About Northeast Montessori Institute

Northeast Montessori Institute (NMI) is a Montessori teacher-certification course located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Northeast Montessori Institute is an AMS and MACTE accredited Montessori training program at the Infant/Toddler and Early Childhood level. Our passion and dedication has provided thousands of skilled teachers who have help shape life-long inquisitive learning for countless children. We look forward to you joining us on this meaningful and rewarding journey.

Meet Our Team

Katelyn is a long time Montessorian, having grown up with Montessori and then returned to the classroom as a primary lead guide knowing her heart and deepest passion was working with children and providing a Montessori environment and experience to children in early childhood. Prior to returning to the classroom, Katelyn received her B.A from Wellesley College with a degree in Neuroscience and Psychology. With her background in brain development, as well as Montessori experience, she was excited to return to Montessori as the educational philosophy aligns education with scientific observation and study. Katelyn is herself a Northeast Montessori Institute graduate, receiving her credential in 2008 and then returning as a Sensorial trainer starting in 2016.
With experience in both the classroom and administration, Katelyn joined the Wildflower Schools network in 2013 to help open the doors for the first Wildflower School and is currently Head of School at Wild Rose Montessori School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Wildflower Schools network is a network of decentralized Montessori micro-schools that support children, teachers, and parents. Wildflower aspires to give all children and families the opportunity to choose high quality, beautiful learning environments as they follow life’s unfolding journey. Katelyn spends her time within Wildflower, supporting teachers across the country opening and running their small wildflower microschool embedded within their community.

Program Director

Castle O’Neill is a Montessori educator committed to raising resilient, joyful children ready to take on a changing world. AMS certified at the infant, toddler and early childhood levels, Castle has worked in Montessori schools as a toddler and primary teacher, director of professional development and head of school. With 30 years of teacher training experience, Castle has worked as an instructor and program director for AMS training programs in VA, MD, NC, WA and MA. A change maker at heart, Castle is the founder of Virginia Center for Montessori Studies and a co-founder of three schools. An early leader within the Wildflower Network of schools, Castle helped to lay the groundwork for the innovative model and coached multiple teachers through the process of starting, managing and nurturing their own school. Currently, Castle works as a coach and consultant for schools and provides parent education and coaching to families. The mother of three adults and grandmother of a toddler, Castle lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband, turtle and a very large vegetable garden.

Infant/Toddler Level Director

Kate's Montessori journey began 25 years ago at an extraordinary Montessori school in Oakland, CA. After having several children of her own, it became clear to Kate how necessary quality infant care is and inspired her to take her Assistants to Infancy (0-3) AMI training at The Montessori Institute in Denver, CO. Kate then designed and implemented a Nido that served the staff and faculty of the school that all four of her children attended.
After moving to New Hampshire with her family, Kate began working in a toddler classroom and partnered to develop a fully outdoor Montessori program for two-year-olds. Discovering the combination of Montessori and place-based nature education felt like a missing piece and inspired Kate to embark on her Early Childhood (3-6) AMS training with Northeast Montessori Institute.
Working with adult learners, both as an instructor and as a field consultant, has added an element to Kate’s teaching practice that she cherishes. Guiding adults through their Montessori journey feels like a natural way to support the sacred task of preparing the environment for very young children.
She is a member of both AMI and AMS and loves finding shared space between the two organizations.

Assistant Program Director

Instructors and Guest Lecturers

Leah Walsh has been an advocate and practitioner of alternative education since she was in high school. It was then she started taking ownership of her education and sought out opportunities that supported her interests and learning style. Looking back she was a Montessorian even then. Leah received a BA in dance and design from Bennington College and afterwards spent time performing, directing, and designing for children and families at a children’s theatre company. Once she became a mother in 2005, she quickly realized her path of educating her children and others in a way that supported the whole child. She likes to say, “I followed my children to Montessori.”
For the past 10 years Leah has been presenting workshops at Montessori conferences, consulting, hosting events for educators and parents, designing materials to be used in early learning spaces, and encouraging others to bring their creative selves to their classrooms and homes.
Leah opened Bluebird Montessori in 2016 where she teaches children ages 3-6 in her town in upstate New York. She began sharing her journey and knowledge online through Instagram @bluebirdmontessori where her tiny school became an inspiration to thousands of others. She creates and sells her Montessori aligned printables at craftingyourclassroom.com.
Leah holds an AMS early-childhood credential which she received through NMI. She is thrilled to be returning as the Practical Life and Music/Movement instructor.

