Elizabeth Channel, WMA Board President

Term 3 (January 2024-January 2026)

Elizabeth Channel serves as the Head of School for Wausau Area Montessori Charter School which is an instrumentality of the  Wausau School District.

Elizabeth began her career in education in North Carolina where she earned her National Board Certification.  She also had the opportunity to teach in Okinawa, Japan where her husband completed his 20-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, before moving to Wisconsin to live near family.  Her passion for ensuring high quality educational experiences for all children aligns with her belief in Montessori education.
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor’s Degree from North Carolina A&T State University in Child Development: Early Education and Family Studies (Birth-Kindergarten), a Master’s Degree from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro in Curriculum and Instruction (K-6), and an additional Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in Montessori Education (E1 & E2).  She is currently pursuing her Doctoral Degree in K-12 Educational Leadership at Edgewood College.

Lisa Johnson, WMA Board Vice President

Term 3 (January 2024-January 2026)

Lisa Johnson served as an assistant in a primary classroom at Craig Montessori for 3 years. She was fortunate to take training at MIM and receive my primary Montessori certification. After which she taught at Craig Montessori for four years.

She has been serving as principal for Goodland Montessori, a public Montessori school in Racine, for the last six years.  

Lisa holds a Bachelors in Social Work-UW-Milwaukee, a Masters in Education-Concordia University, and Montessori Primary Certification – Montessori Institute of Milwaukee  

Nichole Smith, WMA Board Secretary

Term 3 (January 2024-January 2026)

Nichole Smith began her teaching career in public education in 2011. After attending personalized and inquiry-based teaching conference sessions and witnessing the struggles of grade-based education, Nichole knew there was a better way to teach and support children. After researching teaching methods, Nichole rediscovered the Montessori philosophy. In her undergraduate education, she was lucky enough to student teach in Australia in a Montessori Children’s House. Nichole knew the Montessori philosophy was right for her and began teaching in a lower elementary Montessori classroom in 2020. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2021 with a master’s degree in Montessori Education and a lower elementary AMS certification. Nichole taught in lower elementary at a public Montessori charter school for three years before moving to teach in an upper elementary classroom. She has taught all grades from pre-k through fifth grade and is currently teaching adults. Nichole is a teacher educator and professor at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in Early Childhood and the Montessori program. Nichole’s passion is for providing children the opportunity of Montessori education.

Nichole Smith has recently spoken at multiple Montessori conferences including the WMA Montessori Conference, La Crosse Montessori Conference, Hope Montessori Educational Institute Annual Conference, and AMS Regional Montessori Conference. Nichole also became a Lower Elementary Teacher Educator in 2024 at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. As an early childhood professor at the UW-RF, she has been weaving the Montessori philosophy through the curriculum and is bringing her Montessori background to the 2025 Wisconsin State Reading Association Conference.  

Nichole Smith received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2011. Then, she went back to UW-RF to obtain her master’s degree in Montessori Education which was earned in 2021. Nichole is AMS certified for lower elementary.

Phil Dosmann, WMA Board Treasurer / Montessori Coach Coordinator

Term 1 (January 2025-January 2027)

Mr. Dosmann is the WMA Board Treasurer and coordinates the WMA coaching program. This program was conceived when he took the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector (NCMPS) coaching course. Realizing that many new Montessori teachers receive very little support from an experienced Montessori trained coach after training he first launched the program at Lloyd Barbee Montessori School in MPS. Over the last few years, WMA has hired many retired or former Montessori teachers to refine and perfect the WMA coaching program. As the program has evolved there are currently five coaches working with Montessori teachers coaching teachers in Montessori schools across the state. All take the NCMPS coaches training. Currently, WMA is supporting the Palmyra/Egale School District to implement a 3-year $600,000 DPI charter grant whereby we are coaching the teachers in training, ordering Montessori materials, new furniture and providing parent education. WMA is poised to support other Montessori schools in the state with our experienced coaches either on site or virtually. Please contact Mr. Dosmann at phildosmann@wisconsinmontessori.org if interested in contracting with the WMA coaching program.

Anna Bierer, WMA Board Memeber

Term 2 (November 2021-October 2023)

Anna Bierer supports adult and family literacy programs in northeastern Wisconsin as a consultant with Wisconsin Literacy.  She has nonprofit administrative experience in early childhood education, afterschool and teen programs, adult education, and other  community initiatives.  Her experience includes serving on several boards in a variety of roles including treasurer, president, and governance chair.  She is the parent of two children who attend a public Montessori school.

