Shaun Gerson - Director

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Shaun now lives in Asheville, NC.  He discovered the Montessori philosophy in 1997 at York College of Pennsylvania, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Developmental Psychology.  From there, he immediately sought out Montessori education as a career and received his Elementary I certification from the Center for Montessori Teacher Education (CMTE) in New York.  The following summers , Shaun held the positions of a support staff member and presenter at CMTE/NY.  He spent 5 years in Baltimore, Maryland teaching in accredited Montessori schools.  Shaun joined the Montessori community of WNC in the summer of 2005 and held the position of  lead teacher in an Elementary (6-9) program.  Shaun achieved great success in the role of Head Teacher / Educational Coordinator, expanding an elementary program from having 6 students to a full classroom with a 15 student waiting list.

Shaun Gerson has over 10 years of Montessori education experience and is very familiar with the establishment, operation and maintenance of a Montessori school.  Currently, Shaun is the Head Teacher/Director as well as the Owner and Head of School of MESA.  Over the summers, he is a teacher-educator/presenter for the Elementary program of the Montessori Teacher Training Center in Raleigh (CMTE/NC).    Shaun also shares his love and knowledge of the Montessori method with a private home-school group of teenage boys from “New Direction Farm” in Mars Hill.  On his own time, he and his wife Jessica (a Montessori directress at Asheville Montessori School) enjoy all that the mountains of Western North Carolina have to offer.

Henry Blackford - Montessori Student Teacher

Henry is originally from Boone, NC.  He graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Anthropology.  He has experience working with children at Camp Celo in Burnsville, NC.  As a child, Henry attended a Montessori school for his elementary years.  He has been familiar with the Montessori curriculum for a long time and decided to pursue a career in education.  This past summer, Henry attended the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in Raleigh, NC.  He will be completing his internship year with MESA and will receive his certification from the American Montessori Society upon completion of his training this summer.

Henry brings a wealth of knowledge to MESA, including his fluency of the Spanish language.  He has lived, traveled and studied abroad in Central and South America.  Additionally, he is  the Spanish teacher for the students of MESA this year.  Henry enjoys being outdoors in the mountains for hiking, biking and running.  He now lives in Asheville with his fiance, Georgette and their daughter, Sylvia Grace.

D. Rae Geoffrey - Drama Teacher

D. Rae Geoffrey is the Associate Director at Diana Wortham Theatre in downtown Asheville (www.dwtheatre.com) where she coordinates the Education and Young Audiences Programs.  She holds degrees in Theatre Arts and Communications and more than 15 years training in ballet and modern dance.  Rae worked professionally as an Actor, Arts Educator, Director and Theatre Manager throughout the Southease and Chicago for such companies as Charlotte Repertory Theatre, The League of Chicago Theatres, Wing & Groove Theatre Company, Footsteps Theatre Compan, Highland Repertory Theatre, The Theatre School at DePaul University, Uhlich Children’s Home and the Merle Reskin Theatre- as well as a few fun jobs involving various costumed, singing animals.  Rae’s favorite role was “Kate” in The Taming of the Shrew which was recommended for Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Award.  She returned to the mountains to raise a family with her husband Jarrod and is the proud mother of Ronan (5) and Grace (3) as well as 2 dogs and 1 cat.  Rae is constantly amazed at the openness and talents displayed by the wonderful children at MESA.

Advisory panel:

Nan & Steve Gregory - Asheville Montessori School

Chris Hunter - Graphic Designer

Jessan Hager - Web Designer / Marketing Advisor