Montessori Mastermind

Dr. Ashley Morris is the Executive Director of Montessori Mastermind as well as MTEI of Atlanta. Ashley holds degrees from the College of William and Mary in neuroscience (B.S.) and Kennesaw State University in early childhood education (ME,D, Ed.S, Ed.D), as well as Montessori AMS and PAMS early childhood credentials. She serves on board of the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) and enjoys working with Georgia’s Montessori advocacy group, Montessori Administrators of Georgia. She also serves on Grow Montessori's board as Vice Chair and The Suzuki Schools' executive committee. Before teacher training, she worked as a Montessori primary teacher and then moved into administration as curriculum director at the Suzuki School in Atlanta.

Paula is a compassionate and driven Montessori educator and leader with over 20 years of experience serving Montessori communities. She earned her Master’s in Education with a concentration in Montessori from Xavier University and went on to found Little Saints Montessori, an organization dedicated to empowering families, schools, and educators through consulting and mentorship. Paula played a key leadership role in establishing Atlanta Montessori International School – Druid Hills, where she served as Head of School. Her contributions were recognized with the company’s “Legendary Leader” award for her positivity and resilience in building the school during the global pandemic. Since 2016, Paula has been a vital part of the Montessori Teacher Education Institute (MTEI) of Atlanta. She has developed and facilitated courses, supported adult learners as a field consultant, and now proudly serves full-time as the Director of Programs. Paula is also a MACTE on-site verifier, collaborating with Montessori leaders nationwide to evaluate and accredit teacher education programs. Her passion for educator development continues beyond the classroom. At the 2024 AMS Montessori Event, she presented “Writing Effective Progress Reports,” and in 2025, she co-presented “Post-Pandemic Classrooms and Trauma-Informed Strategies” alongside Dr. Ashley. Paula also offers her time in volunteer roles that blend her Montessori expertise with her Catholic faith. She welcomes collaboration with Catholic leaders seeking to integrate Montessori into school and parish programs. Paula remains committed to guiding the next generation of educators and inspiring others through her deep-rooted belief in Montessori education.