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.
