Administration
Rene’s Biography
René Baker comes to us with more than 15 years experience in improving education for children, she is passionate about ensuring that every child receives excellent learner-centered education, and a wonderful enthusiasm and a love for MMA.
René holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Secondary Education from Notre Dame of Maryland University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations from the same University.
René is the eldest of five sisters and has worked with children her entire life, from coaching sports to directing summer camps to teaching in the classroom. Rene’ spent 7 years in the classroom before transitioning into educational leadership where she worked to improve education for children by professionally developing teachers. She has taught graduate courses for teachers at both Towson University and Notre Dame of Maryland University.
In her most recent position, Rene’ served as Supervisor of Science in the central office of a Maryland school district where she led curriculum development and designed and implemented professional learning for 550 teachers in a district that educate 112,000 students.
Rene’ grew up outside of Annapolis, Maryland and will soon reside in Ogden, UT with her husband, Dave, their two children, and Labrador retriever. They enjoy spending time outside skiing, camping, hiking, canoeing, and gardening.
Kacee’s Biography
Kacee Weaver holds a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in both Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Weber State University and has a level 2 Utah teaching license. She received a Master of Education degree in Montessori Education from St. Catherine’s University and has a lower elementary Montessori certification through the Institute for Guided Studies.
Kacee has been at Maria Montessori Academy since its inception in 2010 and was a lead teacher in the lower elementary program for 4 years before becoming the Curriculum/Instructional Specialist. She leads the schools’ state accreditation team and continues to correlate the Montessori curriculum sequence to the Common Core Standards. She also serves on the Montessori Educational Programs International as the Vice President and Utah Montessori Council board of directors.
Kacee is a Utah native and spent her childhood years in a small town; climbing trees, building forts and playing in the river. She loves dark chocolate, coffee, the color pink, aspen trees and bookstores. She married her high school sweetheart in 2000 and together they have 3 children. As a family they like to laugh, hike, ski and go camping. She loves people, music, bookstores and being in the mountains. She enjoys reading to her children, playing with her dogs, sitting on the porch with a good book and doing yard work.
Her future goals include obtaining a Doctoral Degree in the field of curriculum and instruction or special education and owning a thrift store. Until then, she will continue to learn as much as she can from the children and adults around her