Community Montessori is more than a school. Our faculty and staff, families, friends, and board members form a community dedicated to helping children, adolescents, and adults to learn, grow, and thrive.
Community Montessori is about connection and collaboration, friendship and fun, and building partnerships to encourage a strong learning environment. All who have a connection to Community Montessori are part of a school-wide community.
My name is Terri Rentrop. I am honored to serve as Head of School at Community Montessori. I first learned about Montessori education when my oldest daughter enrolled in a Montessori school in 2001. I fell in love with the philosophy. My three children all attended Montessori school through 8th grade.
In 2011, I had the opportunity to realize a lifelong dream of teaching and enrolled in Xavier University. I completed my Master’s in Montessori Education in 2014. I spent 9 years in the classroom, first as an assistant and then as a lead teacher. I looked forward to going to work each day and enjoyed learning from my students.
While I love being in the classroom, when the opportunity arose to serve as Head of School at Community Montessori, I knew it was the place for me. I look forward to continuing to learn from our amazing community and lead our school down a path of peace, love, and the awe that comes with Montessori education.
My name is Devon Schoumacher and I’m thrilled to be here at Community Montessori.
I received my undergraduate degree from Midway College in traditional education K-5. I taught for 10 years in a traditional education setting, beginning with the 3rd and 4th grades, and later moving to kindergarten, which was my happy place. In 2011, I went back to school to earn my master’s in Montessori 3-6 from Xavier University. With every course I took, I fell more in love with the Montessori philosophy. After earning my master’s, I taught in pre-primary for 13 years. I’m now entering my 23rd year of teaching and my 4th year as the Pre-Primary Lead teacher at Community Montessori.
In my free time, I enjoy working out at home and spending time with family. I have three children. Two are now in high school and the other one is here with me at Community Montessori.
My name is Amy Hamant and I am a teaching assistant in the pre-primary classroom in the morning. I spend the afternoon with the 3 – 4 year old children who are staying for lunch and napping in “The Nest”. I have a degree in Social Work from Northern Kentucky University and have always worked in some capacity with children. Since 2001, I have worked in a Montessori School environment. In the summer, I teach art camps for children. I live in Fort Thomas with my husband. We enjoy hiking, biking, art and travel.
My name is Jimae Harms and I am excited to be a classroom assistant in the pre-primary classroom! I have a B.A. in English Literature from Northern Kentucky University and am a lifelong learner of all sorts of things. My previous roles have been in social services and/or in a classroom through some capacity for all ages – children and adults, and I am excited to join the pre-primary classroom and be an active part of enthusiastic and curious learning each morning. Montessori education has been wonderful for our family, and my two children attend Community Montessori as well. In my free time I enjoy working and crafting with my hands. My family has a large vegetable garden that expands each season and I enjoy knitting/crocheting, sewing, and embroidering items for practical use.
Hello! I’m Ana Noll Summe.
I have taught in a Montessori classroom for over 12 years and am excited to continue my work in our beautiful new school. I am a lifelong Covington resident and have raised my own two children here.
As a young child, I attended the Covington Children’s House Montessori and spent my formative school years at Bishop Howard Elementary. The wonderful teachers and friends from these early years were a big part of my personal inspiration to co-found Community Montessori.
I have a B.S. in Social Work and a Master’s in Montessori Education from Xavier University I love to hike, garden, do yoga, cook, laugh, and sing, and I especially love to share these experiences with my students.
Hi, My name is Sam Glew. I am currently finishing my Bachelor’s degree at Xavier University before beginning my Masters’s in Montessori Education. I currently have an Associates degree in Ecotourism and Adventure travel from Hocking College.
This is my first excursion into the formal classroom with most of my teaching experience being in outdoor and environmental education. I am very excited to be a part of this wonderful team and community. I have spent many years working with different schools and systems and have fallen in love with the Montessori philosophy.
I love the outdoors and spend my weekends working with Adventure Crew out of Cincinnati.
