Ruth Jones, founder of Mead Montessori School. Ruth opened Farragut Montessori School in 1987, a strong and vibrant Montessori School serving children ages 3-6 in a beautiful farmhouse located in Farragut. In 2009, seeking more room for expansion, Ruth moved her school to its current location in the Island Home neighborhood, changing the name to Mead Montessori School to reflect the unique history of the building. Ruth passed away in June 20, 2010 but her legacy lives on each day at Mead Montessori School.
Ella Jones, founder and Director of Mead Montessori School, holds an undergraduate degree in English literature from the University of Tennessee. She received her Primary Montessori Training from the Montessori Institute Northwest in Portland OR, an AMI training facility. She received her Master’s Degree in Montessori Education from Loyola College in Baltimore Maryland. Ella was a Montessori child and has experience teaching in both Montessori and conventional educational settings with children ages two to twelve.
Theresa Melloy, Assistant Director and Infant/Toddler lead teacher holds an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Pellissippi State. She received her Assistant to Infancy Montessori Training from the Minnesota Montessori Training Center in Saint Paul, MN, an AMI training facility. Theresa was an assistant at Farragut Montessori before pursuing her AMI training. She has over ten years of experience working with children in some form of childcare setting.
Jennifer MacIsaac, Primary lead teacher, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Textiles, Merchandising and Design from Middle Tennessee State University. She is currently completing her AMI Primary training from the Montessori Institute of North Texas. Jennifer was a Montessori child and has experience working with children in various settings. Jennifer’s two daughters are students at Mead.
Erin Salter, Elementary lead teacher, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from Oberlin College and received a Master’s Degree in Elementary Montessori Education from Loyola University in Maryland. She received her Elementary Montessori Training from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, an AMI training facility. In addition, she holds a Montessori Primary Diploma from Montessori Educators International. Erin was a Montessori child. She has been teaching in Montessori classrooms since 2000 in both Tennessee and Tokyo, Japan and has experience with children from age two to twelve.
Ruth Armstrong, Assistant teacher, began teaching in a Montessori setting in the year 2000 when she first became an assistant at Farragut Montessori. She holds an Associates Degree in Science from Pellissippi State and us currently pursuing her nursing degree. Ruth was a Montessori child and her daughter is now a student at Mead.
Additional staff within the school serves as teaching assistants, language teachers, and art and music teachers. All strive to meet AMI recommendations and take advantage of AMI conferences and workshops when available.
