Community Montessori About
Community Montessori was founded by Jamie and Todd Minniear in a quaint historic building in Olde West Chester in 2010,
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In 2018, behind increasing interest in the community for true Montessori education, CMS purchased a larger school property in Liberty Township. The Liberty Township space sits on 12 beautiful acres of open field and nature filled woods. Jamie’s vision to provide an amazing outside natural learning space made the Liberty township location a perfect home.
Call to schedule a visit at 513-777-0808
Community Montessori Staff
Jamie Minniear
Founder
Jamie Minniear has over twenty years of teaching experience in both public and private Montessori schools. She holds an Elementary Education degree from the University of Cincinnati, graduate studies at Marshall University, as well as 3-6 Montessori Degree from the Greater Cincinnati Center for Montessori Education. Jamie also spent many years teaching future Montessorians at GCCME.
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Jamie is a strong advocate for children. She honors the foundational Montessori beliefs and takes every available opportunity to share this power with the world!
Michele Becker
Upper Elementary and Secondary
Michele Becker resides in Liberty Township with her husband, Mark, and their 5 children. She has her Upper Elementary (9-12) Montessori Diploma from the North American Montessori Center, her MBA in Marketing from University of Cincinnati, her BA in Communication Arts from Xavier University and is a certified cursive handwriting coach and yoga instructor. Michele began homeschooling her children in 2007 and has been integrating the Montessori philosophy and mindfulness principles in her work with children and their families ever since. Michelle leads the Upper Elementary and Secondary classroom and has been working with CMS in multiple capacities since 2015.
Elisabeth Wise
Lower Elementary
Elisabeth Wise is a Cum Laude Honors graduate from Xavier University with a B.S. in Montessori Elementary Education ages 6-9. She also holds Montessori Certification for ages 9-12 from the Montessori Education Center in Boulder Colorado. Elisabeth has been a Montessori Co-teacher or Lead Teacher for 15 years in Brooklyn, NY; Jersey City, NJ overlooking the Statue of Liberty; Littleton MA; and London, England. She loves nature, yoga, and is an experienced cook with a A.A.S degree from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Cambridge, MA. Elisabeth co-leads the Lower Elementary class and has been teaching at CMS since 2018.
Paula Osburn
Lower Elementary
Paula Osbun has been a Montessori instructor for over twenty years. She received her MEd from Xavier University, 6-9 Montessori certification from the American Montessori Society, and recently the 6-12 certification from the Association Montessori Internationale. She enjoys art and traveling and has been to Scotland, England, Australia, New Zealand, and frequent trips to Mexico where she has family. Paula co-leads the Lower Elementary class and has been teaching at CMS since 2019.
Rhianon Cooper holds her 3-6 Montessori Degree from Greater Cincinnati Center for Montessori Education. She began her Montessori teaching career in 2013 and has been teaching at CMS since 2014. “I enjoy working with the younger children, knowing I am helping build their foundation for lifelong learning.” Rhianon teaches in the Pre-primary classroom.
Rhianon Cooper
Pre-Primary
Alexys Daniel studied Elementary Education at Wright State University, student taught kindergarten in public school for two years, and holds her 3-6 Montessori Degree from Greater Cincinnati Center for Montessori Education. “I love being around and teaching young children and leading them to independence, helping them find their passions and personality. I enjoy watching the children have freedom and be excited in their own environment!” She has been teaching at CMS since 2017.
Alexys Daniel
Pre-Primary
Erica Ricketts holds her 3-6 Montessori Degree from Greater Cincinnati Center for Montessori Education. She has attended The University of Cincinnati for an Associate in Communications and Deaf studies. Erica worked with 3-6 aged children at St. Rita School for the Deaf from 2010-2019. She joined the Community Montessori School staff in September of 2019.
Erica Ricketts
Pre-Primary
Erica has a Lower Elementary (6-9) certification from the North American Montessori Center and is certified through the state of Ohio for teaching grades 1-8. Erica has been teaching for 15 years with nine years in Montessori. Erica currently is the Intervention Director at Community Montessori. She works with students in the classroom and oversees Intervention services at CMS. She enjoys working alongside students and their families as they navigate Individual Education Plans.
Erica Nichols
Intervention