Laurie serves as the Head of School at Milton Montessori at Kelly Mill. She is a native of beautiful Atlanta, Ga. She graduated with a bachelor’s of Science in Recreation Resource Management from University of Georgia (GO DAWGS!). Embarking on a journey to pursue her career as a new graduate, she moved to Colorado for a recreation internship and to her surprise stayed for 30 years. Laurie later went on to spend 18 months as a City of Phoenix Park Ranger in Phoenix, AZ.

Moving back to Colorado, Laurie took a job as an aftercare assistant in a Montessori school and was completely captivated by the respect and tone in which children were approached. She proceeded to embark on a new journey and became an AMS certified Primary Montessori lead guide. After a while in the field, Laurie left Montessori to study western herbalism. She later spent 5 years working in the Natural Products industry.

Always finding her way back to her calling, Laurie opened her own school in Lyons, CO for 10 years before moving back to Atlanta. After a very short respite from the Montessori world, she realized how much she missed it. When she first came to visit MMSKM she immediately felt at home and a vision was born. She loved the outdoor space, feeling a little piece of the country in the city and she could envision chickens and goats walking around the school. She thought what a wonderful opportunity it would be for the children to learn about the care and feeding of animals.

Laurie finds joy in the honesty of children and in their amazing insights and observations. She loves that each day is different from one another and the anticipation of what each day will bring. The house as a school has always been her vision of an authentic Montessori School or a Children’s House. She loves that we, as Lead Guides and Administrators, have expectations that children are so bright and need to be shown the respect just as an adult would show to another adult.

Laurie currently resides in Flowery Branch, Ga. She has two very curious four-legged children and three wonderful grandchildren. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Montessori Administrators of Georgia and has been in a Montessori environment for over 30 years. In her free time she enjoys gardening, dancing, hiking and crafts.