Hello, I am Tiffany Rebich. Teaching has always been my passion from teaching my little sister and my doll to the present day. Montessori is such a beautiful method to reach and foster children and I feel fortunate to be a part of the founding and, now, teaching at Community Montessori. I have taught for over 19 years in both traditional and Montessori classrooms.
I grew up in the area and graduated from Purdue with a BA in elementary education and minors in math and science. My husband, Craig, and I then settled in Franklin, IN both as teachers. I “discovered” Montessori through our son’s preschool experience and fell in love. As we relocated back to the tri-state area, I obtained my masters in Montessori Education from Xavier.
We have two children and live in Indiana where we love to be on water, hike, travel, and play. I also enjoy my time gardening, doing yoga, researching, and reading.
My name is Claire Rentrop and I am so excited to be a part of this beautiful school for another year. I have been able to see the progress and growth of this community since the beginning and it is so inspiring to embrace and be a part of the tremendous growth.
I have attended Montessori schools pre primary through junior high. I have a great appreciation for Montessori philosophy. The curriculum, learning tools, development and respect shown to all people are so important.
I am an assistant teacher in the Upper Elementary classroom five days a week and also run the aftercare program everyday after school.
I have a background in the visual arts and attended the Art Academy of Cincinnati.
I live in Covington with my husband and in my spare time I enjoy painting and being outdoors.
My name is Cindy Dixon, teacher assistant in upper elementary 3 mornings a week. I recently retired after 35 years in my prior position. I enjoy being with children and watching them progress and grow. I am excited to be a part of the Community Montessori program.
I have 3 daughters and 8 grandchildren. Four of my grandchildren attended Montessori School from pre-school through eighth grade.
In my spare time I like taking walks, going to the beach, attending my grandchildren’s sporting and school events, spending time with family and friends.
I have a BA in English Literature from Miami University and will complete my M.ED in December of 2023 in Montessori Education from Xavier University. I have a lifelong love of learning and am grateful to spend my time in the nurturing, supportive classroom environment that is a hallmark of Montessori education. I deeply believe in Maria Montessori’s educational philosophy of peace and teaching to the whole child.
My two children attend Community Montessori and we are excited to be involved in this brand new school. In our free time we enjoy biking, being outdoors and traveling. My personal hobbies are reading, gardening and art. I enjoy volunteering as well, and am involved with fundraising and events for the Brighton Center in Newport.
My name is Theresa Nixon and I am thrilled to be part of the team of teachers and community members at Community Montessori.
I received my undergraduate degree in Montessori Education ages 6-9 from Xavier University. I then received my master’s degree in Montessori education ages 9-12, also from Xavier University.
After teaching in the 9-12 classroom for a few years, I started a junior high program in 2007. I received my training through Cincinnati Montessori Secondary Teacher Education Program (CMSTEP). I am looking forward to teaching in the junior high classroom at Community Montessori.
When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two children hiking, traveling, and reading.
Hi, my name is Becky Monahan and I am grateful to be a part of Community Montessori and our 4th year together. The mission statement aligns with everything in my mind and spirit. It is wonderful being a part of our school of exceptional teachers and families.
I started my Montessori education journey taking classes at Xavier University in 2009. The interest in Montessori education arose from our own children attending a Montessori school. The concepts of following the child, discovering, and respecting their uniqueness, and peace education created in me a distinct interest.
Once I gained my American Montessori Society certification and Masters in Elementary Education from Xavier University, I delved deeper into the education of teaching reading, Orton Gillingham is a reading specialty program that is scientifically designed to help struggling readers and writers learn to decode and encode language.
I believe the Orton Gillingham reading approach combined with my Montessori Education is a benefit to the students at Community Montessori.
Personally, I am married to Jim and have two children Sean 30 and Megan 28 and a cat. I love to swim, ride horses, kayak, hike, camp, travel and read. I enjoy being around children and observing their unique talents and gleefully learning in an environment that fosters the development of their interests.
