Who We Are
The MMS Team
Edy Dingus (she/they)
Executive Director
Edy Dingus is devoted to her belief that quality childcare is a right and not a privilege. She is especially committed to improving access to quality care and education to young children and their families living in Mississippi. Before MMS, Edy served as both an English teacher abroad and a national service member at home. As an AmeriCorps VISTA, Edy was proud to support local educators, families, and children as part of the ongoing anti-poverty work of the early childhood education coalitions housed at the United Way of Oxford and Lafayette County and the McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement.
Edy sustains her passion for improving educational opportunities in Mississippi by maintaining an active presence in North Mississippi anti-poverty organizations.
Share your favorite short story with Edy at ed@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Emily Morgan (she/her)
Curriculum Director | Lead Guide, Fannie Lou Hamer Primary Classroom Community
Ms. Emily is a native North Mississippian with a vested interest in quality early education. Ms. Emily is a powerful proponent of the Montessori Method. She holds her Bachelor's in Hospitality Management and earned an Early Childhood Montessori Teaching Certification from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies in 2020. She brings more than ten years of service experience to her role in the Primary classroom, which she's held since 2018. We are so lucky Ms. Emily plays such an integral role in our MMS community, and we look forward to many more years working beside this kind, gentle, wickedly funny soul.
Ask Emily about her favorite record at emily@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Bronwen Warren (she/her)
Support Guide, Fannie Lou Hamer Primary Classroom Community
Bronwen's got the scoop on fashion and children's songs -- send her a tune at bronwen@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Kaleigh McAllister (she/her)
Support Guide, Fannie Lou Hamer Primary Classroom Community
Kaleigh LOVES chickens and rocks -- send her a pic of your fave at kaleigh@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Stacy Bondurant (she/her)
Office and Summer Program Manager
Ms. Stacy earned her Bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Texas and her PhD in American history with a focus on immigration from George Washington University. Of her many years in teaching, her favorite were the four years she spent working with young children ages zero to five. A native of Austin, TX, she moved to Oxford with her family in 2015 with a strong interest in returning to early childhood education. When MMS moved online in Spring 2020, Ms. Stacy curated some of the most thoughtful and fun Montessori-inspired opportunities for remote learning as our Distance Learning Director. In 2021, Ms. Stacy returned to in-person learning at MMS - and with her came her impeccable ingenuity and strategic smarts. She makes us better!
Ms. Stacy loves the outdoors, baking, and building, and MMS loves Ms. Stacy!
Ask Stacy about her amazing carpentry skills at office@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Brooke Fly (she/her)
Whole School Mentor, Ruby Bridges Elementary Classroom Community
Ms. Brooke has been a Montessori elementary teacher since 2007. She taught for five years at Near North Montessori, an AMI-accredited school in Chicago, working with children ages 6 to 14, and taught fifth grade science in the Mississippi public school system at Quitman County until she returned to Oxford to help support and grow the local Montessori movement. Brooke's worked in leadership roles at MMS since 2013 -- she is our sage. She holds an Association of Montessori Internationale Montessori Elementary Certification, a Master of Education from Loyola University-Maryland, and a Bachelor of English from the University of Mississippi.
You can catch up with Brooke's fly moves at bfly@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Katie Ochs (she/her)
Elementary Lead Guide, Ruby Bridges Elementary Classroom Community
Ms. Katie moved to Mississippi in 2014 to be closer to her parents, and the whole family fell in love with Oxford. Katie graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelor’s in Communications. Ms. Katie has worked in all three levels at MMS, and it was a delight to observe her take over Elementary leadership. Ms. Katie is passionate about the Montessori Method and completed her AMI elementary Montessori certification at the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota in Summer 2019.
We adore Ms. Katie's resilience, gentleness, and innovation, and are beyond lucky she's on our team.
