David Kahn, Executive Director
davidkahn@montessorihighschool.org
David Kahn is Executive Director of the North American Montessori Teachers' Association. He is a leading implementer of Montessori adolescent projects, including having been Founding Director of both the Ruffing Montessori School East and the Hershey Montessori School Farm adolescent programs. He is Director of Project 2012 Adolescent Research and Development, an eight-year grant-funded project on Montessori curriculum designs for adolescents ages 12-18. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with majors in Classics and Fine Arts and a specialization in filmmaking.
David loves University Circle for its rich cultural offerings and intellectual approaches, and feels that this school is the most exciting project in his career. He looks forward to the assembly of a faculty of devoted, well-rounded Montessori-trained colleagues who can bring the project to the height of Montessori design for adolescents.

Christopher Kjaer, Director of Academic Affairs
chriskjaer@montessorihighschool.org
Christopher began his career at Ottawa Hills High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he ran a successful after-school tutoring program, coached soccer, and served as Assistant Athletic Director, before spending seven years working at New Century Montessori High School, also in Grand Rapids, as a mathematics, science, and computer science teacher and, eventually, principal.
After having attained a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Christopher received a Master of Arts from the Education Department of Marygrove College in Detroit. He has completed NAMTA's Orientation to Adolescent Studies, where he now serves as a faculty member. Christopher also holds the Association Montessori Internationale Elementary Diploma from the International Centre for Montessori Studies Foundation in Bergamo, Italy.
Christopher is excited to bring his experience to Montessori High School at University Circle. Christopher is currently developing a Montessori mathematics and science curriculum for adolescents.

James Moudry, Director of Administrative Affairs
jamesmoudry@montessorihighschool.org
James has worked for eight years in Montessori adolescent programs as a teacher, four as a program coordinator. He has taught algebra, geometry, writing, literature, philosophy, humanities, social studies, economics, and human development. James’s work with adolescents, while urban-based, includes farm-based day trips and overnights, extended camping trips, and bike trips, all with a focus on the adolescents’ community center. James is a current faculty member of the annual NAMTA Orientation to Adolescent Studies.
James holds the Primary Diploma from the Association Montessori Internationale, an M.Ed. in Montessori education, and a B.A. in Philosophy, Mathematics, and Psychology with a minor in Japanese. James grew up in Minneapolis, attending Montessori schools until age 14.
His two sons attend Montessori schools in the Cleveland area.

Regina Feldman, Faculty
reginafeldman@montessorihighschool.org
Regina grew up in Öblarn in the Austrian Alps. She earned her M.A. in ethnology at the University of Vienna, Austria, and her Ph.D. in anthropology as a Fulbright scholar at Case Western Reserve University. Over the following ten years, she taught at CWRU, published a series of academic articles on German post-war history and identity, and worked as an editor.
While raising her daughter, Regina discovered her passion for educating children. She has volunteered extensively at Roxboro Elementary School in Cleveland Heights, tutoring in math and reading, and managing all aspects of a grant awarded to offer fresh fruit and vegetables to students every day of school. In 2007, she lived in China and currently continues her Mandarin studies. Regina brings a strong background in social science, extensive language skills, and a true love for educating young people to Montessori High School. She is an avid traveler, cook, yoga practitioner, and lover of the outdoors. Regina shares her life in Cleveland with her husband, daughter, and their old, old dog, Cosmo.

Leah Baxendale, Spanish Teacher; Administrative Assistant
leahbaxendale@montessorihighschool.org
Leah Baxendale grew up in North Royalton, Ohio. She attended Mercyhurst College (Erie, PA), where she earned a B.A. in World Languages and Cultures with a concentration in Spanish. She minored in dance. Leah traveled extensively in Spain, completing the majority of her studies in Seville. During her time in Spain, she also received her certificate to teach English as a foreign language. In addition to her experiences in Spain, Leah also has administrative experience from working in businesses as well as in admissions with the Mercyhurst College dance department.

Julie Reyers, Language Arts Faculty
juliereyers@montessorihighschool.org
Julie has worked with adolescents in the Grand Rapids Montessori Schools for the past 13 years. She has experience as a lead teacher, testing supervisor, mentor, class advisor, newspaper advisor, and swim coach. She earned a B.A. in English from Oakland University (Rochester, MI), a secondary education certificate from Aquinas College (Grand Rapids), and an M.A. in English from Western Michigan University. She enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Dan, and their two daughters.

