They have each been so different, but Maine has been my favorite. In a close second are the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The hiking in southern Maine and the White Mountains was the hardest trail, the views have been absolutely spectacular except for a bout of foggy and rainy weather across the Presidential Range. I also really enjoyed the Great Smoky Mountains, Roan Highlands in North Carolina, Laurel Gorge in Tennessee, and the Grayson Highlands of Virginia.
GMS: Did The Land at GMS prepare you for this great hike?
JP: I think so. It taught me a love for and appreciation of nature. In a sense The Land has many similarities to the trail. You spend a lot of time outdoors everyday exploring nature. Nights were spent in rustic shelters. And the community that arose from cooking meals and spending days together is very similar to the one that is created on trail.
GMS: What has been the weirdest thing you’ve run into?
JP: I’ve seen plenty of bugs and critters on trail, many of them that I’d never seen before. I’ve also seen plenty of other wildlife from the more common squirrels, birds and deer, to bears (4 times now), a baby raccoon, and also wild hogs back in the Smokies. Now that I’m in Maine I have also seen a moose and a beaver. It has been a very cool part of the trail.
GMS: What have you learned on this adventure?
JP: My main takeaway from the trail has been to slow down. Not in a hiking sense but in an everyday sense. Life often feels like it comes at you at 100mph, but out here you can take the time to sit and enjoy the view, the stars, the sound of nature in a way that makes the weeks feel like months. Even the month of July feels like it was a long time ago. While I know I can’t take them with me completely, I’m hoping to remember to slow down every once in a while and enjoy the little things in life.
GMS: What are you looking forward to?
JP: Off trail, I’m looking forward to normal food that isn’t dehydrated or long shelf life trail food, as well as regular showers. While I am ready to be done and to go home back to regular comforts, I’m not ready for the adventure to be over.
Rhea Egbert is our Director of Admission and has been working at GMS since 2005. She began her time at our School as a Primary teacher and has since made her way into administration. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in French from University of North Carolina Greensboro.
She is originally from Richmond, Virginia and has two children who are alumni from GMS including Grant (‘13) and Isabel (‘17). Outside of her office and campus tours, she can be found exploring the outdoors, watching movies, and cooking.
GMS: How did you first learn about Greensboro Montessori School?
RE: In 2001 I started looking for a Montessori School for my son.
GMS: Why do you choose to work at our School?
RE: It is my honor to share with families what education can look like.
GMS: What excites you most about working in your administrative field?
RE: I love to help families see education and often parenting in new ways.
GMS: What aspect of the Montessori method inspires you the most?
RE: The Montessori Method allows children to learn to try new things and persevere through adversity. Our graduates know their strengths and challenges and continue to follow their path to reach their full potential.
GMS: What do you enjoy learning from our students, and what do you enjoy sharing with them?
RE: I love seeing students excited about their learning and when they express pride in their accomplishments. As a former teacher, I love the opportunities I have to present a lesson to a child or observe in classrooms.
GMS: What do you enjoy learning from your coworkers, and what are you excited to share with them?
RE: I love hearing the language of positive discipline our teachers use with children and to see the level of respect they have for every child.
GMS: Tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t learn from your résumé or CV?
RE: I attended a Montessori school for one year when I was three years old. I remember making new friends there.
GMS: Where did you grow up, and do you mind sharing one favorite memory from childhood?
RE: I grew up in Richmond, Virginia. Some of my favorite memories are of travels with my family. We lived in Mexico for 6 months when I was four years old.
GMS: Do you have any pets? If so, what are they and what are they named?
RE: My dog is a Red Cockalier. He is 10 years old and his name is Oler James.
GMS: What hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?
RE: I enjoy hiking, kayaking, reading, watching movies, and cooking.
GMS: Of all the places you’ve traveled to, what is your favorite destination and why?
RE: In 2013 I spent a month in Majorca with my children. We visited many places around the island, ate wonderful food, and had many different experiences there.
GMS: If you could travel anywhere else, where would it be and why?
RE: I am interested in visiting Puerto Rico.
GMS: What is your favorite snack?
RE: I love chips and guacamole.
GMS: You’re going out with friends? Do you meet for coffee or cocktails? What is your favorite drink from those selections?
RE: I love exploring the local coffee shops with friends. Some of my favorites are The Sage Mule, Cafe Genese, and Cozy Brew.
GMS: Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
RE: I love coming to work everyday. I am so grateful to be part of this community.
Ashby began teaching with us in 2016 and is from Seattle, Washington. She has a Bachelor of Arts in theatre from University of North Carolina at Asheville and her Montessori accreditation is in early childhood education.
