Meet the UMA team
Administration
Valerie Bianco
Teacher and Administrative Coordinator
Educational background: Bachelor of Arts in guidance and counseling, pediatrics
Years involved in education: 15
Joined UMA: 2017
What is your favorite thing about working in a Montessori school? Watching our students discover the joy of learning within a Montessori environment is extremely gratifying. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect for me, however, is being able to observe the social and emotional growth that our students experience in their time at UMA. This is accomplished through our Montessori emphasis on kindness, respect, peace and participation in many service opportunities that focus on our community.
What are your goals for the students at UMA? My goal is for each student to not only excel academically, but also to develop the character, social skills and values that will carry them through life. UMA is developing kind, thoughtful and respectful leaders who will positively impact our world! My desire is for students to have a love of learning and a heart for the world around them.
Michele Baier
Teacher and Office Assistant/Substitute
Educational background: Graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science in business administration
Years in education: 11
Joined UMA: 2021
What is your favorite thing about working in a Montessori school? One of my favorite things about working at UMA is the sense of family that comes from the teachers, parents and students. The Montessori environment at UMA emphasizes collaboration and respect where everyone is valued and connected.
What are your goals for the students at UMA? My goals for students at UMA are that they develop qualities to help them make the world a better place. Qualities such as compassion, self-motivation, thoughtfulness and social responsibility will empower UMA students to make meaningful contributions to society.
Primary 1
Stephanie Edwards
Primary Lead Teacher
Educational background: Graduated from Samford University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in family studies. Gained Montessori Certification from Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center in 2012.
Years involved in education: 11
Joined UMA: 2020
What is your favorite thing about working in a Montessori school? I love the sense of order and respect that you find in a Montessori school.There is a feeling of togetherness that, to me, seems special. Everyone is there to help build up and nurture each other both academically and personally. The beauty of a three-year age range in each class is that you are really able to make a connection with each person and bring your strengths to those around you.
What are your goals for the students at UMA? My hope is that each child will not only grow academically but also as a contributing member of our community. Learning to read and add numbers is equally as important as being able to communicate well with others. These skills will only grow in importance as the years continue.
Shelby Winters
Primary Teacher Assistant
Educational background: Bachelor of Science in human development and family studies with a concentration in child life and middle childhood and adolescence, and a dual minor in psychology and philanthropy and nonprofit studies
Years involved in education: 10 years in informal educational settings
Joined UMA: 2024
What is your favorite thing about working in a Montessori school? What I love about Montessori is that we see the child as an integral part of our communities and that it focuses on creating an environment that supports the child developmentally, physically and emotionally.
What are your goals for the students at UMA? I want to ensure my students look forward to coming to school each day, to their classroom and community, where they may explore and inquire about the world around them in a warm and safe space.
Primary 2
Tiffany Felkel
Primary Lead Teacher
Educational background: Currently pursuing a primary certification through Age of Montessori for my primary lead teacher certification program.
Years involved in education: 10 (in a Montessori environment)
Joined UMA: 2021
What is your favorite thing about working in a Montessori school? One of the most rewarding aspects is the multi-age environment which allows students to learn from each other and develop strong social skills. I also appreciate that children have the freedom to choose their own work, fostering independence and a love of learning. This freedom of movement not only sparks their interests, but also enhances their enjoyment in the classroom.
What are your goals for the students at UMA? When setting goals for Montessori students, it's important to consider the goals of Montessori education, which are to develop the whole child’s personality. Some of these goals are joy of learning, self-confidence, independence, social skills, problem-solving skills, and love and care of the environment and this beautiful world they live in!
Penny Mitchell
Primary Teacher Assistant/Health Science and Lower Elementary
Educational background: Liberty University
Years involved in education: 5
Joined UMA: 2021
What is your favorite thing about working in a Montessori school? My favorite thing about the Montessori environment is preparing our students for adulthood by instilling life skills at a young age. They learn by doing and seeing rather than sitting and listening. I like the visual part of learning because it's easier to learn by seeing how a problem is solved with our lessons. The students think they’re playing but they're actually learning.
What are your goals for the students at UMA? My goal at UMA is to help prepare the students to be independent and academically ready for their transitions to first grade.
Primary 3
Mariam Gendy
Primary Lead Teacher
Educational background: Bachelor’s degree in social work from Egypt
Years involved in education: 15
Joined UMA: 2021
What is your favorite thing about working in a Montessori school? My favorite thing about working in a Montessori school is seeing the children’s curiosity and creativity thrive daily. It's incredibly rewarding to see their growth and independence as they explore and learn through hands-on activities. The Montessori environment truly nurtures their natural love for learning, and being a part of that process is an amazing experience.
What are your goals for the students at UMA? My goals for the students at UMA are to foster a love for learning, encourage independence and develop critical thinking skills. I aim to create an environment where they feel safe and supported in exploring their interests and abilities. Additionally, I want to help them build strong social and emotional skills, so they can collaborate effectively and navigate challenges confidently. Ultimately, I strive to prepare them for lifelong success and personal growth.
Ashley Bell
Primary Teacher Assistant
Educational background: Bristol Community College
Years involved in education: 15
Joined UMA: 2022
What is your favorite thing about working in a Montessori school? Working in a Montessori school setting is fulfilling for me because it provides opportunities to engage with the children and their families in a meaningful way while supporting the children’s attainment of fundamental skills.
What are your goals for the students at UMA? I strive to make certain that students experience encouragement and a sense of belonging at school, resulting in a positive attitude towards education.
Lower Elementary 1
Samantha Mahoney
Lower Elementary Lead Teacher
Educational background: Bachelor of Science, Florida State University (2004); Master of Science from University of West Florida (2007); 500-hour yoga teacher training (2020); Kidding Around yoga training (2022); certified grants management specialist, Montessori lower elementary certificate (2024)
Years involved in education: 19
Joined UMA: 2020
What is your favorite thing about working in a Montessori school? Working at a Montessori school provides a unique opportunity for each child to be valued for their individuality. My favorite thing about teaching at a Montessori school is when a child asks “why” and that curiosity is fulfilled when the child discovers the answer to their question, through a variety of different modalities.
What are your goals for the students at UMA? My goal for the UMA students is to nourish each child’s ability while fostering the love of learning.
Hannah Evatt
Hannah Evatt
Lower Elementary (1 and 2) Teacher Assistant
Educational background: Winthrop University
Years involved in education: 4
Joined UMA: 2020
What is your favorite thing about working in a Montessori school? I love how the kids are able to have the opportunity to really build their independence, personal responsibility and social skills. I enjoy how they get to research and learn about different things they are interested in. I also love how they get to work toward their personal academic goals and that I get to help them in that journey.
What are your goals for the students at UMA? My goals would be that the kids develop a love of learning and being at school with their teachers and peers, along with being able to build their social and emotional skills. I also want to help them grow in their academic journey and help them feel confident in themselves as students.
Upper Elementary
Angela Wilhite
Upper Elementary Lead Teacher
Educational background: USC Honors College, Bachelor of Science in English with minors in French and art. Lander University, master’s in education, Montessori education
Years involved in education: 17 years homeschooling; two years Montessori aide, middle school; three years Montessori teacher
Joined UMA: 2021
What is your favorite thing about working in a Montessori school? I love teaching creatively with a team who cares deeply about the welfare of the children in our care. I love providing an individualized education for each child that nourishes their love of learning.
What are your goals for the students at UMA? I want my students to excel academically while developing into people of character who love learning and support each other as they grow.