Board of Directors
- Board’s Mission: Committed to upholding the school’s mission, goals, and guiding principles.
- Accountability: Accountable to the school’s members and ensures alignment with the school’s guiding principles.
- Policy-Based: Uses established policies to guide decision-making and create a conducive learning environment.
- Roles and Diversity: Includes Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary, plus Directors with various expertise. This diversity helps in making informed decisions.
- Member Representation: Serves as a bridge between the school’s operations and its membership, representing the interests of the members.
- Education Goals: Works to provide a high-quality education for students, focusing on academic prowess, social responsibility, and personal development.
Mandate
- Community Engagement: Proactively engages with the community and stakeholders, considers their needs and feedback in school operations.
- Resource Management: Responsible for judicious use of school resources to provide high-quality education, including budget oversight and fundraising.
- Compliance: Ensures operations align with the school’s purpose and maintains its tax-exempt status by adhering to all relevant laws and regulations.
- Transparency: Commits to maintaining transparent financial records to secure the school’s financial stability.
- Mission Fidelity: Aims to keep the non-profit school true to its principles and mission while providing the best education sustainably.
Board Members
The Kawartha Montessori Board is made up of respected community members who are elected every year. The board has a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary, as well as other Directors who bring a variety of skills and viewpoints.
Annual General Meeting
- The school board has a yearly meeting called the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
- It’s a time for families to learn about the school, ask questions, and give their thoughts.
- We hope one person from each family comes to the AGM.
Becoming a Member of the Board
- If you want to be on the school board, it’s important to know what the job involves.
- Board members help the school stick to its goals and make important money and rule decisions.
- To get involved, talk to a current board member or the principal. New members are chosen at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Meghan Campbell
Chair
We relocated from the GTA to the Peterborough area to raise our kids in the Kawartha and are thrilled to have found an Accredited and amazing Montessori school so close to our home. I have two boys at KMS. My eldest joined KMS at the former location on Cameron street before trying out French Immersion for a short time. He was happy to return in grade 1 and is now thriving in Upper Elementary. He is looking forward to attending the next level of KMS in Middle School. My youngest joined KMS when he was 3 and is now in Lower Elementary. He has really enjoyed the consistency and supports offered by his teaching teams and has gotten to practice his leadership and mentoring skills as he partners with the three age groups in his class.
My husband and I were drawn to the Montessori method early on with having such independent and curious children. Their interest in an object or topic would hold their attention and they would want to know everything about it. They would ask lots of questions and try to connect the new pieces of information into the framework of things they were already aware. Seeing the world from a Montessori lens, which shows the macro down to the micro and how things are interconnected, has feed their curiosity and inspires them to learn even more about the wide world around them.
I truly believe in KMS and the phenomenal teachers and families that make up our friendly and supportive KMS community. With KMS being a not for profit school, I was happy when I was asked to volunteer as the Chair of the KMS Board of Directors. I have an HBA in English and History and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management. I hold my Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) and have practiced HR for my entire professional career.
My favourite Montessori material is the Binomial Cube. This was the first material that made its way into our home as inspired from the carefully prepared KMS Casa classroom. My sons’ so enjoyed playing with the Binomial Cube at school that over the summer we needed to buy one of our own. I thought it was a colourful puzzle, little did I know the amazing building blocks that it’s simple wooden shape held for advanced mathematical concepts of algebra! The Binomial Cube was my first introduction of how KMS shapes a love of learning at every developmental stage!
Joe McRae
Vice Chair
Hello, KMS families! I’m Joe McRae, parent to Eliza in Lower Elementary. Our family chose KMS for its commitment to fostering independent and critical thinkers through the Montessori approach. The warm, nurturing environment, the space for outdoor exploration, and the school’s philosophy of encouraging children to learn at their own pace resonated with us deeply, promising not just an education but a holistic development for Eliza.
As a high school math teacher, the Golden Beads capture my admiration. They provide a hands-on, visual introduction to crucial mathematical concepts and overall number sense seamlessly blending learning and play in the classroom and laying a solid foundation for understanding more complex mathematical concepts in the future.
Joining the KMS Board of Directors for me is a way of actively participating in shaping an environment and community that continues to nurture our children’s love for learning. I’m here to bring my background in education to the table, help where I’m able, and contribute to a community where every child is celebrated, every teacher is appreciated, and every day is a new adventure!
I love all materials used in math lessons and fascinated how the Montessori pedagogy approaches kids’ learning of the subject.
Wendy Thompson
Treasurer
Our family started at KMS when our son was in Casa. He is now in grade 6 and we have been at KMS for nearly 8 years.
We knew that we wanted an alternative to the public education system. Our son is an energetic and independent spirit, and we wanted an educational alternative that fosters that independence, and gives him choice and flexibility around his academics. We wanted an experience that embraces the whole child and that is what KMS offers our family.
I started on the Board in 2019 and I am currently the Treasurer. I have a variety of business/management experience in the private and public sector.
My favourite Montessori material is KMS specific. It is the beautiful 10-acre campus, that allows our children to have lots of outdoor time, connecting with their classmates through unstructured play.
Christine Grigg
Secretary
I have been a board member for four years and have one Casa student and a Lower Elementary student. We chose KMS for our family for the sense of community, outdoor learning opportunities and connection to nature.
I have been a Physiotherapist for over 10 years in the Peterborough area. I was a Director on the Board for the Down Syndrome Association of Peterborough for three terms before joining the KMS board. I have really enjoyed my time volunteering with the board so far and am excited for the future possibilities in the KMS community.
My favorite Montessori philosophy, is fostering independence, respecting and embracing the child as the tiny human that they are.
Stewart Brownscombe
Director
Kaitlyn MacPherson
Director
I happily joined the KMS board of directors in 2023 after being a part of the community for 2 years prior. Currently my two older children are enrolled at KMS, my oldest was excited to begin in Lower Elementary this year, and my middle child started in the Casa program. There are many reasons we decided on KMS, but the importance placed on individualized learning and encouraging their independence are at the top of the list.
I am a Nurse by trade, but have spent the last few years at home with my children. After sending two of them off to school, I found myself wanting to be more involved with the KMS community, and joining the board of directors was a great way for me to be able to do that.
It’s impossible to choose just one, but one piece of Montessori material I love is the globe. I love that the children are taught that they are a very important part of the very big world around them!
Shannon Gray
Director
Shannon Grey, a dedicated mother and successful CEO, brings a wealth of expertise and passion to the KMS Board of Directors. Her journey with KMS began even before the birth of her son, Evan, who is currently thriving in grade 3. Shannon’s initial exploration of KMS, starting during her pregnancy, reflects her deep commitment to providing the best educational environment for her child.
Shannon was drawn to KMS for its innovative approach to learning, epitomized by the outdoor learning opportunities and the Montessori cooks program. She values the school’s emphasis on nurturing adaptable, self-sufficient individuals equipped with essential life skills. Shannon’s appreciation for Maria Montessori’s pedagogy is rooted in its focus on breaking down tasks into manageable parts, allowing children to lead their learning journey. This approach resonates with her belief in meeting each child at their level, whether they excel or need additional support.
With a background as the CEO of a spa for 13 years and a minor in Entrepreneurship, Shannon is a proponent of lifelong learning and knowledge sharing. Her business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit are assets she contributes to the board. Shannon is always eager to apply her skills and insights to support the continued success and development of the KMS community.
Coming Soon
Director
Coming Soon