Janet Ray—School Director

Janet Ray has worked in a variety of schools and childcare settings for over 30 years and has been the director of UMS since June 1999.  She has a degree in elementary education from Antioch College, and a credential in learning disabilities from California State University at Los Angeles.  While teaching at the Switzer Center for educational therapy in Torrance, California, Janet was privileged to be supervised by Aruna Roy who was an intern with Dr. Maria Montessori in India.

Adie Pettitt—Assistant School Director

Adie Pettitt joined UMS in the summer of 2009 as a co-director of the Summer Program.  Following the tremendous success of that, she stepped up and into the role of Assistant Director later that fall.  She has previous Montessori experience as an assistant teacher at Montessori Community School, and has a background in both landscape design and the business world.  Adie is the parent of two UMS students.

Downstairs Teachers

Debbie

When Debbie’s daughter was a kindergartener here at UMS, Debbie was asked to start a toddler program and “never left,” she says!  She has been a teacher here for 20 years.  Since earning her associate degree in science, she worked with learning-disabled children of all ages and taught at the YMCA and taught a movement/gymnastics class for preschoolers.

Debbie’s favorite thing about our school is the staff and parents who are like an extended family.  She loves amateur photography and gardening, and is training her puppy Edison to become a therapy dog.

Nancy

Nancy used to teach eighth-grade science in public school during the 1980s and 90s.  She eventually went on to complete her Montessori training graduate program at the Richmond Center for Montessori Teacher Training and became certified by the American Montessori Society in 1999.  She came to UMS in 1995 and teaches in the downstairs classroom and in the kindergarten with Geovanna.  She loves the children and the feeling of community here.  Nature is where she feels most at home, enjoying camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities.

Upstairs Teachers

Geovanna

Geovanna, a native of Peru, has worked with children since 1983.  Her daughter started attending UMS in 1988, and Geovanna began her work here in 1990.  She has trained with the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies.  Geovanna loves the community here, but when she’s at home, she loves knitting, beading, and spending time with friends.

Karen

Karen has been surrounded by children all her life.  She grew up the oldest of six siblings and lived in Vienna, Virginia until completing an Early Childhood Education degree from JMU.  She taught kindergarten and first grade in Fairfax County Public Schools before moving to Charlottesville with her husband when their first daughter was born.

Karen has been a stay-at-home mom with her three children while creating several small home-based businesses and enjoying several hobbies, including sewing and baking.  She also loves to spend time with her family and friends.  She completed her Montessori training in July 2008 and is thrilled to be a member of the UMS community!

Aftercare Teachers

Dottie

Dottie joined UMS in 2001.  A mother of three and a grandmother of seven, she has worked in Montessori classrooms for eight years.  She has also volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and with the FSBC and CYAC swim teams.  She attended Ohio University and has participated in numerous conferences for Montessori training as an assistant.

Dottie enjoys working with our children and parents, and spends her free time with her family and friends, reading, writing, and being in nature.

Jamie

Jamie Ballenger began teaching at UMS the summer of 2007.  Previously, she worked at Barnes and Noble while raising four sons and finishing her studio art degree at Mary Baldwin College.  After teaching for many years at St. Thomas Aquinas, Jamie is excited about entering the teaching field full-time.  It is her hope to begin training to become a Montessori teacher this summer.