Zaki Swaray-Rowe

Founder

My name is Zaki Swaray-Rowe and I am originally from Sierra Leone, a small country on the coast of Africa but have lived in Egypt, England and now The United States. I happened upon Montessori 20 years ago when looking for quality care for my 18-month-old son back in London, England. I decided to quit my job as an Assistant Accountant and start a Montessori school when I switched jobs and couldn’t find another Montessori school South of the River Thames that my son could attend. I took the training in London a year after I opened my first Montessori school. I have founded and ran four other Montessori schools in Georgia since then, including Atlanta Montessori International School with the first Junior High Program in Atlanta. I am passionate about Montessori education and believe that every child should have the opportunity to Montessori education. I am married with six children all of whom went through Montessori. I love to read and travel the world discovering new places and ways of life.

Frank Ngure

Head of School

Hello everybody! My name is Frank Ngure (last name pronounced Gu-ray- the N is silent). I originally come from Kenya in East Africa. I come from a small town called Thika, which is considered as the Kenya's most enchanted town. My stay in Atlanta, Georgia for almost two decades is the longest time I’ve been away from my native country but it has been like turning pages; one experience giving way to another more beautiful one. I have an opportunity to learn about people, culture, job, professionalism, and life in general on my own. My life today is mostly about education. My passion for the field of education dates back to my initial work experience as a teacher at an internationally recognized Catholic International school in Nairobi, Kenya. I am glad that teaching and learning is part of my journey in life, as it is the best way to nurture and foster friendship. On a personal level, my happiness is supplemented by listening to music. I love music immeasurably! I am not a rock fan-- I prefer listening to classics, soul ballads and alluring blues. I am also an avid soccer player and a long distance runner. Apart from having a passion for outdoor life, I enjoy nothing more than watercolor and acrylics paintings and the art of imagination. Something of interest about my country is that Kenya is a land of hospitable people and breathtaking natural beauty. My heritage is full of love and spirit that many tourists have branded “real humanity”.

Jackie Hornbeck-Wall

Director of Education

Jackie believes in presuming competence, celebrating neurodiversity, relationships as the foundation of thinking and learning, and school communities built on insight, creativity, knowledge, respect and commitment. She is an educator with 25 years of experience working directly with teachers and families.  Jackie is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has served in various roles including Head of School, School Counselor and Floortime Therapist, Elementary Teacher, and Resource Specialist.  She is excited to return in the role of Director of Education and Counseling to IMA, a school she helped build during its first decade as the Young Children’s Community and Parent Education Coordinator. Jackie has a BA from Southwestern University in Child Study and Language Development, a M.Ed in Montessori Education from Loyola University of Maryland, and a MS in Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University. She lives in Decatur with her husband Kent and their children Jameson, Isak and Maya.

Rebecca LaBanca

Admissions and Program Director

Rebecca is an Atlanta native and grew up in the Emory area.  Rebecca has a Bachelor's degree in Art History from Agnes Scott College.  She always has enjoyed working with children and seeing the world through their eyes.  She completed her AMI Primary training in 2007 at the Montessori Instutute of Atlanta and earned her M.Ed. from Loyola College in Baltimore.  She taught Primary in two Atlanta Montessori schools before joining the IMA community. 

Corinne Banks

Business Director

Corinne is a native of Decatur who resided in Grand Rapids, Michigan for many years.  She returned to Georgia 2 years ago and joined IMA in 2016. Her hobbies and interest include: karaoke, music, and indulging in exotic cuisines, drinks, locales.

Mary Jane Leach

Communications and Operations Director

Mary Jane’s abiding interest in nature and sustainable communities has influenced her education, professional and volunteer choices.  She has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Georgia State University and a Masters of Public Administration from Tennessee State University.  She has managed all aspects of nonprofit in the areas of public health, nature and community agriculture. She spent three years at a charter school as an 8th grade farm-to-school ‘practicum’ leader and two years working with the Wylde Center, where she was a greenspace manager and and led a weekly nature-based work-readiness program for neurodiverse teens. She serves on the boards of the City of Decatur Environmental Sustainability Board and Decatur Makers, and lives in Decatur with her husband and two teenage daughters.

Caterpillar Class

Infant Classroom

Sunflowers

Toddler Classroom

Dawn Hudson

Lead Guide

I am Dawn and have been a lead guide for over five years. I am an AMI trained Assistants to Infancy guide. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the University of Michigan. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, yoga and learning more about the world around me. One of my goals for the children is to allow for the natural development of each child through real and purposeful work in a nurturing and caring community. It is always an honor to get to see each child grow into a confident and independent individual!

