Board of Directors

Global Montessori Academy, as a nonprofit corporation, is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that ranges in size from 7 to 11 members. GMA’s Board is primarily comprised of parents, but welcomes community members who have a passion for Montessori education to seek election to the Board. Board elections occur in May of each year although interim appointments to the GMA Board are made as needed. GMA’s executive director and a faculty member serve on the GMA Board in an ex oficio, non-voting capacity.

The GMA Board possesses a wide range of expertise and is deeply committed to GMA’s vision and mission of providing high-quality, authentic Montessori education to children in the Kansas City Metropolitan area. Board responsibilities include the following: engaging in long-term strategic planning for GMA; approving GMA’s annual budget and oversight of GMA’s finances; defining governance processes; setting policy for GMA; and supporting GMA’s executive director in the execution of GMA’s vision and mission.

Download Board Application (PDF)

For more information about the GMA Board, email board@globalmontessori.com

Current Board Members

  • Justin Morris

    President

    Justin Morris, husband and loving father, embarked on a lifelong journey with Scarlett in 2013. Their joyful family includes two boys, Finn (5) and Barrett (7). Alongside his role as CEO of Armor Security since 2006, Justin finds solace and adventure in the great outdoors. His hobbies include hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing, allowing him to connect with nature and challenge himself physically. Whether scaling cliffs or conquering mountain trails, Justin’s love for outdoor activities fuels his adventurous spirit. Balancing his professional and personal pursuits, he remains a devoted family man while embracing the thrill of exploring the natural world.

  • Brian Gordon

    Vice President

  • Brandi Finocchario

    Secretary

    Brandi is a seasoned leader with more than 12 years of experience in healthcare and nonprofit organizations and serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Swope Health. She brings an array of knowledge in the areas of quality improvement, strategic planning, business operations, project management, and data analysis. Brandi’s expertise also extends to academia. She currently serves as an adjunct instructor at William Jewell College, Metropolitan Community College, and as an associate faculty member at University of Phoenix, teaching Nonprofit Law and Risk Management, Intro to Healthcare Administration, Strategic Planning, and Healthcare Sustainability courses. She also serves as the Board Chair for Citizens of the World Charter School in Kansas City, MO and is a member of the Junior League of Kansas City.

  • Rebecca Anderson

    Rebecca Anderson has spent her career trying to impact community health. She holds a bachelor’s in psychology from The University of Kansas and a master’s in social work from Washburn University. Her passion is designing and studying population health. She is a subject matter expert in Community Health Worker (CHW) Programs, nationally known for her work in this area, she built the largest CHW program in our region. Rebecca spent the first fourteen years of her career at KC CARE Health Center as their Director of Care Coordination. She is currently at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City under the population health team where is she is building out their CHW model, managing their social referral platform, and launching an initiative to take healthcare to our communities using a medical van. In her free time, you will find her studying our healthcare system, ways to improve it, and trying to better understand the barriers our communities face. She also runs the Kansas Dysautonomia Group, where she helps support and guide members across our state with Dysautonomia. Rebecca has a daughter in Lower Elementary. As a board member she hopes to enhance GMA’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion efforts.

  • Andrew Bryon

    Andrew is a seasoned government contractor, a finance and operations leader, an entrepreneur, and a technology transition consultant. He is currently a managing partner of Ling and Associates LLC, a consulting firm for emerging healthcare technologies. He was a founder and Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at On Demand Pharmaceuticals Inc., which seeks to combat drug shortages and provide global access to medicines. As a Department of Defense contractor, he served as a senior Business and Finance Manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Biological Technologies Office working on a diverse portfolio of research projects in the healthcare space, including genomics, pharmaceuticals, synthetic biology and neuroscience. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from American University in Washington DC. Andrew and his wife Erin have two sons at GMA, Duke in Lower Elementary and Apollo in Upper Elementary.