Outside of school, Ashby and her partner, Adam, are often found “junkin” (thrifting or antiquing), hanging with their cats, or just playing music to pass time.
GMS: How did you first learn about Greensboro Montessori School?
AP: I first learned about GMS through my friends Sundev Lohr and Peter Baggish while I was a student at Grimsley High School. Both of their mothers, Nancy Hofer and Linda Baggish, worked at GMS at the time (this was in the mid 90's).
GMS: Why do you choose to work at our School?
AP: I choose to work at our school because of the children and the creative environment in which we all learn. The GMS campus is also one of the most beautiful places to work in Greensboro. Exploring the gardens with the children or solo, I feel so fortunate to work in such a beautiful, creative environment.
GMS: What aspect of the Montessori method inspires you the most?
AP: The independence that is offered to all in the Montessori classroom and beyond.
GMS: What do you enjoy learning from our students, and what do you enjoy sharing with them?
AP: I learn something new from the students everyday! I am always practicing grace and courtesy, and appreciate when a child reminds me how to be polite and courteous. It's a friendly reminder that adults make mistakes too!
GMS: What do you enjoy learning from your coworkers, and what are you excited to share with them?
AP: I learn so much from my co-workers from all areas of the school. If I ever have a question or concern there is someone that is there for me, and I hope that they know that I am there for them. I never feel alone at Greensboro Montessori.
GMS: Is there anyone in your family or close circle of friends that you'd like to tell us about? If so, who?
AP: My partner in life, Adam. He is an extremely loving and supportive person.
I am immensely fortunate to have a wonderful family in Greensboro. My mother, Ann, lives nearby as does my father, Craig, and step mother, Donna. My brother, Graham, lives outside of Washington DC where he teaches 5th grade. My other brother, Randy, is a wood worker who lives on a boat in Seattle, WA.
GMS: Tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t learn from your résumé or CV?
AP: At the age of 10, I decided to become a vegetarian. I have been one, dabbling in veganism, since then.
GMS: What is your favorite memory from childhood?
AP: Some of my earliest memories are of me playing with my brothers and cousins. I loved the big city life of Seattle, and always being able to see large bodies of water wherever you go!
GMS: Do you have any pets? If so, what are they and what are they named?
AP: We live with Maggie the white and black cat who has a crooked tail.
GMS: What hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?
AP: I enjoy playing my guitar and ukulele and singing all my favorite songs loudly. I love walking through neighborhoods throughout town, working in my garden and spending time with friends and family. Adam and I also enjoy "junkin." We find rare and beautiful mid century objects out in the wild, and then sell them at our booth at Grandaddies antiques in Burlington.
GMS: Of all the places you’ve traveled to, what is your favorite destination and why?
AP: My favorite destination is the Pacific West Coast. I have friends and family from San Francisco all the way to Seattle who I love to visit and explore with.
GMS: If you could travel anywhere else, where would it be and why?
AP: I'd like to visit anywhere in Europe: England, France, Norway, or Denmark.
GMS: What is your favorite indulgence?
AP: Finding something great at the thrift store or on the side of the road.
GMS: What is something you don’t get to do often but it still feeds your soul?
AP: Meditate.
GMS: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
AP: Lemon ice cream from Yum-Yum.
GMS: You’re going out with friends? Do you meet for coffee or cocktails?
AP: My friends and I meet at all sorts of places. I love coffee and tea of all kinds! As for a cocktail, I like a classic gin and tonic.
GMS: Other than Dr. Maria Montessori, who would you like to meet from history and why?
AP: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. has always been one of my favorite authors. I would love to pick his brain... and so it goes…
GMS: Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
AP: I am beyond honored to be part of the amazing community at GMS.
JoAnn Currie joined GMS in 2016 as a student support specialist with a focus in early childhood intervention. She earned a Bachelor of Science in special education from Appalachian State University and holds special education licenses in mental handicaps, emotional handicaps, and preschool handicaps. JoAnn began her teaching career in 1993, and she deeply enjoys working with our students. When not at work, you can find her exercising her inner artist or enjoying a coffee on her porch.
GMS: How did you first learn about Greensboro Montessori School?
JC: I heard about our School through Brooke Juneau.
GMS: Why do you choose to work at our School?
JC: I love the community and the philosophy of how children should be educated.
GMS: What excites you most about working in the Student Support Center?
JC: Seeing the growth of the students and supporting the teachers and families.
GMS: What aspect of the Montessori method inspires you the most?
JC: The aspect of self-directed exploration.
GMS: What do you enjoy learning from our students, and what do you enjoy sharing with them?
JC: I enjoy learning how they see and interpret the world around them.
