Meet the Team
Faces of Our Movement
Sheila Linville
Founder
Lorna Cohen
Founder
Michael Picone
Founder
Sheila is the founder of Lake Mary Montessori Academy where she taught and was the Head of School for nearly three decades. Sheila holds Montessori Credentials in both Early Childhood and Elementary from the American Montessori Society. She is also a distinguished presenter and keynote speaker. Sheila recently created the Andrews Educational Institute, which provides consultative services to Montessori and other progressive educational school leaders, teachers and parents. She currently serves as the International Montessori Council (IMC) Director of School Accreditation and Affiliation.
Lorna is a Montessori educator, mentor, coordinator, leader, parent, and lifelong learner. She grew up in Puerto Rico in a large family, which deeply valued service and education. Lorna has worked for the past 30 years advocating and supporting the advancement of Montessori education in the private and public sectors as well as within universities for internship opportunities through Clinical Ed in Montessori environments. Lorna holds Montessori Credentials in both Early Childhood and Elementary from the American Montessori Society as well as several State Certifications. She is a recipient of the Florida Charter Schools Champions Award, the first Montessorian to receive this award.
Michael began his education journey in a bamboo classroom as a United States Peace Corps volunteer in the South Pacific. Since then, he's taught in Florida and Tennessee both in traditional classrooms as well as in online platforms. Michael has also served as an administrator in a virtual school, where he trained and managed a staff of educators. Seven years ago, he found his home in Montessori, first as a Secondary I teacher and now as the Principal, at Countryside Montessori Charter School in Land O Lakes, Florida.
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Lisa Marie is a K-12 Music Educator in Tampa, FL. She holds an undergraduate degree in Music Education from The University of Tampa and a masters degree in Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Since the start of her teaching career, she has taught music in Montessori schools and has learned and applied the philosophy within her music teaching and curriculum. Lisa Marie currently teaches 1st-8th grade music at a Montessori Charter school and serves as the Specials/Electives Coordinator. She is thrilled to continue to grow her knowledge in Montessori and be a voice for Music Education within Montessori schools.
Lisa Marie Lebron
Director of Communications
Administrative
Assistant
Carrie Allen is currently the Executive Director for MEPI (Montessori Educational Programs International). She holds BS and AA degrees in Early Childhood Education and is a credentialed Early Childhood Montessorian through the National Center for Montessori Education (NCME) and an Administrative Leadership credential through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies (CGMS). She is active in the early childhood and Montessori communities as a trainer, consultant, coach, and advisor. Carrie also authored and is the Director of the Montessori Teacher Training Program at Loch Haven in Orlando, Florida, a MEPI affiliated MACTE program.
Heather White
Consultant/Treasurer
Heather is an educational consultant and content creator. She has worked for more than 15 years in the world of Montessori in the roles of classroom guide, level coordinator, Associate Head of School, coach, consultant, teacher trainer, advisor, and presenter. Heather has an EdS degree in School Psychology and a MEd with a concentration in Montessori studies. She holds Montessori credentials from AMS at both the Early Childhood and Elementary I levels and is also a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Heather currently serves as a consultant for the Andrews Educational Institute, a blog writer for various organizations including AMS, Guide & Grow, and Mirus Toys, and an instructional guide, practicum advisor, and field consultant for the Center for Guided Montessori Studies.