Mary was born and raised in Chapel Hill and now happily calls Pittsboro home. She is a career educator with a background in experiential and constructivist approaches. She holds an MAT from NC State in middle grades. She has taught middle school for more than 10 years, teaching all the subjects. For her undergraduate work, she studied sustainable development from a global perspective, earning a degree in Anthropology and Spanish. She started her career as an outdoor educator with the NC Outward Bound School, teaching environmental education and character building in a variety of backcountry settings. She thrives in interdisciplinary approaches, empowering students to be leaders and making connections outside the classroom. She has worked in public and charter schools most recently spending several years serving as a teacher representative on her previous schools Governance board committee.

These days, she spends most of her time chasing her triplets, outside in her garden, exploring local hikes and rivers with her family, or planning their next adventure. As a WOM parent she's excited to bring her experience to help support this amazing community as it continues to grow.

Amber brings extensive experience in organizational strategy, finance, and operations, with a background in leading global teams and supporting complex initiatives across more than 50 countries. She specializes in organizational transformation, strategic planning, and operational effectiveness, and is known for her creative problem-solving and collaborative leadership style.

As a board member at Willow Oak Montessori, Amber is committed to supporting equitable access, transparent governance, and strong leadership. She values the Montessori approach and its focus on nurturing independent and compassionate learners, and she brings a strategic lens to board discussions that help strengthen the school’s mission and community impact.

Livia brings over two decades of experience in finance and business operations. She has worked in financial management and organizational strategy, with a focus on building sustainable systems and efficient internal processes that support growth. As both a parent and dedicated board member, Livia is passionate about ensuring Willow Oak Montessori has the resources and financial stewardship needed to provide an authentic Montessori education for all students.

Elisabeth is a novelist and former high school teacher. She earned her MA in teaching in 2009 and began her career at two top Boston charter schools (MATCH Public Charter and Benjamin Banneker Montessori Charter) before moving to teach in Chatham County, where she met her husband, a lifetime Chatham resident. They live in Pittsboro with their 2 daughters, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. 

Elisabeth brings experience to the Willow Oak Montessori Board as the former fundraising chair of her children's preschool board, where she resurrected scholarship funding through multiple events and drives. She is an active member in the Pittsboro small business community and regional animal rescue. She plans to use her experience in education, marketing, and community organization to support several committees within the board, with a focus on community outreach and engagement.

Josh is a parent, educator, and advocate for student-centered learning. He is a Teaching Professor of Organic Chemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he focuses on making complex material accessible and helping students grow in both skill and confidence. His approach to teaching emphasizes structure, empathy, and curiosity — values that align closely with Willow Oak’s mission to foster independence, respect, and a lifelong love of learning. As a board member, Josh is committed to supporting a thriving school community that empowers both children and educators.

Outside of work, Joshua enjoys spending time with his family, particularly nature walks, cooking, and reading with his spouse and two young children. He is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a school that reflects the kind of world he hopes to help build.

Dorothy is an attorney with nearly two decades of experience advising non-profits, educational institutions, and businesses on legal compliance, with a particular focus on employment and non-discrimination law. She grew up in North Carolina as a daughter of an Army sergeant and a teacher’s assistant (now a retired EC teacher), and earned a B.A. in Russian literature at UNC-Chapel Hill and a J.D. at Vanderbilt Law School.

After living in Chicago for ten years, she returned to North Carolina to raise her two children, who are now students at Willow Oak. She brings to the board a deep commitment to public education and a strong belief in the Montessori philosophy. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, gardening, and reading.  

Susie grew up a third culture kid, with roots planted in both Palestine and Canada. Between her studies and career, she's called six countries across the MENA region and North America home, giving her a natural fluency in connecting with people across cultures.

That unique perspective carries into her work as a storyteller and digital marketing strategist. Ex-Ogilvy, Susie has spent 10+ years building social media strategies that amplify brand voice and turn audiences into engaged communities. She's led campaigns for top brands like Hilton, L'Oréal Group, LG, and Mercedes-Benz.

Today, Susie and her husband have three daughters who have thrived at WOM since 2023, which is what first drew her to join the board. As a board member, she's excited to bring her strategic skill set and cross-cultural lens to WOM, helping nurture the next generation of global citizens.

Kristy Fair Ballentine is a strategic communications and marketing leader with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations build strong brands, engage stakeholders, and drive meaningful impact. She currently serves as the Americas regional marketing and communications leader for Ascom, a global healthcare technology company. Kristy is also actively involved in community service through the North Carolina Public Relations Society of America (NCPRSA), where she brings PR professional volunteers together to support nonprofit organizations through the PR for Good program.