GMS: What do you enjoy learning from your coworkers, and what are you excited to share with them?
JC: Since I do not come from a Montessori background I enjoy learning about the various works and their purpose. I enjoy sharing strategies that support students in their work.
GMS: Is anyone else from your family or close circle of friends part of our GMS community?
JC: No family, but Brooke is a close friend, and I have come to consider many of my coworkers as good friends.
GMS: Tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t learn from your résumé or CV?
JC: I am one of five children, and I have lived in Greensboro my entire life. For much of my adult life, I have enjoyed running and have completed three marathons.
GMS: What is a favorite memory from your own childhood?
JC: Some of my favorite memories involve snowy days when streets were closed to traffic so children could sled.
GMS: What hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?
JC: Painting and making jewelry.
GMS: Of all the places you’ve traveled to, what is your favorite destination and why?
JC: Ireland. It is a beautiful and peaceful country and relatives on my mothers side come from Ireland.
GMS: What is something you don’t get to do often, but it still feeds your soul?
JC: Going to the beach.
GMS: You're craving a snack. Do you go for salty or sweet?
JC: Salty.
GMS: If you’re going out with friends, what is your favorite drink to have?
JC: White wine.
Bright and early on the morning of March 3, a group of fourteen sixth, seventh, and eighth graders boarded a bus along with Emily Daniels (Junior High faculty), Sidney McGinnis (director of student support) and Jessica White Winger (assistant head of school). They left the GMS parking lot right around 7 a.m. and headed to Charlotte, N.C. for a day of learning and connecting with educators and peers from independent schools across the state. Their destination was the North Carolina Association for Independent Schools’ (NCAIS) Words Matter Conference, held annually and intended to bring together middle and high school students and their educators to learn about and reflect on complex and nuanced topics impacting our students and schools. As this was our School’s first time participating in the conference, we were excited to attend and unsure about what to expect. When we arrived back to campus, we unanimously agreed that it was a day well spent, and a conference we would like to continue attending in the future.
The theme of this year's conference was "Joy and Courage through Community Storytelling" and its stated intention was to provide, “an engaging, interactive conference designed for faculty, staff, and middle and high school students to explore how language influences relationships, classroom dynamics, and society. This conference aim(ed) to support NCAIS schools as they work to be courageous and unified, and to consider the impact of words and stories in their communities.” This lines up beautifully with our work in our own School community to build resilient, inclusive, receptive, intentional communities across classrooms and divisions.
The conference afforded space for some of our eldest students to spend a day reflecting on their role in that work and the opportunities they have to take ownership of their responsibility and influence in our School. It was also an opportunity for students to exercise some autonomy, as there were different “tracks” for conference sessions throughout the day for middle school students, high school students, and educators, and our students navigated together from one session to the next with confidence and care.
A couple weeks after attending the conference, the group who attended had lunch together to complete a feedback survey for NCAIS, share what was impactful for them, and share the most important ideas, strategies, and tools they brought back to GMS. The group especially appreciated a session on bullying by Peaceful Schools NC, where they discussed the differences between teasing, joking, and bullying, and that “middle school is a great time to develop the skill of being bold in the face of injustice,” even when "injustice in a friend group or within a class or school can be one of the most challenging places to step into bold action.” Our students found the presenters for this session engaging and intriguing, and appreciated learning how they can have a positive role in the system of bullying.
At the end of our day together in Charlotte, the conference organizers shared a video of students speaking throughout the day about what they were learning and why it felt important. We were excited to see our group featured at the start of the video, and our own Lucy (sixth grader) speaking toward the end of the video.
The NCAIS Words Matter conference provided a special opportunity for our students and educators to discuss and learn about important issues with peers from across the state. Our group came away with new ideas and fresh perspectives on important issues facing our community. Current sixth graders had the opportunity to spend time with some of their future classmates and a teacher in Junior High, and our group had the singular opportunity to learn in community with peers from schools across the state of North Carolina. Emily, Sidney, and Jessica reflected our pride to our students for how they showed up ready to thoughtfully and bravely engage with unfamiliar adults and peers and how they represented our School so well. As we walked out of the conference center together, the NCAIS conference organizers made a point to share how impressed they were with our group, which was a wonderful way to end our day together.
Anna Betina is our Toddler division coordinator and Half-Day Toddler lead teacher. She began teaching in 2009 and joined our School in 2017.
A native of Ukraine, Anna is fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, Bulgarian, and English. She holds a master’s degree in psychology and childhood psychology and a doctorate in pedagogical and age psychology from her native country of Ukraine. She also holds her Infant & Toddler (birth to age 3) Montessori teaching credential.
