Staff Bios

Arthur "Chip" DeLorenzo, Executive Director

Chip DeLorenzo came to Damariscotta Montessori School in 2001 as the school's Executive Director.  The following year Chip started the school's elementary program and is currently the Executive Director of the school.  Before coming to DMS, he was a Head Teacher at the Children's International School (now Bowman International School) in Palo Alto, CA and the Middle School Director at the Bowie Montessori Children's House in Bowie, Maryland.  Chip received his Bachelor's degree from Hampton University and his Masters degree in Education from Endicott College.  He holds Montessori credentials for Early Childhood (ages 3-6), Elementary I (ages 6-9) and Elementary II (ages 9-12), and has advanced training in Montessori adolescent programs.  Chip and his wife Sondra live in Newcastle with their sons Quinn, Nicholas, and Peter.

Karen Bickmore, Upper Elementary, Head Teacher

Jill Baum, Lower Elementary, Head Teacher

Jill was born in England and  immigrated to the United States in 1961.  After high school Jill attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and Tufts University, majoring in printmaking and art education, Earning a B.Sc. in Education. The next few years included marriage, raising step-children, and having Naomi, my daughter.  Her experiences included being a stay-at-home mom, a Nursery School teacher, and a Kindergarten teacher. 

Jill's next major teaching experience was as a Special Education teacher in an elementary school in New Hampshire, and as a single parent.  She enjoyed several years of working with children with many different disabilities, teaming with Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Pathologists. Jill earned a Masters Degree from Plymouth State University, majoring in teaching reading to children with learning disabilities, and working with children with behavioral and emotional disabilities.

In 1999 Jill moved to Damariscotta and for 5 years she was the teacher in a behavioral program at Gardiner Middle School. After looking for  a different way to use her skills and ove of teaching, Jill discovered Montessori and it was a perfect match. She completed her Montessori Teaching Certification several years ago and has seen her elementary classes grow each year at DMS.  

Kim Andrews, Lower Elementary Assistant Teacher

(Coming soon)

Christy Lavigne, Primary Head Teacher

When she's not at DMS, Christy is a  thirty something year old mom to 2 beautiful Golden Retrievers and a wife of ten plus years to husband Pat.  She planned to follow in my father’s footsteps and become a Social Studies teacher. But along the way, Christy found Montessori education! She just happened to find a ‘job’ as an after care assistant in a Montessori School and was so taken with the philosophy and wanted to experience the Montessori classroom that she switched to night classes to finish my History degree at George Mason University. Christy knew Montessori was my calling though and she received her Montessori Certification in 1995; this is her 15^th year as a Montessori lead teacher and each day with the children is a ‘gift’!

Christy's husband Pat is a retired US Marine. During his service they had opportunities to travel to Japan and to live in Hawaii! She taught at a Montessori school in Honolulu that was on the beach! Once he retired they moved to West Virginia, near Harper’s Ferry. Christy helped start a small Montessori school while we lived there. As much as sheenjoyed that experience, she missed being part of a larger school community. Christy and Pat started looking for new opportunities and a new way of life. After several trips to Maine, they knew this was the place for them. Once we visited this area and saw the school, their decision was confirmed. Everything fell into place perfectly and they are the happiest we have ever been, "Each day I reflect on how lucky I feel to be part of the DMS community and to be part of your children’s lives."

Allison Fleming, Primary Assistant Teacher

(Coming soon)

Julie Wilson, Primary Head Teacher

I was born in Bangor Maine and have lived most of my life right here in the great state of Maine!  For my “growing up” years I lived in Lincoln, a small mill town that boasts 14 lakes, as well as being the Gateway to Katahdin. Mt. Katahdin is the highest point in Maine, as well as being the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Baxter State Park is home to Mt. Katahdin; and was the primary weekend and vacation get-a-way destination for my family. 

My summer job during my college years I worked as Waterfront Director at residential camps.  I received a BA in English from the University of Maine at Farmington.  After which I took “the scenic route” to Montessori: working as a retail manager in Harvard Square; swim instructor and lifeguard at the Central Square YMCA; swim instructor and teacher for the Kindergarten program at the Greater Portland YMCA; self-employed title abstractor; then Oliver’s mom!

I was curious to learn more about the Montessori Philosophy after reading one of the many baby books I pored over before and during my early “mommy-hood”.  The author identified Montessori as the one child developmental theorist who had actually observed and interacted with the children she was theorizing about.  Observation and research demonstrated to me the amazing opportunities a Montessori classroom offers the child.  Not only did I want for Oliver to be in a Montessori Classroom- I felt my calling to the classroom.

I attended Maine Montessori Institute for NCME Primary Teaching Certification. Luckily Oliver was enrolled in the same school where I did my internship! Upon completion of coursework and internship I joined the staff at Bangor Montessori School.  I completed further coursework to earn my American Montessori Society Primary Teaching Credential last spring.

When I was offered the teaching position here at DMS I was thrilled for the opportunity to join this growing school community.  Moving away from friends and loved ones was a big transition, yet despite our “growing pains” Oliver and I are fortunate to be learning and growing amongst a dedicated staff, and welcoming Montessori community!

Chrissy de Kanter-Bellows, Primary Assistant Teacher

(Coming soon)

Kimberley Tolley, School Administrator

Montessori has been part of Kim's  life for the last 15 years. Kim has worked at DMS as the school administrator for the past several years, but she is also a certified Montessori primary teacher and a mom to three Montessori educated daughters, all three in lower elementary.

Kim graduated from Northeastern University with a business degree and worked for an international consulting firm called IdeaScope Associates.  The firm, with offices in Boston and San Francisco, specialized in helping Fortune 50 companies develop plans for long term strategic innovation.  Starting out as their Director of Operations, she soon became a principal and part owner of the firm.  Part of the mission as officers of the firm was to help smaller non-profit organizations develop strategic plans to help them flourish, and Kim became closely involved with the board of the Creative Education Foundation and The Thinking Center.  It was through her pro bono work with these two groups that she met many Montessori teachers and became intrigued with the simplicity and effectiveness of the Montessori philosophy.  Kim served as a board member of the Thinking Center for four years and taught classes along side Montessori teachers at the Creative Problem Solving Institute and The Thinking Lab, and even guest lectured at the Harvard Business School on the topic of entrepreneurship and strategic innovation. 

Eventually, Kim met Michael—a very handsome sea captain--in Maine and fell in love. Just after her partners  sold the consulting firm, Kim and Michael got married, traveled the world and had twin girls, all within a year!  It was while she was pregnant with her third daughter that she began her certification to become a Montessori primary teacher. She studied in Boston and put in classroom time at the Kingsley Montessori School.  Kim's family moved from Boston to mid-coast Maine, settled down with their little girls and rest is history.  The Tolley family enjoys traveling, camping, sailing, performing (badly), and laughing together.