As a parent of two children at Willow Oak Montessori, Kristy has experienced firsthand the transformative impact of Montessori education. She is passionate about supporting the school's mission, fostering a strong and inclusive community, and helping ensure Willow Oak continues to thrive for current and future families.

Alison brings experience in human resources, talent strategy, and organizational development, partnering with leaders to build strong teams and positive workplace cultures. She specializes in leadership development, employee engagement, and helping organizations navigate growth and change.

As a board member at Willow Oak Montessori, Alison is committed to supporting the school's mission of fostering independence, curiosity, and lifelong learning. She values the Montessori approach and brings a people-focused and strategic perspective to support the school's continued success and community impact.

Erica is a creative director with over fifteen years of experience shaping brands, websites, and visual strategy for a wide range of clients. She currently leads design at SpotOn, a B2B digital marketing agency, where she translates business goals into design that strengthens how organizations present themselves in the market. She began her career as a graphic designer and advanced through art director and design director roles, building a strategic eye for how design supports the bigger picture. She holds a BFA in Graphic Design from Appalachian State University.

As a WOM parent, Erica is drawn to Montessori's focus on independence, curiosity, and letting each child learn at their own pace. She is passionate about strengthening the school's connection with its community, and looks forward to bringing her experience in design and strategic thinking to help guide Willow Oak's long-term direction and growth.

Manju credits his dad — an educator — for his awareness of the impact good education has on students of all ages. Manju knows he has benefitted from the educators and schools he has attended, and views his service on the WOM Board as a way to pay his educational benefits forward to subsequent generations and to the community.  He especially appreciates the student choice and mixed-age groupings in Montessori classrooms, which he believes closely represents the real world environment in social and professional settings. He and his wife have two children at WOM, and he is delighted to be able to serve on the Board, combining his computer science and MBA skills to support the school.

Katie was born and raised in Chapel Hill, the daughter of a school guidance counselor.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Smith College and a master’s degree in engineering management from Duke University.  Having worked in various cities throughout the US upon graduating, she was thrilled to move back to North Carolina where she now lives in Chapel Hill with her husband, two daughters, one dog and one cat. 

She currently works as an Automation engineer within the pharmaceutical industry,  dedicated to advancing innovative technologies and streamlining complex operations. With a strong foundation in systems engineering and a passion for continuous improvement, Katie brings strategic insight and technical expertise to her role on the WOM board.  Katie’s experience in cross-functional leadership and her dedication to inclusive, forward-thinking education make her a valuable contributor to the school’s governance and vision.

Viktor Shepelin brings a robust background in finance, capital markets and large-scale project management to the Willow Oak Montessori Board of Directors. Drawing on over a decade of experience in the financial sector where he specialized in business strategy and delivery of complex initiatives, Viktor is deeply committed to operational excellence. He leverages his professional expertise to ensure the school operates efficiently and sustainably, providing a strong foundation that allows its educational mission to flourish.

A passionate advocate for public education, Viktor believes in its power to provide an equitable foundation that unlocks every child's innate potential and prepares them for the future. He firmly supports the Montessori approach, viewing it as a vital counterbalance in today’s tech-saturated and rapidly advancing AI landscape. He recognizes that hands-on, self-directed learning fosters the independent critical thinking and adaptability students need to thrive beyond digital screens. By pairing this philosophy with operational resilience, Viktor aims to help Willow Oak empower students from all backgrounds to chart their own successful course.

Alexa is a North Carolina native whose early career in retail evolved into small business ownership, where she created a welcoming space for community members to connect through their shared love of the arts. Her recent work has centered on marketing and community engagement for mission-driven brands, particularly those with a strong storytelling focus that celebrates individuals making an impact.

Alexa’s connection to Montessori education began in childhood through her family’s business, which manufactures cloth and vinyl products for childcare centers nationwide. Today, she proudly represents the third generation involved in the family-run company, based in North Carolina.

She is deeply passionate about supporting businesses and organizations that create safe, inclusive environments where children can grow into compassionate, responsible global citizens. Currently residing in Chapel Hill with her husband, two children, and their Siberian cat, Alexa enjoys live music and theater, antique hunting, meaningful conversations over coffee or delicious food, and spending time in nature with her family.

As a WOM parent, Alexa is excited to contribute her time and energy to help ensure the WOM community continues to feel supported, connected, and nurtured.