North Texas Montessori Institute

Meet the NTMI Team! 💛🤎

Patricia Picchetti, M.D., is a featured guest speaker for both our Infant/Toddler and Early Childhood courses.

A Child Development Master Educator specializing in infant, toddler, and early childhood development, Dr. Picchetti brings more than 40 years of experience as a Montessori educator, lecturer, consultant, and presenter.

At NTMI, Dr. Picchetti shares her deep knowledge of development from prenatal through age six, helping Adult Learners strengthen their understanding of the developing child and enrich their Montessori practice.

Meet the NTMI Team! 💛🤎

Rachael Loar-Rojas is a featured guest speaker for the North Texas Montessori Institute’s Early Childhood Course.

Rachael brings a deep passion for The Montessori Method and the role of the arts in the classroom. She has supported educators in understanding how the arts enrich the Montessori experience—fostering creativity, joyful expression, and a strong sense of community and identity in children.

Meet the NTMI Team! 💛🤎

Payal Makhija is an instructor for our upcoming Early Childhood course.

Her Montessori journey began as a parent and quickly grew into a deep love for early childhood education. Soon after she started working in the classroom, she pursued her own Early Childhood Montessori credential, all while balancing full-time work and training. Payal opened Aubrey Montessori School in 2023, where she now serves as Head of School.

At NTMI, Payal brings a thoughtful, experience-driven perspective to adult learner education.

Meet the NTMI Team! 💛🤎

Priya Janarthanan is an instructor for our upcoming Early Childhood course at North Texas Montessori Institute.

With 10 years of Montessori classroom experience, Priya brings a strong focus on language in the Montessori environment. At NTMI, she is passionate about supporting adult learners through mentorship, communication, and classroom problem-solving.

Meet the NTMI Team! 💛🤎

Aparna Nisankararao is an instructor for our upcoming Early Childhood Course.

A true lifelong learner, Aparna brings a rich academic and classroom background to NTMI. She holds masters degrees in English, Zoology, and Education, has earned AMS credentials in Early Childhood, Elementary I-II, and Secondary I-II education, and is an AMS Instructor Academy graduate. After working in Montessori classrooms for the past 19 years, she now serves as the Director of Curriculum & Instruction at Starwood Academy of Frisco.

As an NTMI instructor, she is passionate about helping adult learners connect Montessori theory with meaningful classroom practice across every stage of child development.

Meet the NTMI Team! 💛🤎

Lakshmi Ramshankar instructs for both our upcoming Infant/Toddler and Early Childhood courses.

With 15 years of experience in Montessori Early Childhood classrooms, Lakshmi brings an intentional, child-centered approach to adult learner education. She completed her own Montessori training through both AMS and NAMC programs, building a strong foundation in Early Childhood education.

At NTMI, she enjoys helping adult learners deepen their understanding of the Montessori environment while building meaningful relationships with children and families.

Meet the NTMI Team! 💛🤎

Lilian Pavesi is the Program Coordinator and an instructor for our upcoming Infant/Toddler course.

Lilian brings a rich background shaped by her work in Brazil and her commitment to a constructivist, multicultural approach rooted in deep respect for the child. She is AMS-credentialed, an AMS Instructor Academy graduate, and currently serves as Curriculum Director at Green Meadows Montessori Academy in Celina, Texas.

At NTMI, Lilian is passionate about mentoring adult learners and supporting the development of strong, authentic Montessori practice in Infant/Toddler environments.

Meet the NTMI Team! 💛🤎

Amber Walker is the Assistant Program Director, Practicum Coordinator, and an instructor for the North Texas Montessori Institute.

With 15 years in a Montessori classroom and 10 years in school administration, Amber brings a blend of leadership and classroom experience to her work with adult learners. She holds Early Childhood and Administrator Montessori credentials, and currently works as Assistant Head of School at Starwood Academy of Frisco.

Amber has been part of the North Texas Montessori Institute since its founding and continues to guide the training program through her deep love for Montessori and passion for supporting adult learners.

Meet the NTMI Team! 💛🤎

Anita Hanks is the Executive Program Director of the North Texas Montessori Institute.

For more than 25 years, Anita has served the Montessori community through school leadership and adult learner education. She holds a master’s in education, Early Childhood and Administrator Montessori credentials, and currently serves as the President of the American Montessori Society Board of Directors and the Head of School at Starwood Academy of Frisco.

Since founding NTMI in 2013, Anita has guided the mission and vision of the organization with a passion for preparing adult learners through a deep understanding of Montessori philosophy and pedagogy.

We are proud to honor our Adult Learners for their dedication, perseverance, and the countless hours they invested throughout their time in the program.

As they complete their studies, we celebrate not only their accomplishments, but also the transformation that comes through a deep understanding and hands-on practice of Montessori philosophy.

Congratulations to each of you—we are honored to have been part of your journey!