Our Team

Heather Heisig has been a part of the Charlottesville Montessori community since 2003. She taught for 10 years before moving to UMS to begin her administrative career.  She also has been an instructor at the Virginia Center for Montessori Studies in Richmond.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English, and received her Montessori Primary level certification from the Virginia Center for Montessori Teacher Education in 2004. Heather strongly believes that Montessori education creates excited, motivated learners who can change the world.

Darnell has worked the last ten years in the administration and childcare field. On the administration side he was responsible for an array of different tasks including consolidation, billing, accounts payable and accounts receivable. In the childcare field, he worked with children from ages 2 - 5 in an assortment of activities. One of his favorite things about being in the classroom was seeing the many different personalities of each child. In his spare time, Darnell enjoys spending time with family, playing the drums, coaching basketball for the YMCA and watching sports. He is so happy to be a part of the UMS family!

Geovanna, is a native of Peru, who trained with the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies. Geo has worked at UMS since 1990 and is a beloved member of the UMS community. In addition to teaching the Morning Program, Geovanna co-teaches the afternoon Kindergarten work cycle with Polly.

Ricia has been with UMS since January 2019, when she started subbing while at her RN job.  She likes to travel and is often hiking with her two children. Working with kids keeps her young and she enjoys sharing her knowledge as an environmental educator to explore the world around us. Ricia remains a licensed RN and also maintains Functional Medicine Health Coach, National Board Certified-Health and Wellness Coach credentials.

Polly began her love for Montessori while living in Gainesville, Florida. She graduated from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland in 2010, earning an AMI Primary Montessori Certification and a Master's Degree in Education. Polly graduated from Sewanee, the University of the South, in 2000 majoring in French Literature and minoring in Theatre Arts. She has lived abroad in Aix-en-Provence, Avignon and Lyon, France as well as in Montréal, Québec. Polly loves the great outdoors, creating collages, practicing yoga, animals, reading, and drinking coffee. Polly believes that guiding students to their fullest potential is one of the most hopeful and satisfying things she can do in this world. 

Cleopatra Howell is new to Charlottesville and new to the Montessori Community! She is very happy to be an Aftercare Teacher at UMS. Cleopatra is from Kennewick, Washington, and recently graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. degree in Communications and in Theatre and Performance Studies. Cleopatra loves working with children and has many great memories working with kids as an Education Intern and Teaching Assistant for various Theatre companies since high school and throughout college. In her spare time, Cleopatra loves spending time with her fluffy orange cat, dancing and singing, and reading good books!

Debbie joined University Montessori School in Spring 2023.  Prior to joining the UMS community Debbie worked as a community midwife in the Charlottesville and the Lynchburg areas.  There has been a sweet continuity having met some students when they were brand new to this world and reacquainting with them now.  Outside of UMS, Debbie is enthusiastic about going on all types of grand and everyday adventures.

Christine and her husband moved from New Jersey to Virginia in 2016.  She is the mother of adult twin daughters. One daughter is married and lives in New Jersey, and the other lives in North Carolina. Christine discovered the Montessori Method of education to be a fascinating and effective way of teaching. She joined the the UMS family as a Substitute Teacher in 2017, bringing with her 15 years of Montessori experience working in both administration and in the classroom as an Assistant Teacher.

University Montessori School is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, home of the University of Virginia where many community members have ties. The school has a long history of serving a population that is racially, internationally, and economically diverse. It also has a long standing history of being a school where children of same sex parents are warmly welcomed.

UMS does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identification, or national ethnic origin.