A Montessori Fountainhead Elementary student works with a teacher.

Faculty

Nana Fox, primary director & teacher, was born in the USSR, in Ukraine, where she studied Russian language and literature at the University of Kiev. She also worked in a professional puppet theater and became the director of a children's puppet theater, a position she held for four years. In 1971, Nana moved with her family to the USA. She studied education at colleges in NY and Pennsylvania, eventually receiving a degree in Education and Psychology.

While living in Germany, her younger son needed a preschool. She discovered Montessori, fell in love with it, studied, and worked in a Montessori school that her son attended, supervised by an American-trained Montessori teacher. She received Montessori certification from St. Nicholas Montessori Training College in Ireland. In 1984 she moved back to the US, and established the Montessori Fountainhead School in Charleston. Nana is happy to be teaching the second generation of Montessori-educated Charlestonians, as well as her own grandchildren.

Lori Fox, elementary director & teacher, has a Bachelor's in Psychology, and received her American Montessori Society teacher certification in both 6 to 9 and 9 to 12 training in 2005 from the highly respected Center for Montessori Teacher Education, North Carolina. She is a dedicated and passionate instructor, committed to providing an outstanding educational environment for her students.

Maria Wilson (Ms. Masha), certified primary Montessori teacher, was born in Russia. She graduated from Mari State University with a Master's Degree in Interpreting and Translation of Russian-English-French in 2004. In 2006, she moved to the USA and has been a part of Montessori Fountainhead School since 2009. First, she started as a parent-volunteer, teaching Russian and assisting both primary and elementary teachers. After receiving her Montessori Certification with Seacoast Montessori in 2016, she became a lead teacher in our primary classroom. She truly believes in the magic of authentic Montessori education and tries her best to continue the legacy of one of the first and oldest Montessori schools in Charleston: Montessori Fountainhead.

Jennifer Rogers RYT, Certified Children's Yoga and Mindfulness Instructor, received her Children's Yoga Teacher Certification in 2013 from Kids Yogaverse in Charleston, SC and completed additional training in the integration of yoga into the treatment plans of children who are gifted with different learning and developmental needs under Radiant Child Yoga in 2014.

In 2015, Jennifer earned her 200-hour Mindful Vinyasa Teaching Certification through Mission Yoga in Charleston, SC. She has completed Mindfulness and Mindful Educator training programs through Mindful Schools and regularly takes part in continuing education opportunities that support both her personal practice and her work in yoga and mindfulness.

Since 2013, she has enjoyed teaching children and adolescent yoga and mindfulness classes through the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, Isle of Palms Recreation Center, City of Charleston Recreation Department, Mt. Pleasant Library, YogaKidz/Empowered Minds, and local schools and preschools.

Jennifer says, "I am so inspired by the genuine curiosity and enthusiasm that children naturally possess and I love witnessing it through yoga. It is such a wonderful gift to have the opportunity to share yoga with children and I am so very appreciative of the amazing energy and beautiful imaginations that the children share with me!"

Jodi Bennett, music instructor, has been helping Montessori Fountainhead children develop an understanding and love of music for over a decade.