Sasha Derosiers

Assistant

Luciana Achierno

Assistant (spanish speaking)

Hola! My name is Luciana and I am from Argentina. I moved to Atlanta in 2016 with my husband and my two boys and since then we have enjoyed and learned about places and foods and we have found many good friends! In my spare time, I enjoy taking my children to play soccer and also traveling. I am very happy to be here at IMA assisting the Sunflower class and teaching Spanish to the children

Butterflies

Toddler Classroom

Charisse Navarrette

Lead Guide

I grew up in Peru and have been a part of the IMA community since inception. I am an AMI trained Birth to Three guide and have a profound love for supporting young children. My favorite Montessori quote is “The greatest sign of a success for a teacher is to be able to say ‘The children are now working as if I did not exist.” In my free time, I enjoy watching futbol (soccer) and cooking Peruvian food, especially her favorite food, ceviche- yum!

Lisa Hamilton

Assistant

I grew up in Jamaica and joined the IMA staff in 2015. I enjoy assisting the children as they develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively and as they engage with their indoor and outdoor environments. I always look forward to cooking our Friday communal meal. My favorite food is spicy jerk chicken and I also enjoy reading, running, and spending time with my three children.

Amanda Cantos

Assistant (spanish speaking)

Hi! My name is Amanda, I am from Spain. I have been in the USA for about 3 years now. I met my husband in Spain and decided to try a new life here with him. We love spending our free time with friends, visiting museums or going to concerts, which are great opportunities for me to learn about other cultures, people. I enjoy being around the children and introducing them to Spanish language and culture everyday.

Lotus

Primary Classroom

Sally Becker

Lead Guide

Marjorie Totesaut

Assistant (Spanish Speaking)

Gloriela Pineda

Assistant

Julia Johnson

Lead Guide

Hi, my name is Julia and I am the Guide for the Magnolia Primary class. Previously, I was the Assistant for Lotus class for three years. I am very much looking forward to this exciting time to lead a casa. Children are perhaps the biggest source of inspiration for me; thus, the honor is truly mine to be to play such a significant role in their development.

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I graduated from the International Montessori Training Institute here in Atlanta in 2018. However, I feel my first training really began very early on as an adolescent living across the street from a home daycare. For five years, I worked as “Ms. Sharon’s Helper” where I cared for children from infancy to 6 years.  This rich experience during these critical years of my life cultivated a deep tenderness and fondness for all children and which led me to volunteer full-time with an early education nonprofit, Jumpstart for Young Children in NYC. I received my first classroom experience when I worked in Japan for two years as a lead English Teacher at an International Preschool and then I found IMA!

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Montessori has opened my eyes on new dimensions of child development which focuses on the power of finding one’s own work or work of the spirit. When children do (and adults), everything falls into place. We are fulfilled, renewed, and inner discipline evolves. All the more, as we find harmony in ourselves and only then are we are capable of giving it away to others-our casa, our community, our world.

Raquel Gutierrez

Assistant (Spanish Speaking)

Hola! My name is Raquel and I am from Madrid, Spain. I moved to Atlanta in August, 2016 and every day I learn new exciting things about the city. In my spare time I like spending time with my family, cheering my son and his team mates at soccer games, going for a run or preparing some Spanish cuisine dish. I love children and my goal is to help them adopt the Spanish language as part of their learning process

Jennifer Wilson

Assistant

Hello, I am Jennifer Wilson. I was born in Newport News, Va. My family and I moved to a rural town in Ga in my last year of middle school. I attended college in Atlanta & completed my degree in December 2017 at Spelman College. I was a nursery attendant at my church in 2009-2011 and I have teaching experience assisting in a Painting 1 class as part of my class requirement as a higher-level painting student.  During my free time, I do photography, videography, and sometimes create abstract work, some of which you'll see on display in our classroom.

Butterflies

Toddler Classroom

Charisse Navarrette

Lead Guide

I grew up in Peru and have been a part of the IMA community since inception. I am an AMI trained Birth to Three guide and have a profound love for supporting young children. My favorite Montessori quote is “The greatest sign of a success for a teacher is to be able to say ‘The children are now working as if I did not exist.” In my free time, I enjoy watching futbol (soccer) and cooking Peruvian food, especially her favorite food, ceviche- yum!

Lisa Hamilton

Assistant

I grew up in Jamaica and joined the IMA staff in 2015. I enjoy assisting the children as they develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively and as they engage with their indoor and outdoor environments. I always look forward to cooking our Friday communal meal. My favorite food is spicy jerk chicken and I also enjoy reading, running, and spending time with my three children.

Amanda Cantos

Assistant (spanish speaking)

Hi! My name is Amanda, I am from Spain. I have been in the USA for about 3 years now. I met my husband in Spain and decided to try a new life here with him. We love spending our free time with friends, visiting museums or going to concerts, which are great opportunities for me to learn about other cultures, people. I enjoy being around the children and introducing them to Spanish language and culture everyday.

Bumbleebee

Elementary Classroom

Hannah Taylor 

Assistant Teacher

Hi, I'm Hannah. I joined the IMA community as a Summer Camp assistant in 2018.  I grew up in southeast Georgia and moved to Atlanta for college. I’m currently in a graduate program at Georgia State University, studying film and art. I love working with children because they always remind me of our innate tendency to be inquisitive and creative. I’m so excited to teach them about some of my favorite artists and show them new ways to express their ideas.