Meet
the Staff
Ms. Diane Basco,
Owner
 I took over operating the school in November, 2003. My professional
background has been in the technology sector in sales for IBM Corporation,
Attachmate Corporation and, currently, Cisco Systems, Inc. as the
Area Sales Director for the Mobility sector in the U.S. I have
had a great deal of exposure to all aspects of business operations,
including working within diverse cultural environments on a global
basis. I have lived in the Atlanta area for the past 28 years. I
possess an Executive MBA from Kennesaw State University and a bachelor's
degree in Business Administration from the same institution.
My children, Sarah and Jennifer who are nine years old, have been
attending Ivy League for the past five years. They are currently
enrolled in the Upper Elementary program. My husband Joe and
I have been thrilled with the quality of education that our children
have received while attending the school. Taking over the school
has provided me with an opportunity to take the school to the next
level. We expanded the school to add two additional
classrooms; we are pleased to have
opened the new Upper and Lower Elementary building this school
year. The Enrichment and After Care Programs have become very popular
and a great addition to the school.
I look forward to meeting you and your children. I welcome
you anytime to Ivy League Montessori School — the school with a heart,
the school where every student is honored.
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Ms. Becky Carty,
School Director
 My
name is Becky Carty and I am the director at Ivy League Montessori
School. I am originally from Virginia, but have called Georgia home
since 1972. I live in Dawsonville, with my husband and son.
While
in college preparing for a degree in education, a friend suggested
that I observe a Montessori school. After my first visit, I knew
immediately that this was the best way for children to learn. They
were happy, creative, and working at academic levels that amazed
me. I was trained at the Atlanta Montessori Institute for the AMI
Primary level, and began teaching in 1980.
I decided to take time off
to be with my son when he was born in 1992. I went back to school
and received a degree in nursing, but quickly found that working
in a hospital did not allow me to spend the time I wanted to with
my family. I made the decision to return to teaching, and began working at Ivy
League in January 1997 as a Primary Teacher. I became
Director in August 2003.
Ivy League is an incredible place to work, with a dedicated and
supportive staff. I love coming to work each day!
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Ms. Donna Cochran,
Office Manager
 I
am a native Georgian and was raised in the Alpharetta area. After
graduating from Milton High School, I married my husband and
I had the opportunity to travel with him while he was serving in
the U.S. Army. We lived in Germany for two years and we also
lived in Oklahoma for a year and a half. Grady and I currently
reside in the Cumming area.
Grady and I are blessed with two children. They are both grown now with families of their own. Last year
and they both decided that they would bless us with one
of the best gifts that parents can receive – grandchildren.
By the end of February, 2007, I will have three. I
am very excited, but still adjusting to the idea of becoming a grandmother!! I
hope that one day they all can join me at ILMS and benefit from
this wonderful experience.
I began working at Ivy League Montessori in 1994 as a teacher’s
assistant and remained in that position for four years. In
1998 I became the Office Manager and continue to work in that position.
I look forward to meeting you and assisting you in any way I can.
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 Ms. Amy Barnes,
Primary Level
Teacher, Ages 2-1/2 to 6+
I grew up in Dunwoody, GA. and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1997 with a BA in Psychology. After graduation,I took a few months to travel around the western United States and experience different people and places. I returned to Athens, GA. where I took a position as a primary assistant at Athens Montessori School. I fell in love with Montessori philosophy and decided to pursue my training in Colorado.
I received my AMS diploma in 2000 and began teaching and working as the Office Manager at a Montessori school in Ft. Collins, CO. I went on to assist in the opening of a new Montessori school, and work as a nanny to three wonderful children.
I married my boyfriend of 9 1/2 years in 2003 on a dude ranch in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. We returned to Georgia in 2005 and settled in Cumming. I taught at a Montessori school in Duluth, then began working with my husband and his family in the sign supply industry. I have done everything from accounting to loading trucks!
I am excited to join the Ivy League staff full-time this year and
I'm looking forward to a wonderful time working with the children.
Ms. Yelitza Poulin (known as Ms. Jeli)
Ms. Amy's Assistant
 Hello
everyone! My name is Yelitza Poulin. As you can see, the first four
letters of my name are Yeli – that’s why my friends and
family have always called me Yeli. I was born in Venezuela (Caracas)
and I came to the United States in 1995. My major in college
was English, and I planned to become a teacher or translator. I am
married and have a four-year-old son. His name is David Poulin and
he is in Ms. Ann’s class.
