Our Educators

PRINCIPAL & “COSMIC VIEW” DIRECTRESS

Ms. Carmen serves as Principal and Cosmic View Directress at Carmel Montessori Academy, continuing her more than forty years of leadership and service to the school.

She holds a B.A. from Marygrove College in Detroit and an M.Ed. from the National College of Education in Evanston, along with Illinois administrative and teaching certificates. She received her Montessori training from the MidWest Montessori Teacher Training Center under Dr. Urban Fleege, who pioneered Chicago’s first Elementary Montessori training program. She is certified in Preprimary and Primary/Elementary, with extensive Erdkinder experience, and has completed Junior Great Books training.

Throughout her career, Ms. Carmen has served as an American Montessori Society consultant and evaluator, Montessori teacher trainer, and supervising directress for interns. She has also trained teachers in Erdkinder programs for more than twelve years, participated in the AMS Teacher’s Research Network, and served on the Board of the Think Virtue Project.

With fifty-six years in Montessori education, Ms. Carmen continues to provide guidance and leadership at CMA while nurturing the school’s vision and its students’ developing understanding of the world.

HIGH SCHOOL DIRECTOR & HEAD OF SCHOOL

Mr. LaFranzo was a Montessori student through age fourteen, giving him a lifelong connection to the Montessori approach.

He holds a B.S. in Biology from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, a B.A. in Music from the University of Charleston in South Carolina, and an M.S. in Music Composition from the Boston Conservatory. He has also completed additional study in marine biology at the University of Charleston and the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

A composer and artist with a particular interest in symphonic music and marine biology, Mr. LaFranzo has taught adolescents and adults through several fellowship programs. He completed Montessori Preprimary and Administrative Training at the Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center in Evanston.

Mr. LaFranzo serves as an American Montessori Society Accreditation Team Member and Montessori Consultant and continues his study of adolescent psychology, with a special interest in brain development and research.

In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Mr. LaFranzo directs the Erdkinder Program and teaches Mathematics and Science. We are grateful for the breadth of experience and enthusiasm he brings to our students and families.

PRIMARY ELEMENTARY DIRECTOR & HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER

Mr. Calhoun earned a B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing from Columbia University, where he met his future wife, Nora. After graduation, he worked at St. Joseph’s House, a Catholic Worker community in New York, before earning an M.A. in Education from Seton Hall University. He then taught English for three years at LaSalle Academy, a Catholic boys’ high school in New York.

While at LaSalle, Mr. Calhoun discovered the work of Maria Montessori, inspiring him to pursue Montessori training at the Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center and move his family to the Chicago area. He holds AMS 6–12 Elementary Certification and serves as CMA’s Primary/Elementary Director. He also trains Montessori elementary teachers at MMTTC during the summer.

His four daughters are enrolled in CMA’s Preprimary, Primary, and Elementary programs.

We are delighted to welcome Mr. Calhoun and his family back to our Montessori community.

PRE PRIMARY DIRECTRESS

Mrs. Amy Cacini is delighted to serve as CMA’s Preprimary Directress. Before stepping into this role, she spent five years as a Preprimary assistant, developing a deep understanding of the Montessori environment and the individual needs of young children.

She completed Early Childhood academic coursework at MMTTC, studying Montessori philosophy, child development, Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, and Cultural Subjects. She holds an associate degree from William Rainey Harper College and has also studied at the University of Iowa.

Mrs. Amy is a certified Bradley natural childbirth instructor and has worked as a postpartum doula, childcare and in-home daycare provider, and elder caregiver. A former homeschooling parent of six and a grandmother, she believes deeply in child-led learning, positive reinforcement, and treating every child with patience and respect. She has also served as an Awana leader and taught dance through a local homeschool cooperative.

Outside of CMA, she enjoys nature, raising chickens, and caring for her eighteenth-century farmhouse. She brings warmth, practical experience, and a genuine commitment to nurturing independence and growth in every child.

HEAD of MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Mrs. Andrea LaFranzo returns for her twenty-fifth year at Carmel Montessori Academy, where she supports students and contributes her musical expertise to the school’s performing arts programs.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Cello Performance from the Boston Conservatory of Music and a master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from Northern Illinois University. She also completed her Paraprofessional Montessori training through MECA-SETON (AMS).

Mrs. LaFranzo maintains a cello studio of approximately twenty students and serves on the faculty of Aurora University as a cello instructor and music director. She is also an adjunct faculty member at North Central College in Naperville. In addition, she conducts the Fermi Community Orchestra, directs the Fox Valley Youth Orchestra, and performs as principal cellist with the Fox Valley Orchestra.

We are grateful for Mrs. LaFranzo’s many years of dedication to CMA, her warm and gentle presence with students, and the exceptional musical expertise she brings to our community.

ART & HIGH SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY TEACHER

Jason has been an artist all his life. Whether through painting, drawing, photography, or music, creativity is an important part of who he is. For the past fifteen years, he has worked alongside his wife as a wedding photographer, bringing a wealth of experience and artistic perspective to his work.

Jason also has a deep interest in philosophy, ethics, and apologetics. He enjoys exploring why we think and believe the things we do and believes that knowing ourselves is foundational to how we understand and engage with the world. He encourages thoughtful reflection, curiosity, and the willingness to ask meaningful questions.

Most importantly, Jason loves being part of a big family and is a proud father of five children.

HOME ECONOMICS & YOGA TEACHER

Mrs. Depue earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication from Illinois State University and completed her 300-hour yoga teacher certification through YogaView in 2016. She went on to teach children’s yoga with Kidding Around Yoga, where she discovered how much she enjoyed working with children and embracing their playful, carefree spirit.

Alongside yoga, Mrs. Depue developed a passion for cooking, nutrition, and exploring healthier food choices. She believes cooking doesn’t have to be complicated—children can learn by following a recipe, experimenting, and being willing to try again when something doesn’t quite work.

At Carmel, Mrs. Depue brings that philosophy to the food program, helping students prepare wholesome foods using ingredients from our farmette and beyond. Through cooking, students build confidence, independence, practical skills, and an understanding of how the food they prepare can nourish their bodies.

ASSISTANT TO ADMINISTRATOR

Samantha Hatch serves as Assistant to the Administrator at Carmel Montessori Academy, supporting daily operations while creating innovative, hands-on learning experiences for students. She teaches Animal Husbandry, Filmmaking, and Photography, drawing on more than a decade of professional experience in the film industry.

Samantha holds an MFA in Film Directing and a BFA in Film/Video from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). Before entering education, she worked as a Production Assistant in the Assistant Directing Department on more than 100 television shows and feature films in California, gaining extensive experience with major studio productions and television series.

As both a CMA staff member and parent, Samantha is deeply invested in the school community. She believes children learn best through authentic, hands-on experiences and strives to foster independence, creativity, responsibility, and confidence—whether students are caring for animals, making films, or exploring photography.

PREPRIMARY ASSISTANT

Coming soon….