Faculty & Staff

Director of 3–6 Training

Jennifer Shields

Jennifer is a primary trainer for the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). She holds both the AMI Primary and Assistants to Infancy diplomas. Jennifer earned a B.A. in English Literature from Georgetown University and an M.Ed. from Cleveland State University. She worked for over fifteen years in Montessori schools as a teacher, assistant, and administrator. She is an examiner and consultant for AMI and presents at workshops and conferences locally and worldwide. Jennifer joined the Board of AMI (international) and served from 2019–2026. She is also the chairperson of the Consultation Committee for AMI/USA. Jennifer loves observing in classrooms, coaching teachers and teacher trainees, and spreading the insights made by Dr. Montessori.

• “Choice,” Voices of AMI Training (June 2, 2025) (opens in a new tab)
• “Transitions into the Casa,” Voices of AMI Training (April 15, 2024) (opens in a new tab)

Director of 3–6 Training

Naoko Ogawa

Naoko is a primary trainer for the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). She has both Primary and Elementary diplomas. She was born and grew up in Tokyo, Japan. She received her B.A. in childhood education from Tokyo Gakugei University in Tokyo. She received her M.Ed. in Montessori education from Loyola University Maryland. She has worked for over 30 years as a teacher, assistant, examiner, consultant, and trainer in the Philippines, Japan, China, Canada, and the United States. Since 2009, she has directed assistant courses and Primary courses. She is also an AMI/USA consultant. Naoko loves working with children and adults to help spread Dr. Montessori’s educational philosophy and practice.

• “Children Who Proved Montessori’s Words,” Voices of AMI Training (June 17, 2024) (opens in a new tab)

Director of 3–6 Training

Cecilia Fernández-Campos

Cecilia has been dedicated to working with young children from an early age. While her passion and commitment to education have been constant, her profound love for the Montessori pedagogy revealed itself after becoming a mother. This initial exposure to Montessori almost two decades ago set Cecilia on a path to become an AMI auxiliary trainer for ages 3 to 6, an AMI/USA consultant, and an Assistants to Infancy guide for ages 0 to 3. She currently serves as the education director at a Montessori school in Alpharetta, Georgia, where she previously worked as a Children’s House guide. In addition to her Montessori training, she has a special needs education degree and has instructed yoga to children and adults for over ten years. Originally from Argentina, Cecilia is bilingual and has lived on four continents. This multicultural background enriches her work and interactions with children and adults.

Cecilia Fernández Campos ha trabajado con niños pequeños desde temprana edad. Su pasión y compromiso por la educación siempre estuvo presente, pero su profundo amor por la pedagogía Montessori surgió como un verdadero descubrimiento al convertirse en madre. Este acercamiento inicial a Montessori llevó a Cecilia a convertirse en Entrenadora AMI (edades 3–6), Consultora AMI/USA, y guía AMI de Asistentes a la Infancia (edades 0–3). Actualmente se desempeña como Directora Pedagógica en un colegio Montessori en Atlanta, Estados Unidos, donde anteriormente fue Guía de Casa de Niños. Además de Montessori, Cecilia está formada en educación especial y se desempeñó como instructora de yoga para adultos y niños por más de una década. Cecilia ha vivido y trabajado en cuatro continentes, lo que le aporta una valiosa perspectiva multicultural a su labor.

Director of 0–3 Training

Tiina Suominen

Tiina comes from Finland. She is a WMI alumnus. She completed Primary training with Hildegard Solzbacher in Washington, DC, and she also trained in Denver with Judi Orion and Maria Teresa “Chacha” Vidales at the Assistants to Infancy level. Tiina is an AMI trainer on the Assistant to Infancy level and has lectured on courses in North America, Asia, and in Europe. She has been working with children ages 0–6 for more than 20 years. Tiina runs her own Montessori School, called Mammolina, in Helsinki, Finland.

Director of 6–12 Training

Rebecca Dallam

Rebecca has been working in Montessori environments since 1985. She holds a B.A. in English literature from Temple University, USA, with a minor in Italian literature, and an M.Ed. from Loyola University Maryland in Montessori elementary education. She holds the AMI 0–3 and 3–6 Orientation certificates, the Montessori Core Principles certificate, and 3–6 and 6–12 AMI Diplomas. Rebecca completed summer Spanish language and literature programmes at the Universidad de Granada (1990) and the Universidad de Guadalajara (1991). She is currently studying Russian through the University of Queensland. In addition to her work at WMI, Rebecca offers modular format 6–12 courses, face-to-face and blended format Orientation Courses, as well as workshops and mentoring, through Sydney Montessori Training Centre.

Director of 6–12 Training

Allan Nguyen

Allan is an AMI 6–12 trainer and longtime Montessori educator dedicated to supporting transformative education in diverse settings. He earned his AMI Elementary Diploma from Montessori-CH (Switzerland) in 2008 and has over 20 years of experience in Montessori education. After two years as an assistant in a 6–12 environment, he spent 15 years as a lead guide—10 in upper elementary and 5 in lower elementary. He has worked with private, public, rural, and community-based Montessori programs across Switzerland, Canada, New Caledonia, Panama, and Tanzania. Allan is especially passionate about the spiritual and intellectual preparation of the adult, and about connecting Montessori education with broader efforts toward social renewal.

• “Organisations and Interdependence,” Voices of AMI Training (March 24, 2026) (opens in a new tab)