Ask Katie for a movie recommendation at kochs@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Robyn Johnson (she/her)
Support Guide, Ruby Bridges Elementary Classroom Community
Ask Robyn about her son's favorite superhero at robyn@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Bekah Wymer (she/her)
Lead Guide, Jim Henson Primary Classroom Community
Ms. Bekah earned her Bachelor's degree in art from the University of Mississippi and is a certified early childhood educator through the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools. She's taught pre-school since 2010, and earned her Montessori Early Childhood Education certification through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies in October 2020.
Ms. Bekah is a big fan of her husband Matt, her two boys Abe and Oliver, and her littlest, Rosemary. Their family loves to camp and kayak together. Ms. Bekah has also been a passionate gardener since the early 2000s. We are so grateful that Ms. Bekah is passionate about sprouting seeds and young minds, and are so excited she is a part of our mighty staff!
Ask Bekah about her heroes (hint: they're Felder Rushing, Roald Dahl, and her dad) at bekah@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Saga Barzowski Hansson (she/her)
Support Guide, Jim Henson Primary Classroom Community
Ms. Saga has been a part of the MMS community since November 2020, serving in various roles throughout the school. She is currently working towards her Association of Montessori Internationale Montessori Primary Diploma and a Master of Education in Montessori Education from Loyola University-Maryland. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at The University of Mississippi in 2017. She loves running at the Whirlpool trails, wearing comfy jumpsuits, and going on fun trips with her husband!
Ask Saga about her adventures at saga@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Aala'a Matalgah (she/her)
Support Guide, Jim Henson Primary Classroom Community
Aala'a has the BEST jokes and laughter -- send her a story at aalaa@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Rosy Neri (she/her)
Lead Guide, Ida B. Wells Toddler Classroom Community
Ms. Rosy has more than ten years of early childhood classroom experience and holds her Bachelor's degree in early childhood education. Ms. Rosy is a native Spanish speaker and loves teaching her students new vocabulary words and songs in her beautiful language. MMS is so grateful to spend time with Ms. Rosy's calm and hilarious personality every day!
Ask Rosy about her famous tamales recipe at rosy@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Madeline Cash (she/her)
Support Guide, Ida B. Wells Toddler Classroom Community
Ask Madz to tell you a funny story at madeline@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Duaa Matalgah
Aftercare Lead Guide
Duaa LOVES cat videos -- send the best one you can find to duaa@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Chef Nah Taylor (they/them)
MMS Chef
Chef Nah is an Oxford, MS, native with a keen sense of alchemy: all their food tastes amazing! We love Chef Nah's thoughtful, child-first approach to the MMS Food Program and are grateful they're here.
Ask Chef Nah about their favorite tattoo at chef@magnoliamontessorischool.com.
Friends of MMS (You may see these wonderful folks helping out!):
- Khuloud Al Kofahi, Toddler Midday Guide
- Chelsea Brock, 1:1 Support Guide
- Estefany Chavarria, Substitute and Friday Support Guide
- Mya Fleming, Playground Support Guide
- Justice Funderburk, 1:1 Support Guide
- Sarrah Matalgah, 1:1 Support // Floating Guide
- Vera Pa, After school Art Teacher
- Camia White, Aftercare Guide
- Georgia Wigginton, Aftercare Guide
- Stella Wilkins, Aftercare and Floating Guide
MMS Board of Trustees 2023-2024
Ísis Arantes, Chair
Audrey Floyd, Vice Chair & Board Mentor
M. Stokes, Treasurer
Emily Morgan, Secretary & Staff Liaison
Brooke Fly, Trustee & Staff Liaison
Jenn Rice, Trustee
Kate Wallace, Trustee
Taylor Webb, Trustee
Magnolia Montessori School Board meetings are open to the public.
Until further notice, our board meetings are generally hosted at 6pm
at the school (205 CR 102 Oxford)
on the third Tuesday of each month.
RSVP here.
Until further notice, our board meetings are generally hosted at 6pm
at the school (205 CR 102 Oxford)
on the third Tuesday of each month.
RSVP here.