About Montessori Day School
History
Montessori Day School (MDS), Inc., was established in March 1979 by Cathy Beemer and Liz Mallett. The goals for the school were to provide a faculty operated school, a well equipped and pleasant learning environment for children, and an enriched Montessori curriculum to meet the needs of children with a wide range of abilities.
In June of 2010, the school was purchased by Melanie Vandermast, a longtime teacher at the school, and her husband David. Cathy Beemer retired in May 2010, after more than 30 years of teaching and school ownership. Shortly before retirement, Liz Mallett passed away after the same long career as teacher and co-owner of Montessori Day School.
The MDS Parent Support Group (PSG) was started in 1982 when the school moved to its present location. The PSG is very active and supports several enrichment programs for the children and school.
Faculty
Elementary
Heather Amistadi, B.A., Duke University, Economics and Political Science, J.D. University of Richmond School of Law. Certified by the American Montessori Society (AMS) for 6-9 year olds, she received her Lower Elementary Credential from the North Carolina Center for Montessori Teacher Education (NC-CMTE) and is currently working toward her Upper Elementary Credential for 9-12 year olds. Founder of Carolina Montessorians, a community focused on promoting understanding and dialogue among Montessori educators, parents and enthusiasts. Prior to dedicating her career to inspiring children to discover joy of learning through the Montessori philosophy, Heather spent almost ten years as a real estate attorney in the corporate world. In this role, Heather spent much time in the capacity of professional educator and mentor, culminating in her realization that teaching is her true passion. In her free time, Heather enjoys outdoor activities, creative arts and music.
Preschool
Melanie Vandermast holds a B.S. in Business, with a major in Marketing from Miami University of Ohio and an A.A.S. in Merchandising from the Fashion Institute of Technology, a S.U.N.Y. school in New York City. She received her Early Childhood 3-6 Credential from the North Carolina Center of Montessori Teacher Education (NC-CMTE) in June of 2002. Melanie began teaching in 1999 when she joined Montessori Day School as Liz Mallett’s Assistant Directress. Since completing her Montessori Credential she has been a Directress at Montessori Community School of Durham and returned to Montessori Day School as Directress in 2008. Melanie has been a member of the American Montessori Society (AMS) since 2002.
Beth Cederberg has a B.A. in English from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Certified by the American Montessori Society (AMS) for 3 – 6 year olds, she received her Early Childhood Credential from the North Carolina Center for Montessori Teacher Education (NC-CMTE). Beth has worked as the Interim Director and as a Teacher at Chapel of the Cross Child Care Center, as a Directress at Montessori Community School of Durham and as an Assistant and Directress at Montessori Day School. She has been a member of AMS since 2002. A native North Carolinian, Beth and her husband Bill have raised three children in Chapel Hill, all of whom happily attended Montessori Day School for preschool and elementary education.
Location
The school is located in a large home on Weaver Dairy Road next to the Timberlyne Shopping Center just off of Hwy. 86 (Airport Road). In 1982, the home was customized for students and the Montessori philosophy.
About Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori was an individual ahead of her time. She was born in 1870 in Ancona, Italy, to an educated but nonaffluent middle class family. She grew up in a country considered most conservative in its attitude toward women, yet even against the considerable opposition of her father and teachers, Montessori pursued a scientific education and was the first woman to become a physician in Italy. As a practicing physician associated with the University of Rome, she was a scientist, not a teacher. It is ironic that she became famous for her contributions in a field that she had rejected as the traditional refuge for women at a time when few professions were open to them other than homemaking or the convent. The Montessori method evolved almost by accident from a small experiment that Dr. Montessori carried out on the side. Her genius stems not from her teaching ability, but from her recognition of the importance of what she stumbled upon.