BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Island Montessori’s board is made up of dedicated volunteers from diverse professional backgrounds, all sharing a passion for Montessori education and a deep commitment to the children in our community.
Parents and community members are encouraged to attend our monthly board meetings or reach out with any questions or ideas.
Third Wednesday of each month at 7 PM
Meetings alternate between our Charter School and the Children’s School Building
Interviews typically start in April-May with the Board Presidents, followed by the Executive Committee,
with new board members welcomed at the Annual Charter Board Meeting in July.
Nicole Smith (President, Charter; Secretary, Children's School)
Nicole earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Political Science and Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Administration degree in Town and County Management from Appalachian State University. She has been a devoted public servant in planning and land use for the last fourteen years. Nicole is currently a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, a Certified Zoning Official and a Certified Floodplain Manager. Nicole and her husband, Elliott, live in Wilmington, with their three children, including one enrolled in the Children’s School and one enrolled in the Charter School. Nicole is passionate about responsible growth and holistic education. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, running, and reading.
Emily Elmore (President, Children's School; Member-at-Large, Charter)
Emily Elmore grew up outside Washington, D.C., and earned her BA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, double majoring in Communications and History and has a career as a Marketing Director. Emily and her husband, Carl, relocated to Wilmington from Newport Beach, CA, in 2013 and have three spirited kiddos bouncing the halls at the school. She is a devoted advocate for Montessori education and the freedom of unique learning it inspires. You can often spot the Elmore family in the wild—trying to make it to sports events on time or hosting dance-offs in the living room.
Mackenzie Wetherill (Vice President, Charter School; Member-at-Large Children's School)
Mackenzie grew up in Southeastern North Carolina and graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a degree in Communication Studies, focusing on conflict resolution, mediation, and negotiation. Early in her career, she worked at a local non-profit community mediation center, facilitating family meetings, coordinating Pender Teen Court, and offering mediation services to district courts and local businesses. After the birth of her two beautiful children, Mackenzie transitioned into a new passion—floral design and cut flower growing. When she’s not with her family working on home projects, planting flowers or decorating for holidays (the kids’ favorite), you can often find her spending time with loved ones or cheering with her husband for their favorite football team. Alongside her floral ventures, Mackenzie continues to provide mediation services in district court settings and shares her love for flowers by teaching arranging workshops to fellow enthusiasts.
Lara Fritz (Vice President, Children's School; Member-at-Large Charter School)
Lara grew up in update NY, and attended University of Rhode Island to earn her undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies. After graduating from URI, Lara attended Bancroft School of Massage Therapy, while also coaching crew at URI and Roger Williams. After massage school, Lara opened a massage studio, Wild Heart Wellness, and taught yoga until moving from RI to warmer weather. Lara has been in NC for almost 8 years, and in that time she ran the Massage Program at Miller Motte College, as Program Director for 5 years. After 5 years at MMC, Lara shifted gears to join the team at PPD and is currently a manager, and loves working from home. Lara is a full supporter of all things Montessori, and is looking forward to working with the Island Montessori Community. In her free time, Lara enjoys anything outdoors with her three kids, Ruby 9, Myers 4 and Hollis 5 months, two dogs, and rockstar husband.
Kate Medero (Treasurer, Charter and Children's School)
Kate grew up in New Jersey where she graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration before continuing on to receive her Master of Arts in Education from Georgian Court University. She is certified as a teacher of both elementary and special education in New Jersey and California. She also received a post graduate certification as a holistic nutritionist and began her own holistic nutrition business in 2018. Kate also spent years training CrossFit athletes in southern California. Her hobbies include weightlifting and training, cooking, snowboarding, and doing just about anything outdoors. She moved to Wilmington in 2017 with her husband Jay. They have two little boys, the oldest of whom is enrolled at the Children’s School.
Cori Stemmler (Secretary, Charter School; Member-at-Large Children's School)
Cori Stemmler earned her degree in advertising at the University of Florida, and earned her Juris Doctor at FSU College of Law. Cori worked as an associate and marketing coordinator at an intellectual property firm in Vermont before moving to Wilmington in 2018. As an associate, Cori helped inventors monetize patents, conceptualize new inventions, and identify white space. Cori enjoys traveling, live music, reading, crafting, playing board games, and spending time with her husband, son, and mini goldendoodle, Penny.
Jill Bean Davenport, RN (Co-Founder, Charter & Children's School)
Graduate from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Her background encompasses home health and community-based nursing, and currently is a consultant in clinical trials. She spent over 5 years at the Tileston Medical Clinic as the Volunteer Diabetic Clinic Coordinator. The Wilmington Parkinson’s Support Group is where she currently volunteers as a co-facilitator. She loves kids and spends time volunteering as a soccer coach. She has special interests including anthropology, neurology/brain health, working with the aging population, and non-profits. She has two older children that attended Cape Fear Center of Inquiry since its inception who are now 28 and 25 years of age. Jill wanted a similar option for her younger children, now 14 and 12, supporting their stewardship of the environment and learning at their own pace. She enjoys activities outdoors the most: gardening, surfing, snowboarding, boating, hiking, volleyball, ultimate, soccer, and being around animals. She lives in Kure Beach, NC with her husband, Michael of 17 years and their children, 2 cats and 2 dogs.
Michael Stuart Davenport, Esq. (Founding Board Member, Charter & Children's School)
Michael was born in Stutgardt Germany in 1965, with his father, George’s overseas US Army duties next leaving the family in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and with his father’s subsequent civil engineering duties then taking the family to Pennsylvania, California, and – ultimately – Wisconsin. Michael graduated from Our Lady of Premontre High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1983, then earned an unusual Bachelor of Science degree, in English Literature (with a minor in American History), from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1987. Michael then attended law school at Southwestern University School of Law (Los Angeles, California), as a Paul Wildman Scholarship Recipient and a member of its Dean’s List. Michael received his Juris Doctor in 1991, and spent the next five years practicing law in Beverly Hills, California, as sole litigation associate to 1996’s California Lawyer of the Year Award recipient, Gregory A. Yates. Michael then braved the North and South Carolina Bar Exams, and relocated his legal practice and family to the more spacious confines of the Carolinas, spending the next three years at Kaufman & Green, L.L.P., a small, prestigious commercial law firm in Wilmington, North Carolina. Michael founded the Law Office of Michael Davenport, PC, in 1999, and so began a personal crusade, waging war on behalf of David's against Goliaths everywhere. Michael has always relished and cherished education (at least since barely finishing high school, and then "getting it"). He was an active parent-volunteer for Wilmington's flagship charter school, Cape Fear Center For Inquiry from its inception, even helping upfit its makeshift rental quarters in 2000. Michael is thrilled at the prospect of his youngest two children having a Charter (Montessori!) School education as well, at Island Montessori Charter School.
Jeremy Linquist (Member-at-Large, Charter and Children's School)
Jeremy is a founding board member of Island Montessori School. Since moving to the area from Southern California he served the Port City community as a Board Certified licensed acupuncturist for over 8 years prior to retiring from the Health Care industry. He has been involved in many small businesses and currently is the managing partner in an nationwide retail millwork, fixture and graphics company. Jeremy served as the President of the NCAAOM (North Carolina Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) and donates his time and expertise to a variety of community events and educational classes. In his free time Jeremy soaks up every moment with Susie, his wife of 19 years and his 2 children, Jackson and Ella.