  • Lydia Cook McAnulty

    Lydia and her husband Pat have three children at GMA in the Infant, Children’s House & Lower Elementary Classrooms. They have chosen Montessori based educational programs for all of their children since birth and joined the GMA family in Summer of 2022. Outside of the home, she is a Veterinary Scientist and works on bringing new animal pharmaceuticals to the US & European market spaces. She is a Veterinarian and has a PhD in Veterinary Pathobiology (Immunology). Lydia has a special interest in promoting science based health & sustainability initiatives within the GMA community. Her passions include meditation, yoga, reading & animals and will advocate for programs related to these areas for the students of GMA.

  • Sarah Dehart Faltico

    Sarah Dehart Faltico has been a part of the Global Montessori Family since 2022; as of 2025, she has two children at GMA (Lower Elementary and Children’s House). Sarah first got exposure to the Montessori method as a child herself, attending Raintree Montessori School in Lawrence, KS. Growing up with the hands-on learning experiences and ‘Freedom with Responsibility’ ethos embedded in Montessori philosophy laid a solid foundation in which to thrive.

    Sarah has 15 years of experience in Program Management in the non-profit sector and has worked for local and state-based non-profits in the areas of food systems, regenerative agriculture, food access, clean energy, and climate resilience. Built on a higher education background and early adulthood career in Business Administration, Sarah brings a variety of skill sets and expertise in service to the GMA board and the families and staff therein.

    In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time (preferrably outdoors) with her family and friends, running, hiking, and tending to her front yard garden. If you can’t find her, try checking somewhere in the mountains.

  • Erin Holland

    Erin joined the GMA board as Treasurer in October 2020. As a Senior Client Service Consultant at Holmes Murphy & Associates, Erin focuses on consulting large and mid-market organizations on their entire employee benefits program, including cost control and avoidance, wellness solutions, strategic planning and employee communications, with a special emphasis on public entities and self-funded plans.  She is a graduate of Truman State University, holding a BFA. She has a son in Children’s House 3. As a board member, Erin is committed to enhancing and furthering the objectives of GMA and its unique community.

  • Alia Krzyzanowski

    Alia joins the board of GMA with over ten years of experience in Human Resources management, and has spent the last seven years devoted to her career in higher education. She currently works as a Senior HR Consultant for University of Missouri –Kansas City and has been a certified HR Professional (PHR) since 2023. Her experience in her career created a passion for education and developing safe equitable and enriching environments for learning and development, which is a principal she has been able to practice in her career and through enrolling her children in Montessori education. As a board member, Alia is committed to enhancing the mission of GMA, and helping the school develop its diversity and accessibility to students and families from all walks of life. She is a mother of three and joins the board with one child in Children’s House 3, and two more entering GMA in spring of 2025.

  • Katie Landry

    Katie Landry is a proud parent to Forrest (Lower Elementary) and Simon (CH2). She and her husband, Van, are Montessori advocates and are grateful to have found the GMA community in 2024. Professionally, Katie is a licensed clinical social worker and the owner of a private therapy practice serving clients in Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado. She specializes in trauma, and is an EMDR certified therapist. Over the years, she’s had the privilege of working with first responders, kids, teens, and adults across a variety of settings—including schools, healthcare systems, and post-crisis response teams. She is especially passionate about advocating for neurodivergent individuals and creating spaces where all kinds of minds feel supported and respected. Outside of work, she loves reading, writing, and spending time outdoors with her family—whether hiking, biking, paddling, or just soaking up some sunshine.

  • Kristen Stehl

    Kristen is a structural engineer with over 10 years of experience in design and project management, specializing in building safe, lasting infrastructure for our local communities in Kansas and Missouri. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Missouri and her Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. She brings her skills in leadership, organization, and creative problem-solving to the board, along with a strong passion for helping GMA grow and thrive for years to come. Beyond the job site, Kristen is an active member of the community who loves to get involved, stay connected, and have fun. A native of Prairie Village, having attended Indian Hills Middle School and Shawnee Mission East High School, she has a strong passion for the area. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Austin, a local dentist, and together they have two children at GMA – Hadley in CH2 & Teddy in the Toddler Community. Kristen is excited to bring both her professional expertise and enthusiastic energy to support the school’s mission and future.