Executive Director

Tamara Sheesley Balis

With an extensive background in Montessori education, school administration, and childhood development, Tamara’s life work is to support and cultivate cultures of belonging in families, schools and organizational communities. With 24 years as a Montessorian, she has served as the Head of School at Greenspring Montessori School in Baltimore, Maryland since 2012.

Tamara’s passion for cultures of belonging led her to Montessori education and the study of leadership practices, effective communication, and positive psychology. She is currently studying for her MEd in Integrative Learning with an emphasis in Montessori School Leadership at The Institute for Educational Studies (TIES) through Lasell University. She has presented at national Montessori conferences and is a Montessori classroom consultant. She has been a contributing author for Washington Families Magazine, publishing articles on Montessori education, child development, and parenting. She also wrote, narrated, and produced an educational video on using Montessori principles for the care of infants in the home.

Tamara lives with her family and is the proud parent of two Montessori children.