OSMS Leadership

Prior to her role as Head of School, Amy was a Montessori teacher in the Ocean State Montessori School's Primary Program for 15 years. She has also served as OSMS's Curriculum Coordinator for the Primary and Wee Three programs for seven years and was instrumental in shaping and aligning the teaching practice in these classrooms. Before coming to OSMS in September 2000, Amy taught at the Bedford Montessori School in Bedford, MA. Amy also served as the Sensorial instructor at the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center for 19 years, where she trained hundreds of individuals to become Montessori teachers, including some of our current faculty and staff as well as other Montessorians from around the world. Both of Amy's daughters attended and graduated from OSMS. Amy has a BA in Psychology from Ithaca College and earned her AMS Early Childhood Credential from the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in NY. 

Leah has been involved with the OSMS since 2000 when her daughter enrolled as a three-year old Primary student. Through her involvement as a parent, Leah became more interested in the Montessori philosophy and began her training at the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center in 2005. Leah received her AMS Early Childhood Credential in June 2006 and assumed the Lead Teacher position in her own classroom the following September. In 2015 Leah took over the role of Curriculum Coordinator for the Primary and Elementary programs. Leah is also a teacher trainer at the the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center, where she is the Sensorial instructor. Leah has a BA in French Literature from Boston University. Both of Leah's children graduated from our school.

Erin joined OSMS in 2019 as Communications Coordinator. In her current role as Director of Communications & Advancement, she oversees various constituent touchpoints in communications and marketing, admissions and development. Before teaming up with OSMS, Erin was a freelance photographer who frequently dedicated time at her children’s previous Montessori school in Louisiana and served as a volunteer for arts-based non-profit organizations. After earning her BA from the University of Rhode Island, Erin first became involved in Montessori education in a childcare role while pursuing postgraduate coursework. She was captivated by the capabilities of her students and inspired by the Montessori ethos of promoting peace and social justice. She later developed a deeper appreciation for the method as she observed its positive impacts on her own children’s growth and development. In her leisure time, Erin enjoys the arts, sports and activities with her children.

Tamayra "Tammy" Pearce joined the Ocean State Montessori School in the Spring of 2020 as Office Manager. In this role, her responsibilities included working with vendors, maintaining student files, managing IT issues, and providing overall support to the administrative team and OSMS families. In 2022 she transitioned to Remote Business Manager and now oversees payroll, billing and tuition management and assists with school budget-related projects. Prior to joining OSMS, Tammy worked as a business manager at a privately owned multigrade class school. She has knowledge and experience in IT support, administrative duties, financials and admissions management. Outside of OSMS Tammy enjoys, reading, cooking, baking, playing her cello, and spending time with her husband and their two boys.

Brenda joined Ocean State Montessori School in 2022 as Director of Operations, responsible for assisting in the implementation of policies and procedures for the school’s day-to-day operations. Prior to her work here, Brenda owned and operated two small Montessori programs in Rhode Island for 27 years. Her Montessori path began when she was offered a position to run a school where she could bring her young daughter with her. Though she had no knowledge of Maria Montessori, she readily accepted the position and fell in love with the philosophy and the peaceful nature of the classrooms. Brenda went on to pursue Montessori training and received her Early Childhood Certification from Northeast Montessori Institute in 1998 and then opened her own schools. She considers it a blessing to have been a part of the educational journeys of so many children, including her two daughters and her grandson, and is excited to continue on her own Montessori journey with OSMS.

Jill Malin brings deep experience as an early childhood music and movement specialist to her role as the Lead Teacher of the Wee Threes program. Holding a BM degree from Northwestern University and a Masters of Music degree from New England Conservatory, she directed Blue Hills Music Together in MA for 16 years while

Betsy Facincani began her career at OSMS as a Teacher Assistant in a Primary classroom. Betsy fell in love with the Montessori philosophy and decided to pursue her AMS Early Childhood Credential at the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center. She earned her Montessori credential in 2004 and shortly thereafter became a lead teacher in her own classroom. Betsy has a BA in English from Tufts University and a Master of Library Science from SUNY-Albany.

