Amanda Wolf
she/her
Co-Director
amanda@peacerose.org
Amanda is originally from Seattle and opened Peace Rose when she moved to Wilmington in 2011. Amanda has her BA and Montessori Primary Credential from Belmont University and her Upper Elementary credential through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Amanda is currently pursuing her Masters in Montessori Education and Leadership with St. Catherine University. She is on the board for the local social justice theater company Mouth of Babes (MoB) Theatre and active in the local theater and arts communities. She is passionate about international education, community development, entrepreneurship, and the arts. Her eldest, one of the founding Peace Rose students, is now enrolled in her senior year of high school. Her two younger children are enrolled in the Primary and Lower Elementary programs at Peace Rose.
Julie Small
she/her
Co-Director
julie@peacerose.org
Julie, a Wilmington native, has been with Peace Rose since 2014. Julie has her BA in Psychology from NCSU, her Montessori Early Childhood credential from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, and her Masters in Montessori Leadership from Sarasota University. Julie volunteers as a court advocate through the Guardians ad Litem program. Julie is an adjunct faculty member at Sarasota University, a Montessori University. She lives in Wilmington with her husband and children, two of whom are Peace Rose graduates. Julie has served families in many different ways and is passionate about supporting children and their families through their educational journey.
Elena Rosemond
she/her
Co-Director
elena@peacerose.org
Elena, originally from Durham, has been in Wilmington and with Peace Rose since 2012. Elena has her BFA in Photography from MICA, her Early Childhood Montessori credential, and her Masters in Montessori Leadership from Sarasota University. Elena is a member of the MANC Education Committee, chair of the LGBTQ Center for the Cape Fear Coast board, and a member of the MEPI Publicity Committee. Elena is an adjunct faculty member at Sarasota University, a Montessori University. She lives in the Peace Rose neighborhood with her family. Elena enjoys floating in the ocean, running, and reading. She is joined at Peace Rose by her children, who are in the Upper Elementary and Primary classrooms.
Robin Raim
she/her
Infant/Toddler Program Lead
robin@peacerose.org
Robin, originally from Minnesota, has been with Peace Rose since 2015. She has an associate’s degree from CFCC and her Infant/Toddler Montessori credential from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Robin lives in Wilmington with her family and spends her time painting, creating, singing, and enjoying the natural wonders of our beautiful town. Her middle child is a Peace Rose graduate and her youngest is currently enrolled in the Primary class.
Mae Severt
they/them
Toddler Co-Teacher
mae@peacerose.org
Mae, originally from the Charlotte area, has been in Wilmington since 2019 and with Peace Rose since 2023. With a career background in the behavioral health field, working with both children and adults, they are currently enrolled at CFCC in a UNCW transfer program to obtain their BA in Social Work. They will soon be enrolled in classes with the Center for Guided Montessori Studies to further their role as a Montessori guide. Mae lives in Wilmington with their two children, their dog and two ferrets. They spend their free time immersed in fiber arts, writing and playing music or going on adventures with their children. Mae is joined at PRM by their two children in Secondary and the Toddler Classroom.
Catherine Brewer
she/her
Toddler Co-Teacher
catherine@peacerose.org
Catherine grew up in Winston-Salem, attended Meredith College in Raleigh and was a scientist at Wake Forest Medical Center for 20 years. After moving to Pennsylvania in 2013 she decided to start teaching and fell in love with it immediately. Working as a teacher and camp coordinator at both the Community Arts Center in Wallingford, Pa. and the School in Rose Valley, Catherine was able to experience the joy of working with young people in a growth and learning centered environment. Returning to her native North Carolina, Catherine lives in downtown Wilmington with her husband. She has two grown sons and two granddaughters. Catherine loves art, fun, science and working with young people. She also loves live music, and you can often find her watching her sons play music around the Wilmington area.
Amelia Girard-Reed
she/her
Toddler Co-Teacher
amelia@peacerose.org
Amelia is from Annecy, a town in the French Alps. She discovered her love for teaching in Australia when studying abroad. After a year in a bilingual charter school in Atlanta, Georgia, she moved to Vancouver in Canada where she was teaching French in a bilingual Montessori preschool for 4 years. She and her husband have been in Wilmington since October 2024 and Amelia has been working at Peace Rose since January 2025.
Amelia has a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and her early childhood education assistant diploma.
Amelia enjoys reading and doing yoga. She also loves being outside, hiking, camping and traveling.
