The Speakers

Dionne Kirby brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to Lumin Education’s mission of transforming education. With a solid background in education and extensive experience in Dallas' nonprofit sector, she is dedicated to inspiring children from all cultural and economic backgrounds. 

Dionne has a long career of community service and driving positive change. In Washington, D.C., she served as Deputy Director of an afterschool arts and education program. She taught in traditional classrooms and supported school principals and instructional coaches in Dallas ISD’s School Leadership Department. She has held fundraising and leadership roles in local and national organizations. 

Dionne holds a bachelor’s degree in English Education with a minor in Spanish from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in Humanities and Creative Writing from Tiffin University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Change at Tiffin University.

Athirai Baskaran is the Director of the Texas Institute of Montessori Education (TIME) and has trained thousands of Montessori educators nationwide. With over 25 years of experience in early childhood education, she specializes in teacher training, program development, and school consultation. Her presentations are known for blending Montessori principles with practical classroom insight and a deep commitment to educational excellence.

Kanetria Doolin, M.Ed., holds an AMI Primary Diploma and has dedicated her career to Montessori education and leadership. She has served as Head of School, mentor teacher, and instructional coach, guiding educators and schools in authentic Montessori practice. Through her consulting firm, The Little Seed Education Systems, Kanetria partners with families, schools, and districts to create inclusive, culturally responsive environments where children can flourish and communities thrive.

Milinh Villanueva shares practical strategies for building strong, culturally responsive partnerships with parents as they learn to embrace the Montessori approach. This session explores how to communicate Montessori principles with clarity and compassion, support families through behavioral challenges, and create alignment between home and school. Educators will leave with tools to foster inclusive connections that honor family culture while reinforcing consistency, collaboration, and peace for the child’s development.

Jolene is a 20 year veteran of Montessori, working in both public and private schools. She is currently the Director of MOLO Bilingual Montessori and is also a Montessori mom. Jolene presents at local, state, regional and national conferences to pass on important tools to teachers and parents. She is an active part of her community, volunteering with AMS, TEAM, Pup Squad Animal Rescue and the Houston Heights Woman's Club.

David Rotberg has been a passionate leader in Montessori education for over 15 years. He graduated from Rochester College and earned his Montessori credential from the American Montessori Society for Elementary. David founded and led a Montessori Elementary I & II program in Michigan and now serves as a Lower Elementary Guide at Pines Montessori School in Kingwood, Texas. (An IMC accredited school)

He has over 10 years experience as a Montessori Teacher Trainer, School Consultant, Speaker and an On-Site School Accreditation Verifier. Additionally, David is a faculty member of The Center of Guided Montessori Studies, leads a US Montessori Elementary teacher cohort, and has served the The International Montessori Council (IMC), The Polish Montessori Institute and The American Montessori Society as a writer, speaker and presenter. 

David is a proud husband, father of one daughter (age 15), and three sons (ages 9, 11, 13). He enjoys spending time at home with his family, his pets (a dog and two cats), his children's activities (orchestra, flag football and baseball), running, spending time outdoors, reading, trying new cuisines and is an active member of his church. He credits his faith to all that he does and who he is. 

David believes that Montessori is truly one of the greatest gifts that can be given to all children, their families and the world.

Blanca Velázquez-Martin is a licensed psychotherapist (LPC) specialized in supporting families and educators with research-informed support and interventions to nurture healthy socioemotional development during the early years. Informed by her own journey as a Montessori child, now a Montessori parent, and almost a decade of experience in the clinical and psychosocial research field, she founded Whole Child Home in 2021 with the goal to empower families and school teams with science-based education and therapeutic services to promote healthy emotional development and positive relationsihps between caregivers and the young children in their lives. Her approach incorporates consideration of core Montessori principles in the support of the child’s socioemotional development, with deep belief in the preparation of the adult, the environment, and trust in the child as a capable learner (yes, even throught the tricky moments!) as key elements in the process. 