Catherine McTamaney, Ed.D., is the award-winning author of The Tao of Montessori and A Delicate Task: Teaching and Learning on a Montessori Path. Dr. McTamaney has been a Montessori teacher, teacher educator, and head of school. She currently serves as an Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College in the Department of Teaching and Learning. Professor McTamaney works primarily with undergraduates in Peabody's teacher licensure programs, focusing on the social and political context of public education, early childhood development and learning and the integration of education and the arts. A three time graduate of Peabody College, Professor McTamaney has been at Vanderbilt for most of the last twenty five years.
Dr. McTamaney is a noted Montessori lecturer across the US and abroad and was a member of the Social Computing Group at the MIT Media Lab, where she helped to establish the design principles of the Wildflower Schools project.

Dr. Erika L. McDowell is a former NJ governor’s award recipient and honors graduate of Howard University, New York University, and earned her EdD from Drexel University in Educational Leadership and Management, in May 2020. Erika currently is an Equity Steward for Wildflower Schools and Co-CEO of the Black Wildflowers Fund. Formerly a clinical associate professor at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, Dr. McDowell has received the Association for Positive Behavior Support’s 2020 E.G. “Ted” Carr Early Career Practitioner Award and has been elected to the APBS Board of Directors for the 2024-2028 term, serving in the inaugural Racial and Ethnic Diversity Seat in 2020. Most recently, Erika was honored as one of Drexel’s 40 under 40 in 2022. She has also served as an Executive Director of Professional Development and Director of PBIS/Youth Court for The School District of Philadelphia. Other positions previously held include assistant principal and teacher. Her in-depth experience includes restorative practices, equity, positive behavioral support, conflict resolution, classroom management, coaching, leadership development, and behavioral data support. Dr. McDowell is committed to nurturing the minds and gifts of leaders, teachers, practitioners, and youth nationwide.

Natasha M. McKenzie is an Early Childhood credential holder with over two decades of Montessori experience. During this time, she has worn many hats including lead guide, field consultant, school consultant, and teacher educator. Her current role as facilitator for the American Montessori Academy Instructor Academy speaks volumes about her commitment to the growth and development of both teachers and students within the Montessori community.
A graduate of the University of North Florida with a BA in history and a Master of Education with a specialization in Montessori Studies from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, Natasha’s global footprint is evident in her extensive teaching experience in international settings that include places such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Tibet, Canada, and the United States. When not traversing the globe, Natasha calls St. Augustine, Florida home.

Beverlee was born in Trinidad and Tobago, she began her Montessori journey over 30 plus years ago when she began looking for a preschool for her daughter. Thus began her journey to become a Montessori teacher.
Beverlee worked as an Infant Directress for 10 years, coordinated toddler programs in 2 Montessori schools for many years and worked as a 3-6 teachers for over 20 years in schools in Trinidad, the US and China.
She teaches prospective Montessori teachers and consults for Virginia Center For Montessori Studies in Richmond Virginia in their Early Childhood and Infant/Toddler programs.
Beverlee loves spending time with her family and is a member of the American Montessori Society. She is honored to be the founding teacher leader of Ixora Montessori School and looks forward to bringing Montessori education for all, especially embracing the rich diversity of families in the Williamsburg VA. area and its surrounds.
Qualifications: - M.Ed., concentration in the Montessori Method, B.A. English, Early Childhood Montessori certification, Infant and Toddler Montessori Certification.

Marissa Frisk is a seasoned Montessori teacher with a deep passion for creativity, literacy education and continuous personal growth. Marissa attended Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a focus in Art Education and through her studies stumbled upon the Montessori philosophy. As an artist, the prepared environment captured her attention and that is how it all began. Marissa holds her 3-6 AMS credential that she received through NMI and is thrilled to come full circle to now being an instructor.
Marissa is Orton Gillingham trained and certified in Early Childhood reading through AMS. She strives to apply her wealth of knowledge in teaching children how to read and write through her daily practice in the classroom and through teacher education. Marissa had the honor of teaching adult learners at The Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Denver, Colorado and has consulted with teachers all around the world thanks to the power of social media. Marissa is currently leading a primary classroom at Fraser Woods Montessori School in Newtown, Connecticut.
Beyond teaching, Marissa channels her artistic abilities into crafting beautiful Montessori-aligned materials tailored to the specific needs of her students. These materials have been used by thousands of students and Marissa considers this work some of her most important.

