Welcome from the Head of School

Hello CMA Families;

I wanted to introduce myself, my name is René Steinkamp and on behalf of our school community I want to welcome you to Central Montessori Academy. Thank you for considering CMA for your child. I have been a part of the CMA family for over 30 years. I started this journey as a parent, a volunteer, then for 18 years as a teacher in the Lower and Upper Elementary classrooms. I am now CMA’s Head of School and feel as if I have come full circle.

Part of my life’s work has been dedicated to Central Montessori Academy by helping to expand our school from being a preschool of 24 students in the 90s (The Children’s Way) to the current Toddler – 6th grade program we have today. I always wanted those who lived outside the city limits to have a choice of quality and authentic Montessori education. The goal was to have a place where school felt safe, parents became part of the community within the ‘institution’ of learning, and where children’s differences and diversity would be celebrated and nurtured. A place where following the child and their needs was the norm, where quality Montessori education included helping the students become the best version of themselves and therefore, able to emerge to be productive members of society.

I changed careers in 2002, leaving the corporate world, going back to school and became a full-time AMS Montessori Certified I Lower Elementary Montessori teacher for 8 years. Then when I was asked to join the Upper Elementary classroom, I headed to Xavier to finish my Upper Elementary Montessori II Certification, and taught in the UE classroom for 10 years. I have a Masters of Biology and Bachelor of Science degrees from Miami University; as well as many other certifications and experiences within the educational field. I have taught Jr. High at Clark Montessori, subbed in the preschool rooms of CMA, and other Montessori schools, and I have been on public and private school boards for 16 years.

I love that I still wake up in the morning looking forward to coming to school knowing I am doing what I was born to do. I feel that all of my previous experiences have led me to where I am today, in the position of Head of School. I look forward to my continuation of serving the CMA family community, as well as, the incredible teachers, staff and children. At the beginning of each school year, I can’t wait to look into all of the children’s eyes and see the possibilities of what’s next.

Looking forward to serving the CMA community,

Rene’ Steinkamp
Head of School

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