MCGUFFEY MONTESSORI - Key Persons


Andrea Ballinger

Job Titles:
  • Lead Teacher

Annie Caudill

Job Titles:
  • Office Manager
Annie Caudill joined the McGuffey staff as Office Manager in the fall of 2020. Annie has an Accounting degree from Miami University and worked in the accounting field for many years before becoming a mother. As her children grew, she became a substitute teacher in her children's schools. Annie is thrilled to be in a position where she is able to combine her passion for education with her business background. Annie and her husband live with their youngest son in Oxford. Her oldest son is grown and on his own and her daughter is attending college. Annie is also her church Treasurer and is actively involved in her children's activities. She can also be found cheering on her favorite sports teams or reading a favorite book, but is happiest when surrounded by family and dear friends.

Casey Daubenmire-Offsite

Job Titles:
  • Admin Support
Casey began working in the McGuffey Montessori School office in the Fall of 2017 when her daughter was enrolled in the elementary classroom. The Montessori method was a natural fit for Casey who enjoys constantly reading and learning new things. Her skills in the areas of problem-solving, creativity, customer service, and organization have been honed over many different positions with non-profits and businesses. Casey's interests include reading, crafts, and graphic arts. She is currently developing her own Etsy site.

Don Kidd - Treasurer

Job Titles:
  • Treasurer

Elizabeth Taylor

Job Titles:
  • Assistant
  • Head of School
  • Lower Elementary Classroom Staff Member
  • Music
Elizabeth divides her time between her duties as Assistant Head of School and Music Teacher to Grades 1-8. This combined role reflects her long-term interest in management and her recognition of the crucial role music plays in the education and support of children in all areas, including academics and social learning. Elizabeth began teaching at McGuffey in 2011 in the Primary classroom as a licensed Kindermusik teacher and obtained her Primary Montessori Certification. Before becoming a teacher and starting a family, she was an opera and oratorio singer. Elizabeth's two children graduated from McGuffey. She enjoys reading, playing the ukulele, sewing, and riding bikes.

Emily Legg - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman

Frankie McKnight-Art

Job Titles:
  • Lower Elementary Classroom Staff Member
  • Classroom Assistant

Hannah Nixon

Job Titles:
  • Lower Elementary Classroom Staff Member
  • Classroom Assistant
Hannah grew up in Hamilton, Ohio where she graduated from Butler Tech's Natural Science Center studying Equine Science then earned a Bachelor of Science in Special Education (K-12) from Miami University. She has taught many horseback riding lessons and preschool and cherishes the rewarding feeling to see a child electrified when they have finally succeeded and understand a skill. Hannah lives and works on her family farm where they have two children and many animals. She enjoys horse competitions, her dogs, kayaking, gardening, puzzles, painting, and family time.

Kadriye Walsh-Mathematics

Kadriye joined the McGuffey staff in 2017 and is the mathematics teacher for Grades 6-8. Kadriye has been teaching/creating Mathematics curricula for middle and high school levels and in addition to that she is teaching Math classes for education majors at Miami University's Regional Campuses. Kadriye received a degree in business when she lived in Turkey. After moving to the Oxford from Germany with her husband, she learned English and completed her B.S. in Mathematics and her MAT in Integrated Mathematics from Miami University. Kadriye has also worked for various public schools as Interpreter for testing for Turkish ESL students. Kadriye and Mark live in Oxford and have three daughters.

Kristen Sullivan

Job Titles:
  • Secretary

Madison Wetzel

Job Titles:
  • Member at Large ( Term Ends June 2028 )

Maeve Vulcan

Job Titles:
  • Lower Elementary Classroom Staff Member
  • Classroom Assistant

Maria Davey

Job Titles:
  • Primary Classroom Staff Member
  • Classroom Assistant

Mark Radlinski

Job Titles:
  • Lower Elementary Classroom Staff Member
  • Lead Teacher Physical Education
  • Physical Education
Mark is Lead Teacher in Upper Elementary and teaches Physical Education to all students at McGuffey. He came to us in 2014 excited to follow in his mother's footsteps and start a new career in education. Mark has always found himself drawn to working with children since his first job as a camp counselor and has served as a youth football, soccer, and basketball coach during his time in Oxford. Mark is married with one daughter who graduated from McGuffey and is currently attending Georgia Tech. Mark enjoys reading comic books and cosplay as well as riding and working on the family's seven Vespa scooters. Mark also serves on the board of Oxford Area PFLAG and is the Membership Director for the Vespa Club of America.

Mary Piper

Job Titles:
  • Lead Teacher
  • Primary Classroom Staff Member
After serving as a substitute teacher, Ex Day staff, and classroom assistant in the past, Mary is thrilled to be a Lead Teacher in the Primary unit. Mary is a Miami alum, receiving her M.A.T. in Latin Education in 2021, and she embraced the city of Oxford after graduation. Outside the classroom, Mary enjoys trying new recipes, listening to podcasts, and exploring nature trails.

Michaela Williams

Job Titles:
  • Primary Classroom Staff Member
  • Classroom Assistant

Mike Desmier

Job Titles:
  • Business Manager
  • Business Manager for McGuffey
  • Business Manager, Non - Voting Member
Mike has been the Business Manager for McGuffey since 2008, when he developed a love of the culture of learning at McGuffey. Mike has been providing accounting and business services for a variety of schools and non-profits in Southwestern Ohio since 1993. He works for McGuffey part-time while also managing the finances of other entities. He has a bachelors degree in Accounting, is a Certified Public Accountant, and is completing a Master's degree in Pastoral Ministry Mike lives in Cincinnati with his wife and daughter, enjoys numismatics and playing the guitar, both of which he has generously shared with McGuffey students over the years. He is also an ultra marathoner having run several 50-mile and 24-hour races.

Nancy Hawthorne

Job Titles:
  • Head of School
  • Head of School, Non - Voting Member
Nancy taught middle and high school mathematics in Cincinnati and in the District of Columbia Public Schools. While living in Washington, DC, Nancy worked at the National Research Council, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the U.S. Department of Education. For ten years before coming on staff at McGuffey, Nancy was an education consultant providing professional development and instructional support to K-12 teachers. Nancy is passionate about the role that independence, problem solving and skill development play in a child's empowerment. She loves seeing the Montessori values of honoring the child influence the development of authentic confidence and self-worth in our students and applying these same principles to school culture and operations. Nancy's involvement in McGuffey began when her daughter enrolled in Kindergarten and included coordinating tours and serving on the board of trustees. She enjoys all things geeky and crafty.

Nick Fankhauser

Job Titles:
  • Member at Large ( Term Ends June 2026 )

Sarah Driver

Job Titles:
  • Member at Large ( Term Ends June 2028 )

Wendy Duvall

Job Titles:
  • Lead Teacher
  • Lower Elementary Classroom Staff Member
Before becoming a teacher, Wendy worked in the field of graphic design. While raising her children, she realized that design and Montessori education dovetailed perfectly, combining intentional materials in a planned environment. This led her to seek her Montessori certification. In 2006 Wendy and Susie Lute founded McGuffey's Preschool Playground program and launched the Primary program together in 2011. Wendy began teaching in the Lower Elementary classroom in 2017. In addition to her Montessori training, Wendy is a certified Orton-Gillingham instructor. Wendy has three children who attended McGuffey and a very understanding husband. She enjoys designing Montessori materials, hanging out with family and friends, and puttering around her farm.