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Hydeia Griffin
she/her
Infant Co-Teacher
hydeia@peacerose.org
Originally from Southport, NC, [Hydeia] pursued a passion for science that led her to Allen University, where she earned a degree in Biology. Building on this foundation, she is currently advancing her expertise by pursuing a Master’s in Molecular Medicine at Liberty University. In addition to her academic achievements, [Hydeia] is a Certified Nursing Assistant and holds a CPR/First Aid certification. Outside of their professional pursuits, she enjoys reading, playing volleyball, and relaxing at the beach.
Ermilia Medina
she/her
Infant Co-Teacher / Elementary Spanish Teacher
ermilia@peacerose.org
Ermilia is from the border communities of San Diego, CA and Tijuana, BC Mexico, with roots in Zacatecas Mexico. She has been in Wilmington since 2013 and with Peace Rose since 2022. Ermilia has her B.S. in Kinesiology from San Diego State University, and Graduate studies in Public Health, where she researched Latino community health behavior. Shifted career to early childhood development in 2017, when her oldest child began preschool. Ermilia has a Montessori Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Credential from IMC International Montessori Council. During the summer breaks she works at the public library. She is passionate about improving our ecosystem through composting, gardening, mending and enjoys being active. She is joined at Peace Rose by Lower Elementary and Primary aged children.
Sarah VanCamp
she/her
Primary Co-Teacher
sarah@peacerose.org
Sarah has been in Wilmington since 2006 and with Peace Rose since 2018. Sarah has her BA in Psychology with a concentration in Elementary Education from UNCW and her Early Childhood credential from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. She lives in the school neighborhood with her partner and their daughter. She is passionate about the environment and all things natural. She is joined at Peace Rose by her Upper Elementary aged child.
Tanasha Mcneil
she/her
Primary Co-Teacher
tanasha@peacerose.org
Tanasha, a native of Wilmington, has been with Peace Rose since 2019. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Mt Olive University and her Early Childhood MACTE credential from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. She enjoys reading and pottery.
Ellie Garcia-Kieninger
she/her
Primary Co-Teacher
elenagk@peacerose.org
Ellie, a native of Las Vegas, has been in Wilmington since 2016 and with Peace Rose since 2021. She has enrolled in classes with the Center for Guided Montessori Studies to further her role as a Montessori guide. She lives in Wilmington with her husband and their dogs in Wilmington and enjoys spending her free time with her family, reading, and crafting. Ellie is joined in class by her infant son.
Christy Ross
she/her
Primary Co-Teacher
christy@peacerose.org
Christy moved to Wilmington in 2022 from Phoenix, Arizona, with over 10 years of Montessori teaching experience. After earning her AMI certification and spending a decade in the classroom, life took her in a new direction as an investment specialist—but her heart never left education.Moving to Wilmington gave Christy the chance to return to what she loves most: working with children in a Montessori setting. She spent the past few years teaching at Topsail Montessori and is now excited to be teaching right in her own neighborhood.Christy lives with her husband and their two dogs, and they love to travel whenever they can. Her two grown children both attended Montessori through elementary and junior high, deepening her belief in the lifelong impact of a Montessori education.
Elyssa Claudio
she/her
Primary Co-Teacher
elyssa@peacerose.org
Elyssa, originally from northern New Jersey, moved to Wilmington in 2024. She graduated from Temple University in 2018 with a BA in Media Studies & Production. In 2020, she taught at a nature-based preschool, where she combined her love of working with children and being outdoors—often joking that few things build patience like helping a class of preschoolers in and out of snow and rain gear! Inspired by Montessori’s child-centered approach, Elyssa values hands-on learning, independence, and the connection between nature and education. Literature, art, and nature are among her greatest joys, and she loves sharing them with children to spark imagination, empathy, and confidence.
Blake Carter
she/her
Primary Co- Teacher / Theater Teacher
blake@peacerose.org
Blake, originally from Georgia, has been with Peace Rose since 2019. Blake studied theater and children’s theater and continues to work in the local theater community. Blake has enrolled in classes with the Center for Guided Montessori Studies to further her role as a Montessori guide. Blake is currently in training with DIR Floortime. She is a member o the America Alliance for Theater and Education. She lives in Wilmington with her husband and their child. She is a lover of nature, literature, music, and all creatures.