Anna and her husband have a daughter who is in fourth grade at GMS. Outside of the classroom, Anna loves live music and also a quiet nap.
GMS: Why did you choose to work at Greensboro Montessori School?
AB: I did my research based on Montessori theory and fell in love with the method here.
GMS: What excites you most about working in your division?
AB: It excites me to see children as capable human beings, and it gives me huge feedback, which inspires me as a teacher.
GMS: What aspect of the Montessori method inspires you the most?
AB: A toddler's sensitive periods and how to prepare the environment that facilitates those effortless windows of learning.
GMS: What do you enjoy learning from our students, and what do you enjoy sharing with them?
AB: How to be patient and see the child. I love sharing my positive attitude to problem solving.
GMS: What do you enjoy learning from your coworkers, and what are you excited to share with them?
AB: Learning how to listen. Recently, we started sharing articles and podcasts across our division on how to support children in a fast-changing world and how to support this in the classroom. It was very exciting and inspiring.
GMS: Tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t learn from your résumé or CV?
AB: I used to be a ballerina, and during my teenage identity crisis, I switched to wrestling for 3 years.
GMS: Where did you grow up, and do you mind sharing one favorite memory from childhood?
AB: I grew up in Ukraine. My favorite memory is playing outside with my friends without adult supervision. Also, going to camps each summer without parents for six weeks.
GMS: Do you have any pets? If so, what are they and what are they named?
AB: I have a Black Pomeranian named Mia.
GMS: Of all the places you’ve traveled to, what is your favorite destination and why?
AB: Italy because there is a lot of history and nature to explore.
GMS: If you could travel anywhere else, where would it be and why?
AB: Japan because I’ve never been there and would really love to experience the culture.
GMS: What is something you don’t get to do often but it still feeds your soul?
AB: Visiting my family in Europe.
GMS: What is your favorite snack?
AB: My favorites are seaweed and dried fruits.
GMS: You’re going out with friends? Do you meet for coffee or cocktails? What is your favorite drink from those selections?
AB: I like to drink coffee or tea, or a virgin cocktail.
GMS: Other than Dr. Maria Montessori, who would you like to meet from history and why?
AB: J. Lacan because I would love to understand his theory firsthand.
Katie Jones is a Lower Elementary teacher and has been teaching since 2001. She joined our team in 2014 and has always had a passion for both Montessori education and special education. She has a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a Master of Arts in special education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She also holds her Montessori teaching credential in Elementary I (ages 6 to 9).
Katie grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and she and her husband, Matt, have a daughter, Willa, who is a member of the GMS class of '22 and currently a senior in the International Baccalaureate program at Page high school.
GMS: How did you first learn about Greensboro Montessori School?
KJ: We wanted a Montessori education for our daughter. She joined GMS when she was 4 years old. We absolutely fell in love with the school and the community. I decided to leave my teaching career with Guilford County Schools to come to work at GMS.
GMS: Why do you choose to work at our School?
KJ: The close knit community and the wonderful teachers.
GMS: What excites you most about working in your division?
KJ: The 6-to-9 age group is my favorite. I love the child’s sense of wonder and awe, their excitement, and getting to see those lightbulb moments ... I really enjoy teaching reading as well.
GMS: What aspect of the Montessori method inspires you the most?
KJ: The peace curriculum and focus on individuality, plus the hands on materials.
GMS: What do you enjoy learning from your coworkers, and what are you excited to share with them?
KJ: I enjoy observing various teaching styles and gathering their wisdom.
GMS: Tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t learn from your résumé or CV?
KJ: I love True Crime. I collect nature. My home is my cozy nest and sanctuary, and my passion is to make it beautiful and homey.
GMS: Do you have any pets? If so, what are they and what are they named?
KJ: We have two dogs, Dusty Jones and Chloe Bell Jones and one cat, Oliver Wendell Jones.
GMS: What hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?
KJ: Gardening, hiking, nature, swimming, and reading.
GMS: Of all the places you’ve traveled to, what is your favorite destination and why?
KJ: Two weeks in Maui, Hawaii. It was my first trip with my husband. It had breathtaking scenery.
GMS: If you could travel anywhere else, where would it be and why?
KJ: Italy because of the food, beauty, culture, and art.
GMS: What is your favorite indulgence?
KJ: Affogato (vanilla ice cream, caramel, and warm espresso) and a massage.
GMS: What is something you don’t get to do often but it still feeds your soul?
KJ: A full day of antique shopping and lunch with my mama.
GMS: What are your favorite snacks?
KJ: Nachos.
GMS: Other than Dr. Maria Montessori, who would you like to meet from history and why?
KJ: Anne Frank. We need to learn from history.
