A native Eastsider and former Montessori child, Melissa is a passionate advocate of the Montessori Method. With a Master’s Degree in Montessori Integrative Education from TIES and a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater from Cornish College of the Arts, Melissa has spent over two decades working with children in public and private schools, as well as the non-profit sector. A published author, trainer, and presenter, she has toured nationally, presenting at education conferences on parent engagement in schools. Receiving her Montessori Certification in 2009, she is a certified Master Teacher at the Primary Level. She also holds certificates in Love and Logic and Positive Discipline. She is a facilitator of Positive Discipline’s Empowering People in the Workplace program, where she had the distinct honor of being trained by Jane Nelson, the founder of Positive Discipline. Melissa is a recipient of the AMS 2021 Montessori Innovator Award. During her acting career, Melissa was a regular on Seattle stages as well as on film, appearing in short films and as Orlando Bloom’s sailing double in the blockbuster movie Pirates of the Caribbean. In her spare time, Melissa is known to fire cannons from the main deck of our state’s tallship, The Lady Washington, where she joined as a member of the crew at 15 years old. She is married to fellow crewmate and author Nigel Laight, and has two children.

Riddhi’s journey as a Montessorian began as a “Montessori Mom” in 2004. Watching her son discover place-value using the Montessori Golden Bead Materials opened the door to her Montessori Certification in 2007. With a Bachelor’s degree in Textiles & Graduate studies in Textile Design, Riddhi has spent the last 16 years working with children in a Montessori setting and has grown through her experiences as a Teacher, Curriculum Developer & Coordinator and Program Director. She believes in nurturing growth through interaction in a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment. Besides being committed to learning about the Montessori philosophy and child development through attending professional development classes and AMS conferences, Riddhi spends her free time exploring the NW trails, painting, cooking, reading and watching movies with her husband and two sons. She continues to volunteer in the capacity of a trainer and curriculum coordinator at a local non-profit organization she has been a part of for 13 years. If she is not at school you will find her travelling, sewing, writing or hanging out with family… Living LIFE!

Anna is the parent of a current Arbor student, and loves that Montessori focuses on the whole child and Individualized learning. Loving the Arbor Community and how serious the faculty take education and supporting each child, she joined our Admin staff in 2022. Anna brings a wealth of experience in both Administration and Early Childhood Education. She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and spent 6 years in the corporate world in Human Resources. She was a Pre-K Teacher for 5 years, as well as a youth and adult leader in 4-H Natural Resources. When she is not greeting everyone at our front desk, you can find Anna camping, hiking, spending time with friends and family, planning events and enjoying different delicious food!

Hired in the summer of 2021 as the bookkeeper, Sarah’s duties expanded into a Business Manager position. She enjoys supporting the remarkably gracious group in which she has found herself. Sarah’s first taste of finance work was in 1985, in the Treasury Department of a small L.A. film studio. She moved closer to L.A.’s financial district, where a temp job in corporate banking turned into a twenty-year career in international trade finance, ten years of which were on the business side, in the Treasury Department of Costco’s corporate office, which broadened her skills in the world of finance. Her other work experiences, (many simultaneous), include eleven years bookkeeping for four childcare centers, five years bookkeeping for a CPA firm, and various roles in: a chiropractic office, a music department, a toy company, tutoring, being an assistant trainer, sales, and customer service. Sarah, and her husband since 1994, are very happy living in Washington. They have one Tuxedo cat and two Maltipoos, all rescues. The whole family, except the cat, delight in bike rides and walks together, especially at Marymoor Park.

Sean was one of the first students when Arbor began back in 1993, and worked as an after school assistant throughout high school. Sean returned to Arbor in 2010 first as an Early Childhood Teacher, then as Early Childhood Coordinator, and was the Head of School from January of 2013 through January of 2022. Sean holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Entrepreneurial Studies from Hawaii Pacific University. His Montessori Credentials include a Early Childhood Certificate (3-6) in 2009 from the National Center for Montessori Education, and most recently an Administrator Credential from the American Montessori Society in 2013. Sean and his wife Monica have two wonderful boys, James and Shane, who are now students at Arbor. His Golden Retriever Finn also loves any chance to play at school or swim in any body of water. Sean is always happy to speak with anyone about the benefits of Montessori Education and what makes Arbor Montessori a unique and successful educational experience from toddler through 6th grade.

Mary became acquainted with Montessori in 1989 when her law partner suggested she enroll her youngest children in his friend’s Montessori preschool program. She became enamored by a program where very young children showed focus and self-control, took on challenges, made connections, and used their critical thinking skills. Just a few years later she was determined to provide just that type of program at an elementary level. In the fall of 1993 Arbor Montessori School opened. Mary served as Arbor’s head of school from its inception through 2013, with a short hiatus in 2009 when she purchased and developed Issaquah Montessori School. Her son, Sean O’Brien, took over her position as head of school at Arbor. During her time as head of school at Arbor, she continued to practice law, received her Montessori Early Childhood Certificate (3-6) from the National Center for Montessori Education, and attended hundreds of hours of Montessori, child development, and language development classes. Mary continued her involvement with Arbor Schools while serving as executive director of both Arbor Schools and Issaquah Montessori School, and another school she developed in 2018 in North Bend named Mt Si Arbor Montessori School. In January of 2022 Mary finally made her retirement stick and handed the reigns of all 3 of the schools to Sean, naming him as executive director. The Arbor Schools remain a family enterprise and currently educate 3 of Mary’s grandchildren. When she is not mentoring those at the school Mary enjoys time with her husband travelling, as well as exercising, quilting, being outdoors and reading.