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Ms.
Jahan Nikdel,
Primary Level Teacher, Ages 2-1/2
to 6+
 This
is my ninth year working at ILMS. I am married and have two children.
My son, Reza is 24 and my daughter Miriam is 19 years old. I was
born and raised in Iran and moved to the United States 19 years ago.
In 1998 I attended the Montessori Institute
of Atlanta, where I received my teaching certificate for the Primary
Level of Montessori Education. I
have been employed by ILMS since my graduation,
and I thoroughly enjoy it. I am very fortunate to work with your
precious children and thank you for the opportunity to be their
teacher.
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 Ms. Ana Carrilero
Ms. Jahan's Assistant
Hola!! I come from Venezuela and have lived in the United States since 1992. I am married and have three wonderful children, Alejandro (10), Alan (8), and my little princess Anya (3) who is in Ms. Amy's class. They have had the privilege to study their first years of development under Montessori education, and today I relate their success and superior academic level to it.
I graduated in System Engineering, but I could never dedicate my time continuously to my career because my first priority was always my children. Since I was not working, I had the opportunity to volunteer part time at my children's school and be trained to help children with reading deficiencies at the elementary level. I also served as a translator for teachers and students, which made me realize how much I enjoyed working with children.
I am very proud to be a part of the ILMS family and look forward to being part of your children's education.
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I arrived in Georgia ten years ago with my husband and family, and
our plan was to stay two years and then return to England. Well,
ten years later we’re still here and have no plans to leave! My
family consists of three adult children: a daughter graduated from
college and another daughter and son still at college. After
working as an assistant in a Montessori classroom, I took the AMI
training at the Montessori Institute of Atlanta and graduated in
2005. At present, I am taking the Orton-Gillingham training
for children with dyslexia.
Montessori is my passion and I count myself very fortunate to be
able to work at something I love. Our children are the future
and I feel privileged to be part of guiding their lives.
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Ms. Michelle Coggon,
Ms. Rose's Assistant
 MABUHAY! A
welcome hello from where I came from – the
Philippines. My name is Michele Coggon and I came to the USA four
years ago and married my husband, Edward Coggon. We originally lived
in New Hampshire and moved to Cumming two years ago. We do not have
children yet, but we do have four cats: Twilight, Eclipse, Laylah,
and Happy.
Although I graduated with a B.S. in Mass Communications and Journalism,
I decided to pursue a career in teaching because I love children.
I have worked as an assistant teacher in several schools and two
Montessori schools (Montessori School of Alpharetta and the Montessori
School of Cumming) and I enjoy the children very much! In my leisure
time I write stories that someday will be turned into a book. I also love theater and acted in plays and television while in college.
I am looking forward to knowing the staff, parents and children
of ILMS!
KITA-KITA TAYO (see you around)
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Ms.
Rebecca (Bee) Tufts,
Lower Elementary Teacher, Ages 6 to 9+
 Hello!
I am the Lower Elementary teacher at Ivy League Montessori School.
Our elementary program began in the fall 2002, making my students the
first class of elementary students in our school. We have a tightly
knit group that enjoys very full days of lessons, personal work to
practice and advance skills, research and imaginative exploration,
and collaborative group experiences.
I began working at Ivy League six years ago as an
assistant in Ms. Jahan's primary classroom. She and her young students
demonstrated the fascinating process of Montessori education. I was
awed by the learning and development I observed in the children! I
decided I must attend Montessori training and earn my certification
in Lower Elementary education. This certification, awarded by the Pan
American Montessori Society, was completed in 2003. Thus began Ivy
League's first Lower Elementary program, with me as its teacher.
Prior
to working in Montessori education, I was trained as a Health and Physical
Education instructor, working for four years in Cobb County, Georgia
public schools. My work there was in Adapted Physical Education, where
I worked exclusively with children who had special needs. My students
ranged from kindergarteners through twelfth graders. I received my
B.S. in Health and Physical Education from Virginia Commonwealth University,
and earlier, a B.S. in General Health Science from James Madison University
in Virginia.
I
moved to Georgia from Virginia in 1995 with my husband and three children,
who are now 18, 21, and 23 years old. Our family also includes Sophia,
our dog. I enjoyed staying home with my children while they were young,
becoming involved with Scouts, coaching, Little League, and other volunteer
positions.
