About Our School

Les écoles de fleurs sauvages sont installées dans des espaces lumineux dans des rues piétonnes. Ils augmentent la présence des enfants et des familles dans la communauté, car une concentration géographique plus étroite favorise la marche vers et depuis l'école, et en s'associant avec des terrains de jeux, des jardins et d'autres espaces civiques locaux qui seraient autrement sur place dans de plus grandes institutions. Nous élargissons notre définition des « parties prenantes » au-delà des familles que nous servons directement, et nous travaillons pour rendre nos communautés environnantes plus fortes et plus saines pour les enfants.

Two children drawing and working together

Our Teacher Leaders

Katie Anderson (she/her)

Founder/Administrator

I started my Montessori journey 12 years ago as an assistant in an AMS accredited classroom. I began my AMS Montessori training after 2 years of assisting. I completed AMS Montessori training in Early Childhood Education in 2015 at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education - North Carolina. I became the lead teacher in the same classroom that began my journey; cultivating community amongst the children and their families and honing my craft as an educator of young children. In 2019, I co-founded Hawthorn Montessori. As a Montessori educator, I believe it is my responsibility to show children safety, joy, peace, justice and self-advocacy, so that when they go out into the world beyond our classroom they recognize and gravitate towards those values.

Lasting change and peace start with our children. I hope to build a community of children and their families that expresses the importance of human liberation.

Our Staff

Lisa Nesmith

Lead Teacher

I made the move from Kentucky to the beautiful mountains of WNC in 2022! My first discovery of Montessori was when my daughters began attending a Montessori school in Central Kentucky. I went on to spend my first several years there connected to the school as a volunteer and parent. In 2012, I was ready to go for my Montessori training! I went on to teach primary school for 10 years at Danville Montessori (the same school my daughters attended)! Most recently, I worked at Verner Early Learning Center as a Center Co-Director. I am so excited to be here at Hawthorn Montessori School and am grateful for the opportunity to partner with you as I learn alongside your kiddo each day in the classroom.

Dianna

Assistant Teacher/Administrative Assistant

I found my love of Montessori through my love of farming flowers! My first taste of the Montessori philosophy was during my time working on a family farm in Sandy Mush, NC. After observing the farmers' children using methods of conflict resolution that I had never witnessed children using, I was compelled to find out more! Maria Montessori’s teachings have resonated with me ever since. I have been working in Montessori preschools since 2016 and it has brought enormous amounts of joy and constant learning into my life. One of my very favorite things about this work is having the opportunity to be a safe and respectful ally for the children we teach. I am honored to be able to actively take part in their early learnings of peace and consent as well as being able to participate in making their first experiences in their learning journeys positive and empowering.

Our Board

Katie Anderson

Katie is the current head of school and co-founding teacher-leader of Hawthorn Montessori.

Bianca Gragg

Bianca is a Xicana LCSWA, parent of a child at Hawthorn since 2022, founder of Semillas Counseling and a Hawthorn board member since 2022.

Chad Storck

Chad's daughter attended Hawthorn for three academic years beginning in 2020. Upon her graduation, Chad wanted to continue supporting the Hawthorn school community and is doing so through his role on the Board.

Stephanie Powell

Stephanie (she/her/hers) is a current Hawthorn Montessori parent. She has nearly 19 years of non-profit leadership experience at the local, regional, and national level. Stephanie is Board Source Certified Board Consultant and is the Director of Finance and Operations for the Dogwood Alliance. As a parent, she loves the independence, self-awareness, and confidence that Montessori education fosters in children.

Jeana Olszewski

Jeana Olszewski is founding Teacher-Leader of Azalea Montessori School in Norwood, Ohio, which opened as a primary school in 2019. She has led the growth of Azalea to include a lower and upper elementary. She serves as a part-time Operations Guide for the Wildflower Foundation and supports the growth of new Wildflower Schools across the country. She also serves on the board of Good Shepherd Montessori in Cincinnati as well as Hollyhock Montessori opening in Arkansas.

Now Enrolling for the 24-25 School Year