Topsail Montessori Administration
Founder/Owner
Julie Ayala
Staff Biography
Julie Ayala is the Owner and Head of School at Topsail Montessori. She attended Purdue University for her undergraduate studies, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in financial planning and swam for the Boilermakers’ Women’s Swimming Team. Julie earned her master’s degree in special education at the College of Charleston in South Carolina (1998) and then attended the Montessori Educational Institute of the Pacific Northwest, where she earned Montessori certification for lower elementary (2004). Julie has had a wide range of teaching experiences working with students of all ages in public, private and charter schools from Alaska to North Carolina, where she and her family now live. Julie’s love for children and her belief in the Montessori method inspired her to open Topsail Montessori in 2015.
Childcare Director
MacKenzie Harris
Staff Biography
MacKenzie has been a tri-county resident since pursuing her Bachelors in Social Work at UNCW in 2012. Following her graduation, MacKenzie devoted her life to serving children in Child Welfare. Though she no longer desires to work in the high stakes world of protective service, her love for children is never-ending and she enjoys putting her policy knowledge to use as the Childcare Director here at Topsail Montessori. In her free time, MacKenzie is an active member of her church and volunteers in the community as often as possible. When not on the go, MacKenzie likes to camp with her family and slow down her mind with crafting.
Education Director
Victoria Hughes
Staff Biography
Victoria graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in Sociology and Political Science. With a background as a K-8 Waldorf student, Victoria has always had a love for creative education and hands-on learning and chose to pursue her private school teaching certificate. Just like Montessori, Waldorf is a holistic approach to education that centers around the individual needs of each child. After teaching 1st-3rd grade at Waldorf and Waldorf-inspired schools, Victoria transitioned into being an education director at Heritage Creek Farm Camp & Education Center. There, she planned and implemented a mixed-age curriculum for students in an outdoor learning environment. Victoria shared creative and nature-based lessons with children through summer camp, afterschool, homeschool and field trip experiences. Victoria moved to Wilmington at the end of 2022 wishing to continue her work with progressive schools and education programs.
Stepping Stones Team
Stepping Stones Lead
Ana Abab
Staff Biography
Ana is originally from Brazil. She migrated to the US in 2001 and a few months after, she met her husband. Her journey in childcare education started when she began to volunteer at preschools and daycares in Southern California. She was first introduced to the Montessori method in 2012 when she started working as a floater/assistant at a very well established Montessori school. She immediately developed a deep passion for teaching young children and she decided to make this passion her career. Ana earned her Early Childhood Education credits at Saddleback College and received her AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) diploma for Infancy to Age Three at Montessori Institute of San Diegoin in 2014. Since then, Ana had been working as a Toddler Lead teacher. She possesses a deep admiration and appreciation for the Montessori method. She believes that it is fulfilling to help children develop through connecting them to the prepared environment. She knows that this helps children reach their full potential. In her free time, Ana enjoys cooking, baking and exploring outdoors with her husband, her son and her dog.
Stepping Stones Teacher
Kari Yokochi
Staff Biography
Kari has lived in Wilmington since 2017 and has been with Topsail Montessori since 2019. After falling in love with the method and philosophy she pursued her Montessori training while working as an assistant in a Primary class. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marshall University and her Montessori Certification for the Primary level from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Kari loves sharing her passion for sustainability, community building, and yoga with the children. One of her favorite parts of Montessori is the intention to nurture the child’s innate desire for learning. In her free time, she is raising her son, staying active, and connecting with nature. She has loved being a part of the growth and building of community at Topsail Montessori and is excited to see the future vision of the school come to fruition.
Primary Team
Primary 1 Lead
Christy Ross
Staff Biography
Christy recently made an exciting life change to return to her passion for Montessori teaching. Originally hailing from Phoenix, AZ, she and her husband relocated to Wilmington, NC. in January 2022 to embark on a new life chapter.
For over the past decade, Christy worked as a retirement investment professional, but her true calling was always in Montessori education. After attending college with a focus on early childhood education, she discovered the transformative power of the Montessori teaching method. Witnessing the effectiveness of Montessori materials, particularly in areas like math, language and community, she redirected her path and obtained her A.M.I. (Association Montessori Internationale) primary certification. Christy's teaching journey spans more than ten years, during which she had the opportunity to contribute her expertise in both charter and private Montessori schools. Christy has a passion for embracing curiosity, joy, and the beauty of learning. Christy has 2 adult children that both attended Montessori school in AZ. One attended through 5th grade and the other through 8th. In her free time, she loves to travel, garden and swing dance.
Primary 2 Lead
Admissions Director
Becky O'Connell
Staff Biography
Becky loves the Montessori philosophy because she believes that it brings out the best in everyone, allowing the child to grow within limits and allowing the adults to support every child’s growth through love, kindness, and respect. When Becky’s daughter started Montessori school at 18 months, she fell in love with the Montessori Method and started her training to be a Montessori primary teacher. She taught for three years before taking a break from the classroom to run her mother’s business. She returned to teaching in 2018 and plans to stay until retirement. She lives her life with a constant love and desire to learn, just as the primary aged children do. She was fortunate to watch her daughter grow up in a Montessori environment and get the complete benefits of this community through elementary school. Her daughter’s love of the world, respect for her community, and joy of learning are still strong as a teenager. Becky and her family love living in the Hampstead community and plan on being here for a long time.
