About

Board of Directors

Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy has a governing board of directors.


Board Meeting Time

​The board meets on the third Wednesday of the month at the Leelanau County Government Center located at 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay, MI.

Committee Meeting Times

The Board's finance committee meets on the second Wednesday of the month at Leelanau Montessori at 1 pm. The Board's governance committee meets on the second Wednesday of the month at Leelanau Montessori at 2 pm.

Board Policies and Members

  • POLICIES

  • MEMBERS

    Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy is seeking individuals with knowledge in education, finance, strategic planning, legal and human development to join their Board of Directors.  To apply, please email info@leelanaumontessori.org for more information. 


    Anita Abbott - President 

    Governance Committee Chair

    abbotta@leelanaumontessori.org


    Anita Abbott, her husband Bill Chaney and their two children moved to Leelanau County in 2014, and were delighted to find a public Montessori option for their kindergartener in their new hometown.  Over the years, while her son was at Leelanau Montessori, Anita served on the Grants Committee and the Facilities Committee, and enjoyed volunteering in the classroom and on field trips.  Anita served as an officer and an attorney in the United States Coast Guard, and is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Georgetown University Law Center.


    Sarah Bordeaux - Vice President 

    bordeauxs@leelanaumontessori.org


    Sarah is originally from Saginaw, Michigan and made the move to Leelanau County in 1996 to pursue an education in nursing. She attended Northwestern Michigan College school of nursing. She has worked at Tendercare of Leelanau as a CNA and an activities team member. She now is a full-time homemaker and extremely active with The March of Dimes organization, representing the Traverse area as The Ambassador family of 2011. Sarah resides in Lake Leelanau with her husband Joshua, and their three children. They co-own the VI Grill in Suttons Bay, MI.


    April Fiorelli - Treasurer

    fiorellia@leelanaumontessori.org


    April lives in Leelanau with her husband and three children, all of whom are current students at Leelanau Montessori, and is an active member of the school community. Professionally, April is a product and graphic designer with years of experience developing medical and consumer products focused on user experience and human factors. She is now a co-owner of Tiny Shiny Schoolhouse, a company developing educational products for children. She deeply values Montessori’s whole-child approach and is committed to supporting public access to this distinctive educational option. 


    Deb Kuhn - Secretary 

    kuhnd@leelanaumontessori.org


    Deb Kuhn and her husband Ray moved to Leelanau County in 2008 after raising their family in Bath, OH and Highland Park, IL. They live on their farm near Cedar where they grow wine grapes and raise sheep. Deb recently retired from her duties as a speech-language pathologist, assigned to several schools in the region over the years.  Deb worked alongside the Leelanau Montessori staff from 2010 - 2015 to support their students with communication needs. Deb developed a great respect for the Montessori program and witnessed first hand the opportunities for growth and development amongst the students.  


    Deb has previously served as a board member for Leelanau Children's Center, and the Coming Together Project in Akron, OH before joining the Leelanau Montessori board.


    Hallie Kutschke - Director

    kutschkeh@leelanaumontessori.org


    ​Hallie is originally from Lancaster, Ohio and spent most of her teaching years in Madison and LaCrosse, Wisconsin. She moved to Suttons Bay summer of 2024 with her husband and two young children. She attended Calvin University and studied early childhood education, elementary education, and integrated science studies. She has worked in a variety of schools and grade levels as a classroom teacher and since moving to Suttons Bay is a full-time homemaker. Hallie has always had a passion for Montessori and its whole child approach. She is excited at the opportunity to join the board and get more immersed in the school and surrounding community.


    ​Tom McConnell - Director

    mcconnellt@leelanaumontessori.org


    Tom lives near Leland and is the owner of McConnell & Associates, a Traverse City marketing communications firm that was founded in 1981. McConnell & Associates handles clients that manufacture products and provide services for local, regional, national and international marketplaces. Tom has served as Vice President of the Traverse Advertising Club and also currently serves as Board Vice President of The Old Art Building in Leland. He has a BFA from Art Center College in Los Angeles, California. 

Committees

Meeting Minutes & Agendas

Previous minutes may be inspected at the school office during normal business hours.