Faculty Instructors
Below please find biographies for several of our MRC faculty members.
Reena Vohra Morgan
MRC Program Director
Reena has served MRC's Program Director since 2022 and has over 20 years of experience in the Montessori sector. She was a Primary teacher for 7 years, an Early Childhood Director for 13 years and now is the founder of Hive Educational Consulting and Parent Coaching. Reena is a certified Montessori Coach and consults with Chicago area schools, offering coaching & mentorship to teachers and administrators. Reena is also a certified Parent Coach from the Jai Institute, supporting parents in their journeys. Reena has taken both AMS and AMI Primary Trainings, and holds a Masters' Degree in Child Development from the Erikson Institute in Chicago. Reena's best teachers are her own children, who currently attend a public, urban Montessori school in Chicago.
* Reena will be teaching Montessori Theory & Foundations, Prepared Adult, & Child Development this summer!
Anne Matern Bergen
Program Coordinator
Anne has over 30 years of experience working in education. Anne is AMI Elementary trained (ages 6-12) and has received numerous trainings and certifications in leadership and curriculum development. Anne is passionate about elevating her expertise in teaching Literacy and Math through innovative and engaging practices. Anne has taught at both the 6-9 & 9-12 level and has been in administration for nearly 20 years, sharing her decades worth of knowledge and experience with teachers. Her experience inside and outside of the classroom allows her to look at situations from a variety of perspectives which always benefit the child and parents. As a skillful communicator, Anne effectively shares insight to a variety of audiences. Anne is passionate about the optimal education of children and has a wealth of knowledge, earned through decades of service, that she enjoys sharing with others. Anne is a wife, mother to three children (all successful adults who attended Montessori), and a “dog grandma.” She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and gardening in her free time
* Anne will be teaching Montessori Theory, Foundations & History; Elementary Sciences, & Prepared Adult this summer.
Lydia Lewis-Brandt
EC Instructor
Following her science degree in psychology and her diploma in education, Lydia discovered the brilliance of Maria Montessori’s work, sought training, and has spent the 30+ years since as a passionate Montessori guide in the classroom. She has deepened her practice along the way with ongoing professional development, with particular interest in meeting the needs of diverse learners. She is animated by the great work for peace, in society and in the class community. She also loves the science and the art of nurturing each child to their full potential, through joyful engagement with the precise and beautiful Montessori materials. Lydia’s two grown sons attended Montessori school from in utero through eighth grade, and she credits their common sense and deep interests to that experience. Lydia loves to be active outdoors, to travel, to read, and currently to extend her Covid project: learning German!
* Lydia will be teaching Early Childhood Language this summer!
Nour El-Youssef
Elementary Instructor
Nour graduated from Haverford College with a BA in Cultural Anthropology and a Concentration in Africana studies. She was first exposed to Montessori pedagogy as an assistant teacher in lower and upper elementary classrooms at Alcuin Montessori School in 2017, and hasn't looked back since. She is entering into her seventh year as a teacher at the Montessori School of Englewood. She obtained her Montessori Certification at the Montessori Residency of Chicago and recently completed a Masters of Arts in Teaching at National Louis University. She holds an Illinois Professional Educator License and is endorsed to teach ELL and Bilingual Education. Nour grew up as a bilingual learner herself and is excited to teach a diverse bilingual classroom at MSE. She speaks French, Spanish, and Portuguese fluently and has spent time traveling, living, and teaching abroad in numerous countries, including but not limited to, Brazil (through Fulbright scholarship), Nicaragua, Mexico, Cuba, Syria, Lebanon, and Ghana. In her spare time she enjoys reading fiction, biking along the lakeshore, and attending Latin dance events in Chicago.
* Nour will be teaching Elementary Geometry again this summer!
Amy Cade Price
EC & Elementary Instructor
A Chicago native, Amy’s journey came full circle when she returned to her roots at Near North Montessori School, where she was a student from ages 5 to 14. That foundational experience instilled a lifelong love of learning, leading her to become a dedicated Montessori educator.
Amy holds a Primary AMI diploma (2013), a Master’s in Education (2014), and an Inclusive Education AMI diploma (2017). She is also SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) certified, reflecting her commitment to respectful and equitable education for all children.
Beyond the classroom, Amy finds joy in motherhood with her two-year-old, traveling to visit family in the UK, exploring the culinary world, and staying active through rowing.
* Amy will be teaching Prepared Montessorian - Part 2 & Art, Music, Movement this summer!