Deepa Shreekumar, WMA Board Member

Term 3 (January 2024-January 2026)

Deepa Shreekumar grew up having a diplomat father enabling her to experience varied countries and cultures. Just when she thought life was settling down, her husband, Rajesh’s job took them to many different countries, and they moved to Milwaukee about 2 decades ago. Deepa has a Master’s Degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from India and has worked in radio, made documentary films and taught film making before arriving at teaching. Her interest in Montessori began with her mother’s teaching experience as well as running a school for differently abled children in India. It resurfaced when her older son, Advik, now working on his Doctorate, attended a Montessori school. When her younger son, Arjun, now in college, started at a Children’s House, her fascination with the Montessori philosophy peaked. She completed her Early Childhood training from Seton Montessori Institute, in 2006 and began working at Nature’s Classroom Institute Montessori the same year. In order to better serve children who learn differently within a Montessori environment, she has since completed her primary certification in Montessori Applied to Children At Risk (MACAR) from The Shelton School in Dallas. Deepa has also completed her Certification in Montessori Leadership and School Administration from Seton Montessori Institute. Since 2018, Deepa has taken on the role of Head of School while still being a Directress in the Children’s House classroom. She has been a regular presenter at local, regional, national and international Montessori and Early Childhood conferences, focusing on Montessori practice, restorative justice, building community and fostering empathy in the classroom, and connecting the indoors to the outdoors.  She is honored to serve her second term on the WMA Board and hopes to advocate for the independent and private Montessori schools in the state. Deepa enjoys meeting people, cooking, reading and listening to music. She greatly appreciates a sense of humor and friendship especially when made in lands far away from her own.

Mariah Bigelow, WMA Board Member

Term 1 (January 2025-January 2027)

Mariah Bigelow is dedicated to fostering children’s connection with the natural world. She believes that an early connection to nature not only enhances learning but also instills a lifelong love for the environment. Stepping into her classroom, you will find students engrossed in hands-on learning. Tending to the hundreds of plants, nurturing the classroom pets, or working on assignments with a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach in their hands, students are immersed in nature when they walk through the door.

Outside the classroom, Mariah can be found hiking through the Driftless Area or crossing off segments of Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail. When she is not hiking, she enjoys reading and baking cookies to share with the people she loves!

Mariah is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Montessori education. She is in her second year of coursework and will propose her research next summer and hopefully conduct her research in the 2025/26 school year. Her research focus is on how a plant prepared environment (like a peace table) impacts a student’s executive functioning skills, specifically self regulation and inhibition control.

Mariah took a Montessori policy and law course this summer which really opened her eyes to the importance of advocacy from a policy and law perspective. She did a deep dive into the criteria around ACT 20 and how that has been impacting Montessori schools in WI.

She currently holds a BA in elementary education, with a minor in Environmental studies at Luther College, a MA in Montessori education at UW- River Falls, 6-12 Montessori credentials at UW – River Falls, and in the process of a EdD in Montessori Education at UW – River Falls

Aradhna Dhawan, WMA Board Member

Term 1 (January 2025-January 2027)

Aradhna Dhawan is an accomplished Montessori educator with over 20 years of experience in both conventional and Montessori education. Holding AMI certifications for ages 3–6 and 6–12, along with an AMI administrative certification, she has dedicated her career to nurturing young minds and empowering families to embrace the Montessori philosophy. Her diverse professional journey has taken her across China, New Jersey, Canada, and the United States, enriching her perspective and deepening her commitment to innovative, child-led learning.

As a proud Board Member of the Wisconsin Montessori Association, Aradhna is passionate about fostering educational environments that are inclusive, dynamic, and supportive of lifelong learning. In addition to her work in the classroom, she is the host of the acclaimed podcast “Montessori Pathways,” where she shares insights, strategies, and inspiring stories that illuminate the transformative power of Montessori education. Aradhna’s dedication to excellence and her innovative approach continue to inspire educators, parents, and children alike, paving the way for the next generation of independent, creative thinkers.

Caroline Robbins, WMA Board Member

Term 1 (January 2025-January 2027)

Caroline Robbins (she/her) is a public Montessori administrator and doctoral student in Montessori Studies. Caroline holds an AMI Primary diploma and has worked in various roles with young people aged 2.5-14, in both public and private Montessori communities, and in both English and Spanish. She has two children in elementary and adolescent programs, who have been on their own Montessori journeys since infancy.

Caroline serves as assistant principal of Maryland Avenue Montessori School in Milwaukee Public Schools and is studying for a doctorate in education at University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Previously, she has worked as a bilingual Primary guide, admissions director, family liaison, and ESL teacher.  

Caroline holds M.A. degrees in Linguistically Diverse Education and Educational Psychology, and a BFA in Cinema Studies and Art History. A graduate of the Whole School Leadership Institute, she has also completed training in Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Children.