Brooke Wyman began her career at OSMS in 2004 as an intern while completing her Montessori training from the National Center for Montessori Education in Beverly, MA. Her internship in our primary classroom paved the way for Brooke to assume a lead teacher role in 2005 where she served for one year before moving out of state. Brooke returned to OSMS in the summer of 2014. Brooke is one of the founding faculty of OSMS's Service Club, an after-school group dedicated to teaching our students the value of serving others and providing opportunities for them to do so. Both of Brooke's children attended the Ocean State Montessori School. Brooke has a BA in Psychology from Western Baptist College in Salem, OR.

Jennifer has been a part of the Ocean State Montessori School since 1997 when she brought her Creative Movement/Gymnastics program to the school. In 1999, she became our Physical Education teacher when the elementary school opened. Jen is now an Upper Elementary Guide and teaches all our Physical Education and Health classes to the P3 and elementary students. She is proud to be a parent of two former OSMS students. Jennifer has a BA in Health & Society from Brown University, as well as several certifications from USA Gymnastics.

Julissa joined OSMS in 2021. She is an artist, educator, and mother who loves to create and make everyone smile. She has a bachelor's degree in music from Rhode Island College and is a native Spanish speaker. She is passionate about teaching through the arts and helping her students develop their Spanish and creative skills. Julissa is the founder and lead teacher at The Spanish Playhouse, a Spanish immersion studio in Providence, RI. During her free time, she enjoys photography and hiking. 

Lily joined the OSMS community in 2001.  She has a bachelors degree in painting from Rhode Island College and has also studied scientific illustration and surface design. Lily has taught at Brown Play School and also works in gardens and designing chalkboards. Lily has two daughters, two dogs and two cats.

Matt McGuire currently serves as the President of the OSMS Board of Directors, which he joined in 2018. Matt served as OSMS's Treasurer through the end of the 2019-2020 school year, during which Matt chaired the Finance Committee and worked with the staff and board to establish the annual budget, review compensation and benefits for staff, and monitor the month-to-month fiscal performance of OSMS. Matt looks forward to continuing to sit on the Finance Committee as he shifts into his new role of President. Matt is Managing Director of Product & Operations at Direxion. Matt lives in Providence and his daughter, Fiona, is a Lower Elementary student.

Josh has been a part of the OSMS community since 2020 when his son, Nyjah, joined Ms. Brooke's class as a P3. His family immediately fell in love with everything to do with the school and he has been involved ever since. Nyjah is now in Ms. Elizabeth's class as an LE2 while his 4-year-old son, Zion, plans to attend in the fall. He lives in Riverside with his wife, Laura, and their two sons. As a Realtor and broker, he is co-owner of June Realty. He also is a trained life coach and owner of Positive Vibrations Coaching. In his free time, he enjoys making music, reading, cycling, kayaking, and fishing. He spends his weekends coaching youth soccer in the spring and little league baseball in the fall.

John has been a part of the Ocean State community since 2013 when his son Jack enrolled as a ‘Wee-Three’. He lives in Providence, and his son is now in the Upper Elementary classroom. A former twenty year employee with Fidelity Investments, he led a team of Analysts who onboarded Advisors and Broker Dealers to Fidelity’s trading & clearing platform. A gardener and amateur carpenter he’s happiest when in the backyard building something new using found materials with Jack. He received his undergraduate degree from Bates College, and is a graduate of Boston University’s Financial Planning Program.

Jill joined the OSMS Board in 2022 and currently serves as Secretary. She has been on the Board’s Development and Events committee as it has re-energized post-pandemic; she’s enjoyed watching the OSMS community come together anew through school events. Jill is an LICSW in private practice in Providence, specializing in perinatal mental health. She’s also a career changer, having spent nearly 20 years in journalism as an editor and writer with publications ranging from the Tampa Bay Times to Travel + Leisure magazine. Jill received her undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and has master’s degrees from Northwestern University and Boston University. Jill lives in Cranston and her daughter, Emmie, is a Lower Elementary student in Ms. Elizabeth’s class.

Mark Booker

Debbie Butler

Diana Champa

Jessica Grajales

Laura Pleasants

Dominic Pisano

Issa Ramaji

Nancy Rojas

Tom Seiter

Jessica Shoaff