Sonja Fauske-Smith
Elementary Instructor
Sonja has been working in education, teaching in Montessori Elementary classrooms for over 30 years! Sonja holds an AMI teaching certification for ages 6 -12 years old. She is currently working in an urban Montessori school in Chicago, in an upper elementary (9-12) classroom. Sonja has written several books, has a teenage daughter and two cats.
* Sonja will be teaching Elementary Geography again this summer!
Iliana Suarez
Elementary Instructor
Iliana is a dedicated educator and a current Montessori Coordinator for a Chicago Public School. Her commitment to the Montessori method is both professional and personal; she was a Montessori student herself and is now a proud Montessori parent to a child in a 3-6 classroom.
Iliana earned her AMI 6-12 Elementary certification and spent nearly a decade as a lead teacher in a public Montessori school before transitioning into her current role. In her current role, she supports teachers and administrators citywide to ensure that every student can reach their potential.
* Iliana is excited to teach Elementary I Math, Elementary I Language, & Elementary II Geography & History this summer!
Norah O'Brien
EC Instructor
For over 20 years, Norah has taught at Montessori schools in Chicago, San Diego, and Atlanta.
However, her Montessori journey actually began long before she began teaching, when her
mother made the sound decision to take her to a Montessori parent-infant class. She
cannot remember when Montessori was not a part of my life. Today she is in her 16th year as
a public Montessori teacher, having taught both Elementary 1 and Early Childhood, and in her
20th year of being a Montessori parent. The appreciation the Montessori philosophy has
for following the child and allowing children to flourish within a safe, prepared, and
sequential environment compares to no other kind of learning environment. The joy of
watching a child make an independent discovery and take ownership of their learning inspires
her every day as an educator and lifelong learner.
* Norah will be teaching Sensorial & Cultural Studies again this summer!
April Jean-Baptiste
EC Instructor
April was first introduced to the world of Montessori through her two children who attended Near North Montessori School in Chicago, starting as toddlers. April’s involvement with Montessori deepened as she observed her children’s experiences and saw their individual spirits celebrated and their thirst for knowledge fostered. So she decided to experience it herself and pursued her Montessori certification. April taught as a Primary Guide at Near North for 18 years. She currently works as an independent consultant and Montessori Coach through Hive Educational Consulting. April is trained at both the 0-3 (AMI) and 3-6 (AMS) levels. She finds joy in teaching prenatal workshops and infant massage classes to families. April’s work has taken her all around the world. Her passion for meeting new people, experiencing new places and fostering global connections started when she lived in Venezuela during high school and Japan in college. She enjoys all things musical (singing, playing instruments, dancing), as well as reading, yoga and outdoor activities like hiking, camping and canoeing.
* April will be teaching Practical Life this summer and currently serves as MRC's Early Childhood Field Consultant!
Juan St. Mane
EC Instructor
Juan has a long history with Montessori education, both as a student at Lake Country Montessori School in Minneapolis, MN and as a teacher for nearly 20 years here in Chicago IL, working at the Early Childhood level with the 3-6 age group. Juan has a passion for working at the beginning stages of child development. He holds an AMI teaching certification for ages 3-6 from The Montessori Training Center of MN. He is currently working at The Montessori School of Englewood. Juan enjoys robust outdoor activities with friends and family on his summers off. He is looking forward to passing on his knowledge with his years of Montessori experience working with young, curious, and absorbent minds.
* Juan will be teaching Early Childhood Math again this summer!
Ranjita Chattopadhyay
Elementary Instructor
Bio Forthcoming!
*Ranjita is excited to teach Elementary II Science this summer!
Are you interested in becoming a MRC Resident? Contact us for more information!
Rita Nolan (rnolan@tmsoe.org) is the Montessori Network's Executive Director. The Montessori Network is the larger organization which encompasses both Montessori Residency Chicago and Montessori School of Englewood.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS :
Karen Anderson - President, Attorney (joined 2012): karenganderson@gmail.com
Ebonie Townsend -Vice President, CEO of 8 Co.Communications Company (joined 2021)
Joe Motto - Treasurer, Winston & Strawn (joined 2012)
James Sulzer - Member, Principal/Attorney, Sulzer & Shopiro Ltd. (joined 2012)
Peter Talmers - Member, Principal/Attorney, Slalom Consulting (joined 2012)
Gabrielle Sansonetti Member, Attorney (joined 2017)
Peter Cunningham - Member, Executive Director, Education Post (early Education) (joined 2012)
Taneesha Peeples - Member, Deputy Director of Activist Development at Brightbeam (joined 2021)