Staff

Head of School

Courtney Fox

Courtney is an accomplished educator and respected school leader. She has been a part the Delaware education landscape for many years, teaching elementary school for 15 years and is currently the Head of School of a Montessori based charter school. In 2008, she was named the Delaware Teacher of the Year and this title created opportunities for her to work with teachers on a national level on many education initiatives. Courtney has attained National Board Certification, as an Early Childhood Generalist, was a National Consultant for the Northeast Foundation for Children, and has trained teachers all over the country in Responsive Classroom. She currently holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction as well as her Principal’s Certificate. Courtney serves on the Delaware Charter School Network’s Board of Directors as well as many other statewide committees.

As a leader in education, Courtney’s work has commanded many awards: she has received a National Endowment for the Humanities Picturing America Award, NEA Teaching Excellence Award, Secretary of Education Merit Award, Character in Education Promising Practices Award, Presidential Teaching Nominee, a Delaware Superstars in Education Award, and was named a 2012 Hope Street Group National Teaching Fellow. Since becoming the Head of School in 2014, Courtney received an IDEA Impact Award and the school received a DCSN Inches and Miles Award for the academic growth made at FSMA. Courtney’s educational work has had wide spread impact across the state of Delaware and is grounded in her deep understanding of children, which she has developed by watching her own three children learn and grow.

Director of Education

Liz Madden

Liz has been involved in Montessori education for over 20 years as an educator and leader. Most recently she has been a part of the founding staff at First State Montessori Academy, where she serves as Education Director. Previously she was the Director of Education at Wilmington Montessori School and prior to that Liz taught 1st – 3rd grade for many years. She earned her BA in Psychology, MEd in Elementary Studies, and Montessori Certification from Princeton Center for Teacher Education. Liz has presented locally for the Center for Montessori Advancement and nationally for the American Montessori Society. She strives to integrate current research and educational best practices within the time tested Montessori philosophy. She is inspired to continue to make this educational method available to more children in Delaware.

Liz lives in North Wilmington with her husband, 2 boys (former and current Montessori students), and their three dogs.