Board of Governors

Mark Whitley, Founding Member representation

Mark is the General Counsel and leader of the risk management department at Emco Corporation. He is a graduate of Queen’s University (BA, Politics), holds an MBA from the University of Toronto, and received his law degree from Western University. Prior to joining Emco, Mark owned two small businesses, was an associate lawyer, and was the real estate manager for a national retailer. In addition to his legal background, Mark brings experience in governance, boards, and entrepreneurship. Mark’s two children graduated from the School, Mark in 2006 and Emma in 2009, and he is married to the School’s previous Executive Director, Margaret. As the Founding Member Governor, Mark is looking forward to building on his and his family’s passion for Montessori education and, in particular, Montessori Academy of London.

Ted Middleton, Current Parent

Ted joins Montessori Academy’s Board of Governors after relocating with his family to London from Texas in 2019. He and his wife are avid believers in the Montessori method of education and the values espoused by the Montessori Academy of London. After a fulfilling career in the Canadian Armed Forces, he retired as a Colonel, having served in key executive level positions in both the Canadian and American armies. Ted transitioned to the civilian sector with General Dynamics Land Systems working in Business Development and Strategic Planning, first in the U.S. and now here in London. He brings to the Board expertise in cyber security and government and public relations, areas in which he became well-versed over the course of his military service. Ted and his wife have three children: two teenage boys, and a daughter, who started her Montessori journey with the Montessori Schools of Central Texas before the family moved to London.

Andrea Dean, Alumni Parent

Andrea is a seasoned organizational development practitioner and communications specialist with 25+ years of local and international experience. She is co-founder and lead facilitator of OD Solutions International (Canada and Bermuda), and has extensive experience in changes management, organizational communications and stakeholder engagement. She excels at aligning the internal and external realities of organizations, transforming how they impact and interact with stakeholder(s) to achieve their vision. In additional to consulting practice, Andrea is a current PhD candidate in Western University’s sociology department, and is trained in quantitative and qualitative research methods. As the parent of two MA alumnae, Andrea is an enthusiastic supporter of Montessori education, and has been an engaged member of the Montessori Academy community since 2004.

Sarah Tattersall, Current Parent

Sarah joins the board as a current MA parent. She brings to the board experience in Communications and Talent Management – including Learning and Development, Talent Acquisition and Public Relations, having spent her career working for large, global, diversified companies. The school and Board will benefit from Sarah’s years delivering innovative, high-impact development programs that prepare both employees and leaders to succeed in a diverse work environment. Sarah’s board experience includes being a current board member of the YMCA of Western Ontario and a past board member of Immploy (formerly LMIEC). She is an active member of the Conference Board of Canada’s Council on Inclusive Work Environments, and the Canadian Council for Learning and Development.

Dharshi Lacey, Alumni Parent

Dharshi joins the board as an Alumni parent. She has worked for over 20 years in the nonprofit sector. She leads a number of professional development workshops on board governance for Pillar Nonprofit Network and offers consulting services to nonprofit boards. For the past three years, she has taught Board Governance for the Nonprofit Management Post-Degree Diploma offered by Western University Continuing Studies. Dharshi also has many years of experience in Cultural Competency. She has facilitated sessions with boards and organizations to help them embed an inclusive lens in their leadership and operational activities.

Megan Komenda, Community Member

Megan is a philanthropic leader in her workplace. She ignites excitement around fundraising and non-profit support. Megan is passionate about childhood education and remembers her time in the Montessori school system with great endearment. She is a graduate of Western University, an experienced Project Manager with 10 years of HR experience in a local manufacturing facility. Within her workplace, Megan has been the Chairperson of her corporate United Way Workplace Campaign, the Chairperson of her workplace Public Affairs Committee, and held various other volunteer roles in an effort to make all of her communities a better place. Megan is also a member of the United Way Elgin Middlesex Campaign Cabinet. She excels in her ability to effectively connect with people, leverage diversity, and deliver the best result.

Rachael Noye, Alumni Parent

Rachael says she is delighted to join the Board of Governors as an alumni parent, having had three children attend Montessori Academy over the years. Her time in the MA community has been “a wonderful experience.” Rachael is VP, Insurance Client Service & Claims, at Canada Life and is a collaborative and passionate leader. She brings to the board strategic guidance and skill as a conceptual thinker. Over the years, Rachael has held a number of volunteer positions with local organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Rural Resource Centre of Middlesex County and the London Chamber of Commerce.

