We are looking to expand our board! Interested parties, see instructions below.

Kimberly Clauson is the Head of School at Bay Grove Montessori School. She is highly experienced early childhood education practitioner and has spent 12 years using the Montessori method while working with children in Florida. Clauson is an active participant within the extended Montessori community and regularly attends national conferences for Montessori guides. She is also native to the Emerald Coast and has strong ties with the Freeport-local community.

B.S., Art Education, Florida State University

Early Childhood Montessori Certificate, Seton Montessori Training Center

Leslie Garcia is a local real estate agent on the Emerald Coast known for her skills with pre-sale preparations and staging. Prior to her real estate career, which afforded her the flexibility to work from home, she worked in the medical field as a nurse, as well as a non-profit Programs Coordinator (event planner). Garcia is currently serving as the President of the BGMS PTO and the President of her community Homeowner’s Association. She is an avid supporter of the Montessori method and has watched her own children flourish academically, while developing confidence, independence, and compassion for others and the environment through this approach. Her two children love attending Bay Grove Montessori School

B.A., Speech Communications, minor Business – Texas A & M University

B.S., Nursing – University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio

Kate Bertelli-Wilinski is teacher and researcher with nearly 15 years in the field of education. She has taught and held multiple director-level positions in public K-12 schools and worked as an instructor, supervisor, and faculty research assistant during her graduate studies. Additionally, she has worked in the corporate sector as an instructional designer and research analyst. Her main areas of research include fine arts curriculum, professional development, teacher licensure, and voice classification. Bertelli-Wilinski is a published author, an active presenter at state and national music education conferences, and serves in research advisory and reviewer roles.

B.A., Fine Arts & Legal Studies - UMASS Amherst

M.S., Education - Troy University

Ph.D., Music Education - University of Colorado Boulder

Seth Taft is Assistant Professor Music Education, Director of Instrumental Music, and Program Coordinator of Music and Music Education at Limestone University in Gaffney, SC. He is a teacher, musician, and researcher with 10 years of experience in education, primarily at the high school and collegiate levels. Taft's research interests include occupational psychology for teachers and instrumental music pedagogy. He has articles published in various professional journals and serves on the Editorial Board for Music Educators Journal. Taft also has experience in programming and web design, developing practical tools for music teachers and researchers.

B.M., Music Education - Virginia Commonwealth University

M.M., Music Education - Virginia Commonwealth University

Ph.D., Music Education - University of Colorado Boulder