Board of Trustees

The Joliet Montessori School Board of Trustees is charged with supporting the school’s mission and overseeing the fiscal health of the organization. Specific responsibilities of the Board of Trustees include assuring that there are adequate resources for the school to deliver its mission to the student body. The Board does so by the development of the strategic plan, review of the school’s progress toward those goals, cultivation of major donors, and hiring, supporting, and evaluating the Head of School.

About the Board

The Board of Trustees consists of current Joliet Montessori School parents, past parents, and community members from Joliet and surrounding communities. Board members are profiled by the Committee on Trustees to identify individuals who will best carry out the strategic plan and move our school forward. Each member of the Board has expressed a continuing pledge to the success of Joliet Montessori School. Every effort is made to ensure that the Board embodies a broad cross section of our school community and includes individuals who bring distinct skills to the school.

Our Board of Trustees is a strategic entity, which functions under the guidance of Independent School Management (ISM), of which the school is a consortium member.

Board Meetings

The Board of Trustees meetings are held at the school on the third Wednesday of each month in the Adolescent House. Please check the school calendar on the website for the most up-to-date dates. Meetings begin at 6 p.m. All parents are invited and welcome to attend.

The current month's agenda can be viewed HERE. Current and past agendas and approved meeting minutes can be viewed in the school office by appointment or by logging into Transparent Classroom.

2026-2027 School Year Board of Trustees

Executive Committee

Ryan Harter

President, Chair - Head School Evaluation Committee and Committee on Trustees Member

Ryan and his family live in Plainfield. His oldest son is excited to begin his first in year in the Upper Elementary Community, and his youngest son can't wait to experience his second year in the Lower Elementary Program. He and his wife, Sara, are strong believers in the Montessori method, and appreciate the value placed on interest-led learning and the support of the whole child.

With a fervent belief in the value of strong communities, Ryan brings more than a decade of experience in the technology industry, from freelancing to managing a small business to working in large tech companies, to the board. In support of that belief, Ryan has also continued to be part of the non-profit, arts, and educational communities since his own junior high days, and is excited to help support the JMS community.

Jessica Schumacher

Treasurer, Chair - Finance Committee, Chair - Committee on Trustees

Jessica has been a parent in the Joliet Montessori School community since 2014 when her oldest son started in the Primary Program. A proponent of Montessori education since studying the methodology in college, she is excited for the opportunity for her sons to experience the environment for themselves.

Jessica rejoined the Board in 2021 for her second term and brings over 16 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, marketing, and project management. Currently, she and her husband, Chad, own an ecommerce business, Allegory Handcrafted Goods, making and selling handcrafted wood and leather goods as well as a small-business marketing firm, specializing in digital marketing strategies.

In her roles on the board, Jessica is working to revitalize the school's online presence and enrollment efforts, grow fundraising, and strengthen the board in order to contribute to the school's long-term organizational and financial sustainability.

Bettylou Zmudka

Secretary, Committee on Trustees Member, Development Committee Member

Bettylou grew up in Joliet and has been a life-long resident of the area. She received a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science from the University of St. Francis and a Masters of Science in Analytical Chemistry from Governors' State University. For ten years, Bettylou served as an officer (Secretary and Chair) for the local Joliet section of the American Chemical Society. Throughout her career, Bettylou has worked in government, industrial, and academic laboratories.

Bettylou considers herself a lifelong learner, especially when it comes to science and nature. She has been a very active birder over the past 15 years. Her love for science and nature has allowed her to give back to the community, including JMS, through various STEM-related activities. She hopes that JMS can benefit from her unique science background for many years to come.

Trustees

Nick Blackburn

Chair - Long-Term Facilities Committee, Committee on Trustees Member

Nick Blackburn joined the board in May 2026.

Beka Deja

Finance Committee Member, Committee on Trustees Member

Beka Deja is a nonprofit executive who helps lead one of the largest human services organizations in the region, serving tens of thousands of individuals each year, with a strong focus on children and families. Having advanced through a nontraditional path herself, she believes deeply in the potential of people and the power of opportunity to change lives.

As a parent and Trustee of Joliet Montessori School beginning in May 2026, Beka is honored to support the school’s mission and future. She believes that access to exceptional education can change the trajectory of a child’s life and is committed to helping ensure Joliet Montessori continues to serve children and families in the community for generations to come.

Patrick Dowhen

Member - Long-Term Facilities Committee, Committee on Trustees Member

Patrick Dowhen joined the board in April 2024. Patrick's family joined the Joliet Montessori Community when his oldest was enrolled as a Kindergartner in the Primary Program and his youngest child joined the Parent-Child Program in 2021. His son is now in his second year in the Upper Elementary Program and his daughter is in her third year in the Lower Elementary Program.

Patrick is the owner of a family-owned comprehensive commercial vehicle maintenance and repair business servicing Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. With over a decade of experience, their family-owned business specializes in keeping trucks and trailers in peak condition.

Mark Karner

Development Committee Member, Committee on Trustees Member

Mark Karner is a lifelong resident of Joliet. Mark graduated from Joliet Catholic Academy in 1983 and from DePauw University in 1987. Since 2002, Mark has run one of the many Edward Jones investment offices in Joliet and has a passion for helping people achieve all their financial and life goals which he hopes to assist JMS with as a new Trustee. Mark and Jane, his wife of 31 years, enjoy active vacations, golf, cycling and just about any outdoor activity. As a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Joliet, where assisting children across Will County and the world is their focus, Mark believes providing the solid foundation in learning that JMS delivers is the best way to improve our world.

Carrington Morgan

Head of School Support & Evaluation Committee Member, Committee on Trustees Member

Carrington Morgan became a board of trustees in May 2026.

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