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.
2024-2025 School Year Board of Trustees
Executive Committee
Jessica Schumacher
President, Chair - Head School Evaluation Committee
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 was excited for the opportunity for her son to experience the environment for himself.
Jessica rejoined the Board in 2021 for her second term and brings over 15 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.
Ryan Harter
Vice-President, Chair - Committee on Trustees
Ryan and his family live in Plainfield. His oldest son is excited to join the lower elementary community, and his youngest son can't wait to join JMS in the Primary Program next year. 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.
Rita Gercone
Treasurer, Chair - Finance Committee
Rita is a life-long area resident. She grew up in Joliet and moved to Plainfield 25 years ago. She attended University of St. Francis and graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and obtained her CPA license in 1997. She has worked in public accounting her entire professional career with audit experience in non-profits, employee benefit plans and labor unions. Her most recent position was as a senior internal auditor serving a large Chicagoland hospital system.
Rita has been married to her high school sweetheart for 25 years and has two children - Jake and Gia. She also volunteers for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is involved in the Cystic Fibrosis Learning Network as a Parent Partner with Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital.
Bettylou Zmudka
Secretary, Member - Committee on Trustees
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
Patrick Dowhen
Chair - Long-Term Facilities Committee
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.
Tanya Alltop
Member - Development Committee
Tanya started her journey with JMS after enrolling her child in the Parent-Child Program in 2019. After completing the Primary Program with JMS, he is currently enrolled in the Lower Elementary Program.
Tanya worked for ten years at a non-profit community agency for Will & Kankakee Counties serving adults with intellectual disabilities and mental health needs. In that time, she earned her Master's degree in Community Counseling. She moved into private practice therapy six years ago and currently practices as a clinical therapist in Joliet.
Tanya and her husband grew up in the Plainfield/Joliet Area. Both believe having the option of JMS for their family has been invaluable. They have loved seeing their son thrive and be part of a strong community. Tanya hopes through participating on the board, she will help support and preserve the JMS mission for generations to come.
Patrick Burke
Member - Long-Term Facilities Committee
Patrick Burke joined the board in May 2023. Patrick and his family joined the Joliet Montessori Family when they enrolled their youngest as a kindergartner in the Primary Program in 2021.
Mark Karner
Member - Development Committee
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.