Blanca's background includes certification as an Early Childhood Intervention Specialist, socioemotional research in Head Start Programs, collaboration with educators in the Philadelphia School District on School-wide Positive Behavior Intervention Support as a research team member from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the development/implementation of evidence-based learning workshops and consultations for caregivers and Montessori organizations worldwide through Whole Child Home. She is a certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator by the Positive Discipline Association, holds a Certification for Montessori in the Home by the Prepared Montessorian Institute, and has completed training for Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom through Jane Neslen and Chip DeLorenzo’s certificate program. A native Spanish speaker born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico, Blanca provides support to caregivers and educators in both English and Spanish.

No hacks or quick strategies will work unless we nurture the adult’s understanding of brain development, and learn how to navigate discipline and emotional development as a life-long relationship of collaboration and mutual respect with the child. She is deeply honored to partner with you as we walk the life-long learning path together.

Dr. Corey Borgman is a Montessori educator, administrator, speaker, researcher, advocate, and consultant with 17 years of experience in the classroom and 12 in administration. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UVA's School of Education & Human Development, with a dissertation focused on the challenges facing principals of public Montessori schools. As education & outreach director for the Montessori Science Program, Borgman’s role focuses on leveraging the lab’s Montessori research into tangible, positive community impact. She is the proud parent of three Montessori educated daughters.

Kelly Short: Upper Elementary Teacher and Montessori Therapy Interventionist and Pamela Pfautsch: Upper Elementary Teacher and Montessori Therapy Interventionist

Emily has been immersed in Montessori education since her student teaching in the fall of 1998. A credentialed Early Childhood Montessori teacher, she has worked in both public and private Montessori schools. After nine years in the classroom, she transitioned into leadership, serving in roles including Lower Division Director, Director of Admission, and Assistant Head of School at The Montessori School of San Antonio (MSSA). Over the past five years, she has led the Montessori program at the Barrie School and is now entering her fourth year as Head of School at MSSA.

In addition to her professional experience, Emily also has the perspective of a Montessori parent. Her two children, now in seventh and eleventh grade—have attended Montessori schools since they were toddlers, giving her the unique opportunity to see how the approach supports and nurtures different learning styles and personalities.

Outside of school, Emily enjoys reading, cooking, spending time outdoors, and traveling with her husband and children.

Jessica Harrison

As the female founder of the family-owned business, Courageous Counseling and Consulting, Jessica Harrison directs all activities of the practice. Her holistic mindset allows her to evaluate mental health through a whole-body wellness lens that focuses not only on mental health but also on physical, social, occupational, intellectual, environmental, financial, and spiritual wellbeing.

Jessica, LPC, graduated with a Master of Education in Counseling from Sul Ross State University a member of the Texas State University System after earning her Bachelor of Business Administration in Interdisciplinary Business from Tarleton State University a member of the Texas A&M University System. She is a Certified Digital Wellness Practitioner, Certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator, Certified First Responder Counselor, and Licensed Speech Language Pathologist-Assistant.

Jessica is a native west Texan, and she has a special place in her heart for rural Texans. She is actively and proudly serving her hometown by providing counseling services to special education students at the school she attended, as well as providing services for at-risk youth in her home county. She is the part-time counselor for the Montessori School of San Antonio, where she is committed to addressing mental health issues and providing solution focused therapy and resources to the MSSA Community.

She happily delivers presentations on a variety of mental health and wellness topics to diverse audiences and consults with corporations and companies on building healthy workplace cultures and promoting digital wellness solutions in the workplace.

In her free time, Jessica enjoys exercising with her husband Jacob, cooking, and watching Netflix. She spends most of her time enjoying the outdoors with her family, friends, and dog, Bella.

Chris Noel is the Director of Communications at The Montessori School of San Antonio. As a former teacher and parent, Chris leverages her passion for photography to share the MSSA story and is dedicated to helping Montessori educators utilize effective communication to foster strong, vibrant school communities. Outside of work, Chris enjoys traveling, gardening, and reading.