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.

Janet is the mother of two fabulous young women.  Lillian (Swarthmore Class of 2005) is a secondary school math teacher in Philadelphia.  She can trace her love of math back to many mornings spent with the math works at Meher Montessori School in Altadena, California.  Rosalie (Smith Class of 2010) loves working at UMS summer camp and is enjoying a variety of ways to study the practice of sustainability.  Janet’s husband, Howard Singerman, teaches art history at the University of Virginia.

Louisa Wimberger—Assistant School Director

Louisa taught high school English and journalism for seven years before coming to UMS.  She had left teaching to pursue her greeting card business full-time, but just then, she heard about the creation of the Assistant Director position and could not resist an opportunity to work with this age group in a small, peaceful setting.  She has a bachelors degree in English and a masters in education.  What thrills her about UMS is the staff, the amazing, creative, funny children, and the muffins that are baked almost every Friday.  When “Lulu” (as the kids call her) is not at the school, she enjoys being a greeting card designer, singing, exploring local restaurants, and traveling to the northeast to see her family and be near the water.

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

Debby

Debby first came to UMS in 1991, when she worked for a year in the afternoon program.  She returned to us in 2004 as a teacher in the upstairs classroom.  She had worked with young children for 14 years, 9 of which were in a Montessori setting.  Debby also ran a daycare for four years.  She has her AMI certification and assisted with training other AMI teachers.  She especially likes the people here at our school.

In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, hiking, and reading.

Geovanna

Geovanna, a native of Peru, has worked with children sine 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.

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.