Staff

Administration

Julia Preziosi – Executive Director

Education:

• B.S. in Montessori Education from Xavier University
• American Montessori Society teaching credential from Xavier University
• M.Ed. in Executive Human Resource Development from Xavier University

Work Experience and Accomplishments:

• Executive Director of NKMA since 2004
• 30 plus years of teaching and administrative experience includes Montessori and early childhood education, learning disabilities education, curriculum design, faculty management, leadership, and teacher training.
• Cincinnati Montessori Society Board Member
• Presenter at various workshops and teacher training programs
• No. Ky. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Success Award Nominee
• Delegation Member with People to People Ambassadors to Cuba

Fun Facts:

• Julia is the mother of a blended family of three children, and now has two grandchildren.
• Loves to travel, hike, and fish in her spare time.
• Life-long Northern Kentucky resident

Lisa Wellbrock Dieso– Associate Director

Education:

• B. S. In Montessori Education from Xavier University
• American Montessori Society teaching credential from Xavier University
• M. Ed. in Education Administration from Xavier University

Work Experience and Accomplishments:

• Associate Director of NKMA since 2008
• Taught in several different Montessori 3 – 6 year old environments in New York City, Cincinnati, and Northern Kentucky (including 2 years at NKMA)
• Administrator with the Julia Brown Montessori Schools in Maryland where she managed the daily operational aspects of a school with over 150 students and 17 staff members
• Adjunct Faculty with the Montessori Teacher Training Program at Xavier University
• Delegation Member with People to People Ambassadors to Cuba

Fun Facts:

• Loves spending time with her husband and two young children
• Exercise fanatic who enjoys running, swimming, and biking
• Enjoys cooking and baking

Teaching Staff

Sarah Hattemer – Primary Directress

Education:

• B. A. in Women’s Studies/History from College of Mt. St. Joseph
• American Montessori Society teaching credential from Xavier University

Work Experience and Accomplishments:

• Three years of teaching a 3 – 6 year old class at St. Ursula Villa in Cincinnati, OH
• Instructional Assistant at Sands Montessori in Cincinnati, OH

Fun Facts:

• Enjoys riding her pink Vespa

Carol Zanin – Assistant Primary Directress

Education:

• B.A. from College of Mount Saint Joseph
• American Montessori Society teaching credential from Xavier University

Work Experience and Accomplishments:

• Several years of experience working with 3 – 6 year olds and 6 – 9 year olds

Fun Facts:

• Works part time as a swimming and water aerobics instructor.
• Enjoys reading and spending time with her husband and two children.

Mollie Dwyer – Primary Directress

Education:

• B.A. in English from Xavier University
• M. Ed. in Montessori Education from Xavier University
• American Montessori Society teaching credential from Xavier University

Work Experience and Accomplishments:

• After completing her internship at NKMA, Mollie joined our team full time in 2010.

Fun Facts:

• Loves animals and even works occasionally as a veterinarian assistant
• Enjoys reading, skiing, hiking, and anything to do with the outdoors.

Amanda Weise – Primary Directress

Education:

• B.A. in Communications from the University of Dayton
• American Montessori Society teaching credential from Greater Cincinnati Center for Montessori Education

Work Experience and Accomplishments:

• Intern and Co-Directress at Chai Tots Early Childhood Center
• Teaching Assistant at Imagine Tomorrow Development Center

Fun Facts:

• Enjoys gardening, hiking, and camping.
• Enjoys traveling;  studied abroad in Australia during the summer of 2006.

Angela David – Primary Directress

Education:

• M.Ed. in Montessori Education from Xavier University
• American Montessori Society teaching credential
• Orton-Gillingham Certification

Work Experience and Accomplishment:

• Three years of teaching experience of 3 – 6 year olds at Montessori Center Room in Cincinnati
• Six years of teaching experience of 3 – 6 year olds at The New School in Cincinnati
• Two years of teaching experience of 3 – 6 year olds at Oak Tree Montessori

Fun Fact:

• Loves to spend time with her dogs
• Enjoys mechanics and working on her motorcycles

Soo Yoon – Primary Directress

Education:

• M.Ed. in Montessori Education from Xavier University
• American Montessori Society teaching credential from Xavier University

Work Experience and Accomplishment:

• Seven years of teaching experience of 3 – 6 year olds in Montessori environments at Villa Madonna Montessori in Northern Kentucky, KY
• One year of teaching experience of 3 -6 year olds in Montessori environments at Park View Montessori in Chicago, IL
• Two years working as a librarian in Chung-Ang University Hospital in Seoul, Korea
• Recipient of Raymond McCoy Award from Xavier University in recognition of outstanding in academic achievement, character, and teaching potential

Fun Fact:

• Loves to travel, cook, and Pilates in her spare time
• Lives in Cincinnati, OH

Ana Noll – Elementary Directress

Education:

• B.S. in Social Work from Xavier
• M. Ed. in Montessori Education from Xavier University
• American Montessori Society teaching credential from Xavier University

Work Experience and Accomplishments:

• Three years at Prince of Peace Montessori School
• AmeriCorps volunteer – literacy support and conflict resolution facilitator

Fun Facts:

• Loves spending time with her two children
• Enjoys hiking, yoga, and gardening

Tiffany Rebich – Elementary Assistant Directress

Michele Fort – Specials Directress (French Instructor)

Education:

• 4 years of schooling in France equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in the States with emphasis on general business studies
• Montessori Teacher Training through Association Montessori Internationale

Work Experience and Accomplishments:

• Spent her early career working as a corporate IT in France
• Multiple years of experience working in Montessori environments throughout the U.S

Fun Facts:

• Born in France and grew up in Africa and Polynesia
• Traveled around the world and now resides in Cincinnati with her husband and two children

Lissa Ray – Specials Directress (Music Specialist)

Education: 

• B.S. in Music Education from Western Michigan University
• M.S. in Elementary Education from Indiana University
• Three Levels of Orff Schulwerk Certification
• Musicianship through Movement Certification
• Education through Movement Certification
• Permanent Ohio Teaching Certificate, Elementary Education, and Music Education

Work Experience and Accomplishments:

• Has taught music for over 30 years
• Taught Kindergarten through Fourth Grade Music at Sycamore Community School District
• Teaches pre-school music at Northminster Children’s Co-op
• Teaches pre-school through 8th grade music at the Montessori Academy of Cincinnati

Fun Facts:

• Workshop Presenter – Orff Schulwerk and OMEA
• Cincinnati Children’s Choir Festival Instructor
• Participates in a variety of community activities, including handbell ensembles, community bands, and choirs

Delia Bell – Aftercare Directress

Education:

• Attended Sands Montessori and Clark Montessori in Cincinnati Public Schools
• Graduated from Sycamore High School
• Plans to work towards degree in Early Childhood Education with a Montessori teaching credential

Work Experience and Accomplishments:

• Worked at NKMA since 2010
• Camp Counselor for children ages 4 to 14
• Experience working with special needs children

Fun Facts:

• Life Long Montessori student and her mother is also a Montessori certified teacher

Student Teachers

NKMA works with the Xavier University Montessori Teacher Education Program and enjoys sharing our school with Xavier student teachers. Most semesters we have a student teacher assigned to our school from the Xavier Program. Mentoring and supervising fledgling teachers is a passion of the NKMA staff. We believe in the Montessori philosophy and are committed to doing our part in continuing the honored tradition of Dr. Maria Montessori.

“We must help the child act, think and will for himself. This is the art of serving the spirit, an art which can be practiced to perfection only when working with children.” –Maria