Sébastien Thiry, Humanities and French Faculty
sebastienthiry@montessorihighschool.org
Sébastien, native of Paris with strong family links to Brittany, studied Ancient History (Greece and Rome) at the Université du Maine and Université de Paris I (Panthéon-Sorbonne), France. He earned his Ph.D. in 1998 with the thesis topic The Geopolitical Life of the Ionian Islands from 480 to 167 B.C. During the next several years, he engaged in postdoctoral research, published articles, and taught history, geography, and civic education in French middle schools (collèges), and high schools (lycées), and also the history of the Hellenistic period at the Laval branch of the Université Catholique de l’Ouest, France. As a new Clevelander (he arrived in the USA in November 2007), Sébastien is discovering Northeast Ohio. He enjoys playing soccer and fencing, and he has a passion for the ancient Greek theatre.

Mike Waski, Faculty
mikewaski@montessorihighschool.org
A native of Ohio, Mike attended Trinity High School in Garfield Heights, Ohio, before completing his B.S. in Elementary Education with concentrations in Music and Mathematics at Kent State University. He also holds an M.A. in Educational Administration and is working towards an M.A. in Mathematics from Cal State San Bernardino. He has completed NAMTA’s Montessori Orientation to Adolescent Studies, where he is currently a faculty member. He is currently attending the 47th Advanced (Elementary) Montessori Training Course at the International Centre for Montessori Studies Foundation in Bergamo, Italy.
Mike has been teaching for twelve years, having taught math to students ranging from second grade to high school calculus. In addition to his years teaching, he has also served as basketball coach, assistant head of school, and head of school at The Grove School, a Montessori charter high school in Redlands, California. He has also been an instructor for geometry and algebra institutes for teacher trainees through Cal State and UC Riverside.
In his free time, Mike enjoys playing trumpet and studying number theory and theoretical physics.

Kathryn Waski, House Parent and Physical Education Specialist
kathrynwaski@montessorihighschool.org
Kathryn was born and raised in southern California. She attended Crafton Hills College (Yucaipa, CA), where she majored in early childhood studies. Kathryn has been involved with the Montessori community for the last ten years. The latter four years have been spent working with adolescents at The Grove School, a Montessorri high school in Redlands, CA, as the health/physical education teacher and athletic director. In 2005, Kathryn completed NAMTA’s Montessori Orientation to Adolescent Studies. She recently moved to Ohio with her husband, David, and their four-year-old daughter, Jenna. Kathryn enjoys spending time outdoors with her family exploring the great city of Cleveland.

Amy Kjaer, Administrative Assistant
amykjaer@montessorihighschool.org
Amy grew up in Munising, Michigan, along the shores of Lake Superior. She attended Grand Rapids Baptist College, majoring in psychology with a minor in physical education. Amy later moved to Seattle, where she volunteered with a ministry working with teen runaways. She was a youth group leader, taught snowboarding, and volunteered her weekends teaching rock climbing and team building with teens on wilderness trips. In addition to her work with teens, Amy has many years of office experience in various businesses and positions. Amy is married to Chris Kjaer, and they have two wonderfully spoiled cats, Archimedes and Plato.

Jean Buchannan, Director of Institutional Advancement
jeanbuchannan@montessorihighschool.org
Jean Buchannan has worked closely with parents and students in private schools for a number of years. Before joining Montessori High School at University Circle, she also worked in international adoption and traveled extensively in Russia, elsewhere in eastern Europe, and in Latin America. Jean brings to MHS her years of experience at both Gilmour Academy as Director of Institutional Advancement, and at Andrews School as Admissions and Development Consultant. She has also enjoyed a business career in advertising, marketing, and public relations in Cleveland. Her book Epidemic In Retreat was an early appraisal of community programs for adolescent chemical dependency.

Marilyn Doerr, Curriculum Consultant
Marilyn Doerr is a university professor and curriculum consultant; she holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. She has co-authored several books and is sole author of Currere and the Environmental Autobiography: A Phenomenological Approach to the Teaching of Ecology. She has been working with David Kahn since 2004 on developing a unique curriculum for MHS.

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