Natalie Potter
she/her
Primary Spanish Teacher
natalie@peacerose.org
Natalie has been with Peace Rose since 2023. She has her Bachelor's degree in Clinical Research from UNCW and her Montessori Early Childhood credential from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Her love of science grew into a love for teaching during her two years teaching abroad in Spain. She lives in Wilmington with her husband and son and their puppy. She loves going to the beach, reading and hiking.
Drew Barnes
she/her
Lower Elementary & Primary Co-Teacher
drew@peacerose.org
Drew, a proud Wilmingtonian, joined the Peace Rose community in 2024. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Literature from Peace College University and a Master's degree in Social Work from N.C. State University. Before stepping into the world of education, Drew served as the director of a music-centered nonprofit in New York City, where she combined creativity and compassion to uplift others. She brings that same heart and dedication to her work with children, guided by a deep passion for child development and emotional well-being. Outside of the classroom, Drew enjoys volunteering at the Cameron Art Museum and Martha’s Kitchen, as well as fostering animals.
Sue Hottel
she/her
Lower Elementary Co- Teacher
sue@peacerose.org
Sue, originally from Maryland, has been in Wilmington since 2016 and with Peace Rose since 2017. She is AMS certified in both Primary and Lower Elementary levels and has been guiding students for over 20 years. Sue lives with her husband, Chance and 11 year old daughter, Althea, a Peace Rose graduate. She enjoys reading, bike riding, seeing live music, being active, and exploring our beautiful state of North Carolina.
Emily Kight
she/her
Lower Elementary Co-Teacher / Elementary Lead
emily@peacerose.org
Emily has lived in Wilmington since 2016 & has been with Peace Rose since 2019. Growing up in a Marine Corps family, coastal NC naturally felt like home. Emily holds a B.S. in Psychology from Ohio Valley University and Montessori Lower Elementary Credential from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Emily lives in the school neighborhood with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. She is passionate about caring for our community and serving others, mostly through volunteering in local outreach organizations. In her free time she loves baking, biking, reading, or camping with family and friends.
Lacherie Mitchell
she/her
Upper Elementary Co-Teacher
lacherie@peacerose.org
Lacherie, originally from Winston-Salem, has been in Wilmington since 2021 and with Peace Rose since 2023. She has a BA in Agricultural Education from NC A&T. Lacherie has enrolled in classes with the Center for Guided Montessori Studies to further her role as a Montessori guide. She lives in Wilmington with her wife and two children and spends her time working in the yard, crafting, or searching for shells on the beach. Her youngest child joins her at Peace Rose in the Lower Elementary class.
Antonia Walker
she/her
Secondary Co-Teacher / Secondary Lead
antonia@peacerose.org
Antonia is originally from Massachusetts and has been in Wilmington for 5 years and has been with Peace Rose since 2023. Antonia has her degree in Baking and Pastry from Le Cordon Bleu. Antonia currently lives in Wilmington with her husband and son. Antonia generally spends all her free time reading and by the ocean. She is joined at Peace Rose by her son in the Primary classroom.
Susie Lukens
she/her
Secondary Co-Teacher
susie@peacerose.org
Susie, raised right up the road in Burgaw and Rocky Point, has been in Wilmington proper since 2014. She has her MAT in Curriculum and Instruction and has taught in NC public schools for nine years. After studying how targeted number sense instruction affects upper elementary students' math skill deficits, Susie taught 6th grade math and social studies, then moved to Pre-K after the 2020 shake-up, building a strong belief that all learning can and should be "cross-curricular". She has always had a strong interest in the Montessori philosophy, and is excited to learn more and pursue training and certification. Susie also teaches theater and performance in the community and loves performing and singing. She is fortunate that her whole family stayed local, and loves spending time with them in Rocky Point--especially her niece's dog, Kenobi.
Kendra Bentley
she/her
Musical Theater Teacher
kendra@peacerose.org
Kendra Bentley has been a part of the Peace Rose community since 2016, where she teaches music with a focus on nurturing creativity and joy in every child. She is a mother of 5, with two children in the primary program and two in the elementary program. Kendra offers private ukulele and voice lessons, and has been an active member of Wilmington’s arts community since 2001, performing with local choirs and community theatre groups. Outside of music, Kendra has been serving families as a birth and postpartum doula since 2011, and she is currently pursuing her midwifery license. Her work—whether in the classroom, the theatre, or the birth space—is guided by a deep commitment to creativity, community, and care.