Teachers & Staff

All GMA Primary and Elementary classroom lead teachers are either AMI or AMS Montessori certified. Your child’s teacher is trained to observe the individual interests and needs of each child, demonstrate the correct use of classroom materials, assess the child’s progress and needs, and guide the child to appropriate activities. Each classroom has an assistant teacher who supports the teacher and students. All share the love of children and desire to assist young people as they grow toward their potential.

  • Tracy Forbush

    Executive Director

    Joining GMA as the Executive Director in September 2021, Tracy brings experience in education, the nonprofit sector, and from the corporate world. Her strengths include strategic planning, budget management, grant writing, team leadership and a deep respect for Montessori philosophy and GMA’s mission. After 7 years in a nonprofit leadership role developing multiple adult education programs, she was delighted to return to her roots in youth education, as Tracy was previously a teacher and coach at the high school and university levels. As a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines, she trained teachers and future educators in teaching methodology and curriculum development. Tracy has a B.A. from Truman State University and an M.A. in Education from Lindenwood University. Native to St. Louis, Tracy has also lived in Australia and the Philippines – but Kansas City has been home since 2014. Passionate about education, empowerment, and making a difference, Tracy is thrilled to join the GMA community.

  • Erin Martin

    Program Director

    Erin was appointed to the position of Program Director in July of 2014 after being a member of the GMA Board of Directors.  Erin has an AMI Montessori School Administrators Course certificate as well as more than four years of experience at Raintree Montessori School in Lawrence, Kansas, public school substitute teaching, and early childhood care. Erin received a bachelor’s degree in social work from Pittsburg State University and also holds a Child Development Associate Credential. Erin worked as a social worker for five years in Wichita and Kansas City advocating for children with developmental disabilities and senior citizens. Erin is thrilled to contribute her love of children and families and her passion for Montessori education to help GMA continue to thrive.

  • Gracie Frederick

    Administrative Assistant

  • Libby McFarland

    Upper Elementary Teacher

    Libby is the upper elementary teacher. Libby obtained her AMI Elementary teaching credential from Montessori Northwest Institute. Upon completion of her training and student teaching, Libby was GMA’s first upper elementary class teacher  beginning in August 2016. Libby graduated from University of Missouri-Kansas City with a BA in French in 2006. She completed the Montessori Foundations and Philosophy course through MEPI in the fall of 2007. Libby joined GMA in 2010.

  • Brandy Parr

    Lower Elementary Lead Teacher

    Brandy is the Lower Elementary teacher for ages 6–9. She holds a Montessori Elementary Diploma from Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). She also holds K–6 elementary teaching credentials in both Missouri and Kansas and an Early Childhood Credential in Missouri. She has a B.A. from Kansas State University in English Literature and received her traditional elementary teacher training at the University of Redlands in Redlands, California. Brandy has been teaching elementary classes for 20 years and started the Lower Elementary program at Global Montessori in 2011. She has been at Global since 2007.

  • Tommy Capps

    Lower Elementary Assistant Teacher

    Tommy is the Lower Elementary assistant teacher at GMA. He has a bachelors degree in philosophy from the University of Central Missouri and is an accomplished guitarist. Tommy has been with GMA since 2013. Tommy earned an AMI elementary assistant teacher certificate after completing the training course in the fall of 2019 through Montessori Institute of North Texas.

  • Shawna Chambers

    Children’s House 1 Lead Teacher

    Shawna has been with GMA since 2006 and in Children’s House 1 since 2014. After completing the second year portion of her AMI 3-6 Montessori training through the Montessori Institute of North Texas, Shawna became the lead teacher in CH1. She has bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education and early childhood special education from the University of Central Missouri.

  • Taylor Ritchey

    Children's House 1 Assistant Teacher

  • Andrea Allen

    Children's House 2 Lead Teacher

    Andrea received her American Montessori Society (AMS) Early Childhood certification from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Boulder. She has a B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Kansas and an M.A. in Education with a Montessori emphasis from Saint Catherine University. Andrea comes to Global Montessori Academy from Raintree Montessori School in Lawrence, where she worked for over six years and was a primary lead teacher for three years. Andrea joined GMA in 2014.

  • Susan Walton

    Children's House 2 Assistant Teacher

  • Abby Lagemann

    Children's House 3 Lead Teacher

    Abby Lagemann is Children’s House 3’s lead teacher. She came to GMA during the summer of 2018 and later completed AMI primary (age 3-6) training through Montessori Institute of North Texas in July of 2021. Abby attended KU and majored in exercise science and was a pole vaulter for the Jayhawks. After graduating, she recruited for Northwestern Mutual’s internship program. Later she moved to Dallas as member relations director for Club Corp, and then successfully worked for Apria. Missing her family, she returned to the area to do something completely different and fun. Already familiar with Raintree Montessori through her niece, she leapt at the opportunity to join GMA.

  • Colleen Klein

    Children's House 3 Assistant Teacher

  • Ashlynn Heidrick

    Toddler Community Lead Teacher

    Ashlynn joined GMA’s Toddler Community in October 2018. A true native of Olathe, she graduated from Olathe South and worked on a Child Development degree before she went to work at The Goddard School. She came to GMA after three years there and her transition was so seamless it seemed like she’d been at GMA forever.

  • Fatima Nazari

    Toddler Community Assistant Teacher

  • Kristi Petersen

    Infant Community Lead Teacher

    Kristi is the lead teacher in the Infant Community. Kristi joined the GMA community in September of 2019, bringing more than twenty years of experience working with infants and toddlers.

  • Mursal Sadaqat

    Infant Community Assistant Teacher

  • Llesenia Sanchez

    Floating Assistant Teacher

  • Setara Sadaqat

    Infant & Toddler Floating Assistant Teacher