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Monocacy Valley Montessori Public Charter School (MVMPCS) is managed by Monocacy Montessori Communities Inc., (MMCI) and is governed by a Governing Council, consisting of parents, the principal, staff representatives, and members of the Frederick community.

What is MMCI?

MMCI is a local, volunteer-driven, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that manages two Frederick County public Montessori charter schools – Carroll Creek Montessori (CCM), opened in fall 2012, and Monocacy Valley Montessori (MVM), opened in fall 2002. 

MMCI is the legal entity which originated the application and holds the school's charter (or contract) with the Frederick County Board of Education and is responsible for ensuring compliance with the charter agreement and negotiating any necessary changes or amendments to the charter. It also runs and funds all support programs that serve our school community such as before and after care, after school enrichment, and summer camps. MMCI is the leaseholder for our current building and holds the responsibility of securing our new location.

MMCI’s schools are open to all children that live in Frederick County and begin with Pre-K at age 3. All members of both the MVM and CCM communities—parents, staff, founders whose children are not yet school age—are automatically members of  MMCI. The nonprofit is governed by a Board of Trustees (BOT), elected annually from the membership. The BOT is responsible for setting the mission and strategic direction of the organization with oversight of the organization’s finances, operations, and overarching policies.

What is the Governing Council?

The Governing Council is a standing committee of the Board of Trustees and serves as the policy making body for MVMPCS. The Governing Council also serves as our School Improvement Team (SIT), required by the FCPS charter school policy, This independence is a result of our status as a charter school and allows us to develop policies necessary to realize the goals of our school’s charter and meet the needs of our families. This is a truly unique opportunity within the public school system.

The parent positions on the GC are filled by parents or guardians of current MVMPCS students. Elections for these positions are held every fall as current members’ two year terms expire in rotation. Staff elects their own representatives. GC meetings are open to all parents and staff; minutes are published on our Google groups School News Forum.

Much of the work of the GC and MMCI is carried out by parents and teachers working on a large number of committees—library, volunteer, building & grounds, strategic planning, staffing, community outreach/hospitality, communications and fundraising. Parents, faculty and staff are urged to join a committee and help in the development and continuing operation of the school. Parental involvement is critical to the success of the school.

MVMPCS School Leadership

2023-2024 MVMPCS Governing Council Member Contact List

GC Chair/ Parent Representative
Robert Weiland
gcchair@mvmpcs.org
Appointed | End date: Dec. 31, 2023

Principal
Amy Dorman
gcprincipal@mvmpcs.org
Permanent Position 

GC Secretary/ Parent Representatives
Rachel Schooley
gcsecretary@mvmpcs.org
Elected 1st Term | End date: Dec. 31, 2023

Staff Representative
Darlene Overholtzer
staffrep1@mvmpcs.org
Elected 2nd Term | End date: Summer 2024 

Parent Representative
Carlos Gomez
parentrep1@mvmpcs.org
Elected 1st Term | End date: Dec. 31, 2024

Staff Representative
Cindy Green
staffrep2@mvmpcs.org
Elected 1st Term | End date: Summer 2023

Parent Representative
Caitlin Benisek
parentrep2@mvmpcs.org
Elected 1st Term | End date: Dec. 31, 2024

 

Parent Representative
Kaitlyn Wheeler
parentrep3@mvmpcs.org
Appointed | End date: Dec. 31, 2024

Friend of Education
Zoe Alexandratos
friendofed1@mvmpcs.org
Appointed 1st Term | End date: Dec. 31, 2024

BOT MVM VP
Elizabeth Landru
vp-mvm@mmci.md.org
Elected 2nd Term | End Date: June 30, 2024

Friend of Education
Cita King
friendofed2@mvmpcs.org
Elected 1st Term| End date: Dec. 31, 2023

 

2023-2024 MMCI Board of Trustees Member Contact List

BOT President
Tara Dunsmore
president@mmcimd.org
End of term: June 30, 2025 

Vice President for MVMPCS
Elizabeth Landru
vp-mvm@mmcimd.org
End of term: June 30, 2024

BOT Secretary
Meggan Sombat 
secretary@mmcimd.org
End of term: June 30, 2023

Vice President for CCMPCS
Amy Duvall
vp-ccm@mmcimd.org
End of term: June 30, 2024

BOT Treasurer
Kristin McPherson
treasurer@mmcimd.org
End of term: June 30, 2024

BOT Assistant Treasurer
Kellie McIntosh
assistanttreasurer@mmcimd.org
End of term: June 30, 2025

Parent Trustee, MVMPCS
Vacant
End of term: December 31, 2023

Parent Trustee, MVMPCS
Jessica Lawrence Wujek
MVMPT2@mmcimd.org
End of term: December 31, 2024

 

Parent Trustee, MVMPCS
Nichole Dowlearn
nichole.dowlearn@mmcimd.org
End of term: December 31, 2023

Parent Trustee, CCMPCS
Jennifer Mayo
ccmparenttrustee2@mmcimd.org
End of term: December 31, 2023

Parent Trustee, CCMPCS
Julie Clark
julie.clark@mmcimd.org
End of term: December 31, 2023

Parent Trustee, CCMPCS
Vacant
Vacant
End of term: December 31, 2024

Friend of Education
Kathleen Lutrell
klutrell@mmcimd.org 
End of term: December 31, 2023

Friend of Education
Vacant
Vacant
End of term: December 31, 2022

MVMPCS GC Chair (Non-voting)
Robert Weiland 
gcchair@mvmpcs.org
End of term: December 31, 2023

CCMPCS GC Chair (Non-voting)
Nikki Burgee
gcchair@carrollcreekmontessori.org
End of term: December 31, 2023