Primary 3 Lead
Angela McConnell
Staff Biography
Angela, originally from Connecticut, moved to North Carolina in 2007. She has a bachelor's degree in business where she worked in banking and real estate for many years. Following her love of children, desire to teach, and passion for the Montessori philosophy, Angela received her Montessori Early Childhood Certification in 2013 and has worked in Montessori schools since. She lives in the Porters Neck area with her husband where they are enjoying life and spending time with their three adult children and grandson.
Primary 1 Assistant
Sarah Kallquist
Staff Biography
Sarah Kallquist is from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and moved to Holly Ridge North Carolina in the spring of 2022. She grew up going to Topsail Beach and wanted to combine her love of working with children and being near the ocean. Sarah graduated from Allegheny Community College in 2017 with a certificate in Early Childhood Education and Development. After graduating, Sarah worked at a private Christian school as an assistant in the kindergarten program. She then worked at a STEM- based learning school where she enjoyed teaching children of all ages. It was through this STEM program that she developed her critical thinking skills and appreciation for nature-based learning. In her spare time, Sarah loves being with her family and her dog, going on road trips, and working in her garden.
Elementary Team
Elementary Lead
Emilie Mobley
Staff Biography
Emilie graduated from Elon University where she earned a Bachelor's degree in English. She discovered Montessori in 2001 and earned her AMI Elementary diploma from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee in 2002. She enjoyed many wonderful years as Lead Elementary teacher in two of this country's most renowned Montessori schools. She served for several years on the Board of Directors, regularly conducted parent education events, wrote articles for the parent newsletter on Montessori education and theory, and volunteered for a variety of committees. As a Montessori parent herself, Emilie was immersed in the culture and is well-versed in the benefits and outcomes of a Montessori education. Returning to North Carolina has long been a dream of Emilie's. She and her husband of more than 30 years are settling into their new home in Wilmington after relocating from Southern California. She counts herself lucky to have discovered Topsail Montessori and is thrilled to return to the classroom, bringing her extensive knowledge and experience. Aside from being a voracious reader, a decent writer, and a frequently called-upon editor, Emilie loves everything about being in and on the water. She also has a student pilot's license and may someday return to the sky. In the meantime, she is content to enjoy everything the NC coast has to offer, including some of the best seafood in the country!
Elementary Lead
Erin Kinsella
Staff Biography
“Free the child’s potential, and you will transform him into the world.”- Maria Montessori
Erin Kinsella was drawn to Montessori after learning more about the methods and teachings of the whole child. She was born in San Francisco and grew up in Northern California and Idaho. She attended college in California focusing on early childhood education. Erin has taught in schools, from preschool to high school, for almost 20 years in private, public, and Montessori. She is married and has two children. Her and her family have traveled all over the world and have finally settled here in Hampstead where they plan to finally plant their roots.
Support Team
Aftercare Director
Art Teacher
Sophia Allder-Stephens
Staff Biography
Sophia is from Virginia and moved to Holly Ridge in June 2023. As the oldest sibling and cousin in her family, she grew up taking care of children. She began volunteering in the nursery at her grandparents church when she was still in middle school. While attending Northern Virginia Community College she took a Developmental Psychology class that convinced her that she could enrich children's lives and make a lasting impact as a teacher. After earning her Associates Degree in Social Sciences, she went on to get her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education at the University of Mary Washington. She also volunteered for over two years as Co-Clerk of the Children's Religious Education Committee at the church she attends. In her free time, Sophia enjoys crocheting, collaging, making jewelry, painting, drawing, and spending time with her cats and fiance. Sophia has been educated in arts integration pedagogy and is excited to help students discover their love of the arts in a Montessori setting!
Enrichment Teacher & Floater
Emma Deese
Staff Biography
Emma has accumulated around 7 years of childcare experience between working at a daycare, nannying and babysitting. When she wasn’t working, she volunteered at a daycare helping with their events, making crafts for the kids, and decorating classrooms! Emma has also regularly volunteered at the sheriff's department with their fundraisers and events that catered towards the children of the community. One of Emma’s main interests is photography. She often photographs personal events but prefers to work photographing animals. Emma enjoys sharing her passion for animals with others and loves to integrate this passion into her work with children. Emma has an appreciation for nature-based learning and is excited to teach practical education through the Montessori Approach. Some of Emma’s other hobbies include art, movies, adventuring to new places, and being in nature!
Enrichment Teacher & Floater
Christian Kelley
Staff Biography
Raised in Wilmington, Christian knew from a young age that he wanted to work with children. After graduating from UNCW with a Bachelors in elementary education, he spent time working with children of all ages. After coming to Topsail Montessori, he fell in love with the freedom and ownership the students had over their learning. Christian has plans to go back to school for a degree in early childhood education.