I am a physically active individual who loves gardening,
hiking, and most other outdoor activities. My love of nature is reflected
in my teaching. I am very committed to sharing with my students the
Montessori values of care and respect, the nurturing of natural curiosity,
and the appreciation of life's delicate balance.
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Ms.
Mary Ann Burnison,
Ms. Bee's Assistant
 I was born in Bay City, Michigan, and, after attending
high school, I decided that I wanted to become a teacher. I began my
graduate studies at Saginaw Valley State University where I met my
husband, David. At the age of 19, my father was transferred to Georgia,
our first move out of Michigan. I completed my degree in elementary
education and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the
University Of Georgia in Athens.
David and I were married in East Tawas, Michigan,
and I taught in the Cass City School System. Later, we came to Georgia
where I taught at Sugar Hill Elementary in Gwinnett County. I have
been residing in Cumming since 1991 with my husband and two daughters;
Amy and Christy.
Today, I am happily working at Ivy League Montessori
School enjoying each and every day. It has been an absolute pleasure
working with the children and with a wonderful, enriching staff.
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Ms.
Kirsi Tehrani,
Upper Elementary Teacher, Ages 9 - 12
 I am originally from Finland where I was born and
raised. I first came to the United States at the age of sixteen as
an American Field Service Exchange student in Richland, Washington.
I graduated from the program in 1980.
After finishing High School in Finland, I entered
the University of Tampere. I earned my Masters Degree in Pedagogic
in 1987 and continued working as a teacher trainer and an elementary
teacher in the University Teacher Training School. The International
Rotary Scholarship enabled me to obtain the AMI 6 – 12 Diploma
at the Washington Montessori Institute in Washington, D.C.
In 1992, I returned to Finland to work as an ages
6-9 Elementary Teacher. I felt the need to know more about a child
during the primary years and entered the Montessori Primary Teacher
Program in Atlanta. I received my AMI ages 3-6 diploma in 1994.
Following my training, I helped to establish the Oak
Meadows Montessori School (currently Ivy League Montessori School)
and worked there in the primary level for three years before deciding
to devote my energies to raising my own three children.
Since 1997,
I have watched my children grow and attend Montessori school. The four
planes of development have become familiar to me while teaching in
different levels both in Montessori and public schools. I have always
enjoyed seeing children develop their minds and tried to be a servant
for the child. As a mother and a teacher I am proud to follow Dr. Montessori’s
ideas of helping a child to reach his/her own potentials.
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Ms.
Liz Krebs,
After School Care Programs Manager
 Hi! My
name is Elizabeth Krebs and I am happy to be here at ILMS. Although
I have only been at ILMS for a couple of years, the Montessori philosophy
is not new to me at all. Before I came to ILMS I
owned and operated a preschool for eight years; the Early Learning
Preschool was licensed by Norwescap, a
New Jersey state agency. I
adapted and combined traditional and Montessori ways of teaching
for my preschoolers. The
school motto was "Help them help themselves."
My educational background consists of an A.S. and a B.S. in Computer
Science from St. Peter’s in New Jersey. McKesson
HBOC (Atlanta, Georgia) employed me and I worked offsite in New Jersey
as a computer consultant. I managed the Computer Operations Department
of three major hospitals in North Jersey.
My husband, Rob, chose Georgia
to relocate for an early retirement. We
have been married for 19 years and we have been blessed with three
wonderful children: Justin (16), Jennifer (14) and Jessica (12). During
their early childhood years, I instilled in them the Montessori
concept of “I am; I can.” I believed that, because
of this educational foundation, they continue to have successful academic
achievements. Justin was sponsored by Johns Hopkins University
to take the SAT test at the age of twelve. Jennifer and Jessica
are in the gifted and talented program, Horizons.
Now that you know a little bit more about me, I am excited to get
to know your children and you. My aim is to tickle your child’s
growth and development skills and give them the opportunity to explore
and experience a variety of activities here at ILMS.
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Ms. Lindsey Holmes,
Resources Coordinator, Assistant for Lunch Bunch & After Care Program
 I started working at ILMS in February 2006. I have had contact with
the school since my mother, Donna Cochran, started working here in
1994. I worked in day care for three years while in high school,
but I found the environment very noisy and chaotic. I was amazed at
the difference when I began working at ILMS. I do a little of everything
in my job, but I enjoy getting to know the children the most.
I currently live in Cumming with my husband, Colby and my one year old son, Gavin. I look forward to getting to know you and your child.
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