Spring Bilingual Montessori Academy (SBMA) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Our Board is comprised of current and former school parents, along with teachers and staff who offer their expertise to help guide the school. The Board of Directors currently includes the following individuals:
Interim President -Melissa Gagnier-Solis, SBMA parent. Melissa joined the Board in 2020. Melissa brings 10 years of experience in business and operations with a background in environmental engineering. She offers guidance on streamlining operations, developing and implementing processes and solving everyday problems. She has three sons who all completed the N.E.S.T and Spanish Early Childhood program.
Director – Guillermo Arenas, SBMA parent. Guillermo joined the Board in 2019. His daughter completed the N.E.S.T. Program and is currently enrolled in the Spanish Montessori class.
Director – Sean Newell, SBMA parent. Sean joined the Board of Directors in 2019. He has spent over 13 years practicing as an attorney in Washington, DC, first as a commercial litigator, and currently as a federal prosecutor specializing in cyber investigations and cybersecurity policy. He has two children who both completed the N.E.S.T and French Early Childhood program.
Director – Chontelle Matthews-Teichroew, SBMA parent. Chontelle joined the Board of Directors in 2022 as both an SBMA Parent and Alumnus. She has spent over 15 years as an educator and mentor for teachers and counselors in several Maryland School Systems. Chontelle has joined the board in order to continue to support the educational mission of SBMA and to provide support and resources to continue to advance the program. Her sons are currently enrolled in the Early Childhood program.
Director – Kate Howe, SBMA parent. Kate brings over 9 years of experience in healthcare as a Physician Assistant with a background in public health. She is grateful to be part of the SBMA community and to serve on the board. Her daughter completed the Spanish Montessori program and her son is currently enrolled in the N.E.S.T program.
Director – Toni Holness, SBMA parent. Toni joined the Board of Directors in 2020. She spent seven years doing policy advocacy for the ACLU of Maryland before joining the Appellate Division of the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. Toni’s first child completed the Spanish Montessori program in 2020.
Director – Nubia Sosa, staff liaison. Nubia is currently the Lead Teacher in the N.E.S.T. class and serves as the school’s Director of Educational Programs. Nubia began her tenure with SBMA in 2008 and brings fifteen years of experience teaching early childhood education. Her passion for education and child development comes from a devotion to self-improvement. She believes the learning process must fit the child and the tools for learning are developed inside and outside of the classroom. Nubia is devoted to developing strong relationships with parents to maximize the educational experience of each child at SBMA.
Director – Bela Ali, SBMA school-wide Montessori Resource Teacher. Ms. Bela has served SBMA for over 30 years since 1989. In 2017 she ended her full-time teaching position and has since continued part-time, working one-on-one with students to support their classroom learning. She enjoys working with children and finds teaching a deeply rewarding profession.
Board CPA – James Brandon