Martha Monahan is the founder and Director of Rising Stars. Martha is also the Executive Director of Northeast Montessori Institute and has been involved in teacher training on the North Shore of Massachusetts since the inception of NMI in 1984. Martha was honored to have brought the first AMS affiliated Early Childhood courses to mainland China and to Vietnam. She continues to pioneer new training opportunities both in the U.S. and internationally. Martha holds an AMI Early Childhood credential from the Toronto Montessori Institute along with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development and Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Holistic Education. Martha is a past chair of the AMS National Conference and has served on the Board of the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE).
Natasha Mckenzie earned her Montessori Early Childhood credential from Northeast Montessori Institute where she is an instructor, both here in the US and in Chengdu, China. She has also completed studies at the Elementary I level and is currently pursuing her Elementary II credential. As a Montessori alumnus and educator, Natasha is a true ‘world citizen’, having spent the past 20 years traveling the globe while sharing her passion for Montessori education, along with that of exploring new cultures and meeting new people. Natasha has acted as a lead guide, field consultant for Montessori Interns, school consultant, and mentor for Montessori programs in China, Vietnam, Tibet, Canada, and the US. She also holds a BA in history from the University of North Florida, as well as a Master of Education with a concentration in Montessori Studies from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. Natasha is an avid paddle board enthusiast and when not traveling, resides in St. Augustine, Florida.