At Community Montessori, we believe partnership between parents, school, and our children builds a strong, supportive community. All parents and guardians at Community Montessori are members of the Family Community (PA).
The Family Community (PA) is a volunteer body which coordinates activities to strengthen the community and provide enhancements to its classrooms. The PA relies on core values of the school – inclusiveness, community, and consensus – to create a working partnership between parents, guardians, faculty, and the student body.
The PA oversees a number of school-wide celebrations, plans activities to help welcome new families, hosts community events, and provides support and appreciation to the teachers.
The PA seeks to provide all parents and guardians the opportunity to become involved and be part of our unique school. We encourage you to attend a meeting to share your skills and interests and to meet other families.
Click here to meet our 2023-2024 FC Board
Community Montessori is a not-for-profit school governed by a Board of Directors, which provides oversight of the school. The volunteer Board is responsible for ensuring the mission of Community Montessori is carried out, and it has a fiduciary responsibility to the school. Board members actively lead long-term and strategic planning efforts and engage in fundraising and community-building initiatives.
The Board of Directors employs the Head of School, who is responsible for executing the policies established by the Board, hiring faculty and staff, and managing the daily operations of the school.
Loren VanDyke Wolff is of counsel at DBL where her law practice focuses on real estate, business law, and government. She is the current chair of the Center for Great Neighborhoods and the Covington Parking Authority. Loren lives in Covington in a home built in 1870 with her husband, fellow attorney Ben Wolff, and their three kids (Leigh, William, and Adam). Leigh, William, and Adam have thrived in the Montessori setting so Loren is excited to be a part of building a new Montessori community in Covington.
Jill Morenz is the Director of Community Initiatives and Communications for the Catalytic Fund.She handles all events and marketing, as well as executing the Community Vibrancy initiatives, which include the Public Arts Network and related projects. Morenz is a graduate of the University of Illinois. Prior to joining the Catalytic Fund team, she
served as Director of Operations for Skyward.
Amy Milburn has experience helping to create Montessori programs in the city of Covington which began in 1999. Amy’s children were approaching school age. She knew about the benefits of a Montessori education and wanted to send her children to a Montessori school, but no options existed in Covington at that time. Amy didn’t let this stop her. She began working with a group of women to create a Montessori program within an existing Covington school. The program was a success and all three of Amy’s children, as well as hundreds of other children, attended the school’s Montessori program. Amy’s children are now all adults, and she continues to see the impact of a Montessori education on their lives. This has only furthered her desire to provide Montessori opportunities grounded in respect and love to as many children as possible. Amy is also a small business owner who is passionate about the city of Covington. She lived in Licking riverside for 16 years and has participated in various revitalization efforts across the city. Amy owns one small business and is involved in several others. Amy is therefore thrilled to be a part of Community Montessori’s board, an opportunity that allows her to combine her passion for Montessori and the city of Covington. She looks forward to using her knowledge and experience to create a Montessori school in Covington that teaches the next generation of the community.
Heidi Overwine is the Long Term Services and Supports Director at Aetna Better Health of Ohio, working with dual Medicaid and Medicare waiver recipients in the aged and disabled populations. Heidi has worked in both non-profit and for profit organizations throughout her nursing career. Heidi received her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from the University of Kentucky and her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Northern Kentucky University. She hopes to obtain her Masters in Public Health to officially bridge the two degrees.
Heidi is a Northern Kentucky native who grew up in Erlanger and moved to Covington in 2005. She now resides in Edgewood with her husband Matt and two children, Amelie and Atticus. Montessori education is near and dear to her heart as both of her children have thrived in the environment.
Jessica Meyer has been a Covington resident for over 20 years and has fallen in love with the community. In addition to being a residential real estate appraiser, she also manages and plans special events at Starlit Sanctuary at Community Montessori, Wenzel Whiskey, and The Globe all located in Covington.
Board members are nominated and elected annually for three-year terms.
