About the Board

The OMA Board consists of a chair or co-chairs, secretary, and treasurer, as well as committees for the Forza Vitale, Professional Development, Community Outreach, Annual Events, Membership, and Website Maintenance. If you would like to contact the board, please send us an email!

2009 | 2010 Board Members

Executive Committee:

Cathy Dorner, Chair

Cathy taught for 18 years at Childpeace Montessori School. She founded and guided a primary classroom with an intergenerational component in an assisted living facility called The Terrace. She enjoys hiking and archaeology in her free time. She also enjoys spending time in her vegetable garden and is fond of rutabagas.

Maren Stark-Schmidt, Treasurer

Maren Schmidt founded a Montessori school and holds a Masters of Education from Loyola College in Maryland. She has over 25 years experience working with children and holds elementary teaching credentials from the Association Montessori Internationale. Maren currently writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column, Kids Talk™, that covers child development topics. Visit her website at <http://www.MarenSchmidt.com>.

Joy Nauman, Secretary

Joy Nauman is a trained Primary and Elementary guide and has been teaching in the Pacific Northwest for the past three years. This year, she will be starting preparations for an alternative health program, specializing in pediatrics. This is her first year on the board.

David Cannon, Website Liaison

David Cannon taught in the elementary Montessori classroom for eight years and was a school administrator for 20 years. He is currently working part-time as a consultant in public affairs and education, as well as having several volunteer jobs. Besides the OMA board, David has served on the MINW Board, three Montessori school boards, and as a city planning commissioner.

Members at Large

Meredith Brown

Donna Hargrave, Administrative Liaison

Donna has been a Montessori primary teacher for 25 years and a teaching administrator for 20 years. She loves the challenges of administrating and the joy of being in the classroom. Donna says, "I am fulfilling my lifelong dream of being able to work with young children and I also feel very fortunate to be work among my peers in the greater Montessori community."

Mary Sahm Hicks

First a Montessori parent, next a primary guide, now a school administrator. A life-long student of cultures – ethnic, urban, organizational. Mary loves to travel, play in her garden and read contemporary fiction. Her next trip will be to climb Kilimanjaro.

Kathleen Lloyd

Kathleen is the Assistant Director of the OSU Center for Teaching and Learning and also teaches in the Human Development and Family Sciences Department. She earned a doctorate in Human Development and Family Science from Oregon State University in 2008. Her research focuses on learning theories that promote self-regulation. Kathleen has spent over 14 years working with 3-6 year olds in a variety of settings including Marin Montessori School in California, the Pacific Crest School in Seattle, Washington and the Garfield Head Start Program in Corvallis, Oregon.

Jessica Mallett

Jessica attended a public Montessori school in Denver through 6th grade. She is passionate about the value of Montessori education because of her experience as a student. Jessica is the guide in a primary classroom. This is her second year on the board.

Ursula Melvin

A former Montessori student, Ursula Melvin has worked as a naturalist, river guide and outdoor educator. She is trained as an Assistance to Infancy guide and in 2008 founded toddler community. She is currently enjoying watching her young son discover the world.

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