Governance
About the Board of Trustees
The Montessori School’s Board of Trustees is responsible for establishing broad policy, goals that align with and advance the school’s mission, vision, and strategic goals. The Board is responsible for the school’s financial stability, establishing and maintaining bylaws that conform to legal requirements, hiring and overseeing the Head of School, and focusing its primary work on long-range, strategic issues. The Board also focuses on the sustainability of these four pillars that are important to the school:
- Community
- Environmental
- Financial
- Program
Trustees serve on one or more of the Board’s standing committees: the Committee on Trustees, Finance and its subcommittee, Development, and the Head’s Advisory Committee. Special or ad hoc committees may be created in any given year. These committees are given a finite lifetime that coincides with the conclusion of their duties. The Board of Trustees is the governing body of The Montessori School. Members have a significant commitment to the school and its welfare. The Board Chair heads the Executive Committee.
Rachel Shearon / Board Chair
Rachel Shearon has a Bachelor in Science in Strategic Communications and a Bachelor of Art in Psychology from the University of Kansas. She also received her Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. Rachel currently works as the Executive Director for Women Golfers Give Back, a regional non profit that raises money to fund girls golf programs in the Delaware Valley area. Prior to this role, she was the Senior Director of Parent Outreach and Development at the University of Pennsylvania. In that role, she managed a team responsible for communications and outreach to parents of undergraduate students and annual and major giving among the parent community. Rachel is passionate about education and youth development and currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Montessori School. Rachel lives in Fort Washington, PA with her husband, Matt and two children, Eve and Jake.
Dareus Conover '86 / Treasurer
Dareus, an alumnus himself, is also an alumni parent of Dareus ‘21 and Noemi ’23.
Nancy Chacko
Nancy Chacko earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in electrical and computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and brings a wealth of experience in software development and data-driven solutions. Her career reflects a strong commitment to leveraging technology for meaningful impact, a value she also brings to her community involvement. Nancy’s collaborative approach and strategic vision align with her passion for fostering inclusive, technology-enabled solutions. She resides in Dresher with her daughter, Ellie, and their dog, Lily.
Fran Garritt
Fran Garritt leads financial risk management programs at the Risk Management Association (RMA), and oversees all aspects of credit risk, funding and traded market risk, counterparty risk, collateral management, model risk, and country risk programs at RMA. Fran has worked with banks on issues including, the transition from LIBOR, CECL regulations, the Community Reinvestment Act, Sarbanes-Oxley, various SEC, OCC, FDIC, and Fed proposals, and international rules on securities lending and risks. Fran has a Masters of Business Administration degree in Finance and International Business from Philadelphia University and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Economics from Penn State. He also completed the University of Pennsylvania’s RMA/Wharton Advanced Risk Management Program.
Steve Hor
Steven Hor is a Franchisee of Dunkin’ Donuts in the Philadelphia Area, overseeing 45 locations and a bakery production facility. Steven graduated from Villanova University with a major in Finance. He is the Director of Development and Facilities for Northeast Donut Shops Management Corp., specializing in store remodels and new store developments. Steven enjoys playing golf, watching all kinds of sports and spending time with his family. He lives in Dresher with his wife June, two children, Lillian and Nolan, and their dog Bella.
Marjorie Horton
Marjorie is on staff at Chestnut Hill College in their Montessori education program. Marjorie was on the Head of School Search Committee, and has been a board member since 2018. Marjorie, who trained as a biochemist, became involved with Montessori through her 4 children who attended Montessori schools.
Krystin Kopen
Kristin Kopen is a parent of Kadan and Yianni, and Assistant General Counsel at JPMorgan Chase on the bank’s Emerging Technology Legal team. Krystin is also an artist, pianist, bibliophile, francophone, Francophile, gastronome, and lifelong learner, with a B.A. in English and French from Washington University in St. Louis, an M.A. in French from Middlebury College, a J.D. from Villanova University, and an LL.M. in French and European Law from the Sorbonne University in Paris.
Sophie Oh
Sophie Oh is originally from Belgium and grew up in State College, Pennsylvania. She earned her undergraduate degree in neuroscience, with a minor in philosophy, from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, and her MD from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. She completed her residency in family medicine at Abington Hospital. She lives in Ambler with her husband, children Cameron and Claire, and dogs Maxilla and Mandible.
Suzanne Zak
Suzanne Zak is an accomplished pianist, music educator, and scholar with a passion for piano performance, music history, and pedagogy. She holds a Doctor of Education in Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, where her research explored the impact of asynchronous video on student learning in music e-learning environments. As a professor at Adelphi University, she teaches a wide range of music courses focusing on music fundamentals and music history. Suzanne also serves as music director and conductor at Neshaminy Warwick Presbyterian Church, where she leads choirs and seasonal orchestras, incorporating her expertise in piano and organ to enhance liturgical music. A published scholar and conference presenter, Dr. Zak’s dedication to performance, education, and e-learning has earned her multiple honors, including the Geffen Fellowship from Teachers College. Suzanne lives in Bucks County with her husband Steve and daughter, Alexandra. Suzanne received the TMS Karen Walsh Volunteer of the Year award in 2024 and has been supporting TMS as a grant writer.