Julie Elgie, Alumni Parent

Julie is a graduate from the Faculty of Law at Western University. She has worked and volunteered in the community economic development field for non-profit, charitable and academic organizations and has specific experiences with the design and coordination of community programs, and the development and delivery of training workshops. Her fund development background includes proposal writing, major and planned giving fundraising and partnership facilitation. She believes in the principles of a Montessori education and brings expertise and support to fund development and special event activities. She experienced the impact a Montessori education can have on a child each day as her twin daughters were longtime students in the school, graduating in 2017.

Kevin Higgins, Current Parent

Kevin is a retired 3M vice president, whose primary occupation now is as care giver for his two youngest children. He is also an Executive in Residence at the Ivey Business School at Western University. He has served in executive leadership roles in a number of 3M’s businesses, ranging from Dental and Medical businesses to Aerospace and Automotive. Kevin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from the University of British Columbia and an MBA (Marketing and Finance) from the Ivey Business School. He is also a graduate of Rottman School’s Executive Program at the University of Toronto. He has served his community on many boards, including as a community representative for the Animal Care Committee at Western University; past president London Squash Club; past member Mayor’s Advisory Council for Health Care Industry; and past treasurer of the CQI Network. Kevin’s two youngest children are in Elementary, and he has served as Parent Rep for Casa 4 in 2016-2017 and again in 2017-2018. In 2017, Kevin was a member of the Strategic Planning Committee – 2017-2022. He says it has been wonderful to get involved with the passionate educators who represent the Montessori teaching and know that they are the ones teaching our children.

Kristen Crouse, Academic Director, Ex-Officio

Kristen was trained as a Casa teacher through the St. Nicholas program and has been working at the Montessori Academy of London for 15 years. Kristen has a Bachelor of Science degree (Foods and Nutrition) from Brescia University College and a Bachelor of Education from McGill (primary/junior divisions). She also completed the Special Education Part 1 Course at Althouse College at Western University. Kristen taught for two years in the Casa program, and then accepted a position in MA’s Junior High program, where she taught science, language and math for eight years. For two of those years, she worked part-time as the Coordinator of the Junior High program. Kristen then took on the full-time position of Coordinator for both the Junior High and Elementary programs for six years. In 2014, Kristen’s role evolved again into the Academic Director, overseeing all levels of the school. Kristen brings a broad vision of the Montessori Philosophy to the table, having taught in the Casa program at one end of the spectrum to Junior High at the other. She also serves on the Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators (CCMA) accreditation team.

Tina Sartori, Current Parent, Executive Director, Ex-Officio

Tina believes that Montessori grads are the change makers in the world, which is why she profoundly trusts the method of education and strives to ensure its influence continues to grow in London. She has been a part of Montessori Academy since 2001 and took on the role of E.D. in July 2017. Being AMI trained from the Foundation for Montessori Education, she taught in the casa program for 12 years before moving over to the Administration team as the Admissions & Development Coordinator in 2012. After making this shift in her career, Tina successfully created and implemented a fundraising program for MA that raised half a million dollars for the school. In Admissions she guided new families through the process from inquiry to enrolment. Tina has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree (Child Studies major) from the University of Guelph. She participates as a member of numerous professional Montessori organizations, Pillar Non-Profit Network, London Licensed Child Care Network, and works with the Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators to accredit other Montessori schools. Tina has been a parent in the school since her son joined the toddler program in 2010.

David Pasquino, Finance Director, Ex-Officio

A CPA, CMA with over 20 years of finance, accounting and human resource experience in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, David brings a wealth of knowledge to the Montessori Academy of London as the current Finance Director and as an Ex-Officio member on the Board of Governors. David’s previous roles at St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation, College of Physiotherapists of Ontario and the United Way of Greater Toronto have given him a solid background in not-for-profit organizations, working with Boards and financial reporting for a wide variety of stakeholders. David also serves as the Chair for the Original Kids Theatre Company, and is an actor in London’s community theatres.

Montessori Academy of London | London, Ontario

Officers

Suzanne Fratschko Elliott, President, Community Member

Christina Mack, Vice-President, Current Parent

Tyler Reavell, Treasurer, MA Alumnus

Wilma McIntyre, Secretary, Community Member

Governors