“The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child’s own desire to learn.”

—Maria Montessori

Throughout her close to a nearly 50 year journey in Montessori education, Micki has found continual proof that Montessori works for children of all cultural, socioeconomic and developmental backgrounds.
Starting in college as an assistant in a Montessori classroom, she has traveled through a diverse world of both private and public schools in Minneapolis, New York City, Milwaukee, WI, Chicago and Cambridge/Somerville, MA. During her career, she has filled many roles both in early childhood classrooms, and in administration. Micki has particular expertise in building young Montessori programs. In Milwaukee, she was one of three founding teachers hired to transition a failing Milwaukee Public School into the district’s fourth fully public Montessori school. As the head of early childhood for a Montessori public charter school, she piloted a hybrid Montessori / Head Start program on the South Side of Chicago. Her last five years before retiring in 2022 were spent growing Dandelion Montessori, one of the first generation of Wildflower Network schools.
Micki has been active in mentoring and educating adult learners in Montessori pedagogy through serving as a cooperating teacher for intern Montessori guides and as a field consultant for both Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center and Northeast Montessori Institute. She holds an Early Childhood credential from The American Montessori Society, as well as a Master of Arts in Montessori Education from St Catherine University.

History of Northeast Montessori Institute

Ann Burke Neubert was the founder and architect of Northeast Montessori Institute, which she established in 1984. Following Ann’s untimely death in 1990, Martha Monahan became the program Director and foundation for NMI‘s continued growth.

Under Martha’s direction, NMI has been around the globe with a total of 10 training locations over the years, including the first AMS Early Childhood credential programs offered in mainland China and in Vietnam. Over the last 30+ years, Martha has been responsible for training countless Montessori guides, growing and evolving NMI to the program it is today. Her dedication, love and care supporting the inquisitive minds of countless adult learners has been the cornerstone of what Montessorians remember about their experience at NMI. The Montessori philosophy, woven with Martha’s passion and wisdom, forms the threads of a vibrant tapestry that continues to inspire educators across the globe.

As we celebrate the invaluable contributions of those who have paved the way for the future, we honor NMI’s many instructors over the years who have been its columns of support. Instructors whose innovative spirit and compassionate guidance ignited the flames of lifelong learning in the hearts of the next generation. While too numerous to mention here, we would like to acknowledge and thank sincerely all of NMI’s many instructors. As we look to NMI’s future, we also take this opportunity to look back and to thank those instructors that were foundational to the experience many have had at NMI. We would like to give huge gratitude and appreciation to Martha and Donald Monahan, Misse Carolan, Linda Seeley, Sister Leonor Esnard, and the late Sister Anthonita Porta. Their immeasurable contributions and many years of service will be appreciated always. Their commitment to excellence, along with that of all of NMI’s instructors throughout the years, truly are the pillars of strength and support to which NMI owes its success! Thank you for being the guiding lights in the Montessori journey, illuminating a path toward a world of endless possibilities.

Martha Monahan

Sister Leonor Esnard, Sister Anthonita Porta, Martha Monahan, Misse Carolan, Linda Seeley

Donald Monahan

- In Memoriam -

Ann Burke Neubert

Sister Anthonita Porta

Ann founded NMI in 1984, and was its director until her untimely death in 1990. Ann trained hundreds of teachers during her twenty-three years of dedication and service to the Montessori Method of teaching. These teachers, in turn, have taught thousands of children. Ann’s life touched the lives of many people throughout the world, and her intelligence, humor, sincerity and integrity were greatly admired.
NMI will forever be honored also by the contributions to the Institute by the life and work of Sr. Anthonita Porta (03/09/33 – 09/09/09). Sister Anthonita was a cornerstone of NMI since its inception and had been a friend, colleague, and mentor to Anne Neubert prior to that time. Her insights and inspiration will live on in the hearts and minds of us at NMI as we dedicate ourselves to continuing to provide excellence in Montessori teacher training.
To learn more about Sister Anthonita’s life and work, or to contribute to the Sister Anthonita Porta Legacy Fund, visit www.admtei.org.