Guest Trainers

From time to time SMTC has guest trainers working to expand our training program via AMI Refreshers, short courses or other workshops. Here are some of the guest trainers working with SMTC.

Molly Schayot

Molly Schayot is an AMI Auxiliary Trainer with the Montessori Institute of North Texas (MINT) in the USA, having worked on a number of AMI Diploma Courses and Orientation Courses.  She received her AMI 0-3 Diploma from MINT in 2006 and has led 0-3 classrooms and worked as an administrator at schools throughout Texas.  Prior to  joining the Montessori community professionally, she worked in corporate public affairs for many years.  Molly lives with her husband, Jason and her three daughters in Dallas.

Molly has presented several workshops and Refreshers for SMTC

Heidi Philippart

Heidi is a 0-3 Director of Training at the Maria Montessori Institute in London.

Heidi is the founder of two small Montessori Bilingual Preschools and the 2Voices Montessori Study Room for adult education in Amsterdam. Her specialty is helping parents in the application of Montessori principles and bilingualism in the home environment. Heidi has spoken extensively around the Netherlands and internationally on Montessori-related topics for the birth to three years age group. Heidi holds a Masters Degree in Education and is an AMI Trainer, examiner and consultant at the 0-3 level.

Heidi presents SMTC’s “Montessori at Home” for parents.

Ruby Lau

Ruby Lau has been an AMI 3-6 Trainer and educational consultant for 40 years. Educated from an early age in the UK, she began her career, after studying psychology at university, in advertising. After Ruby received her 3-6 diploma in 1985 in London, she joined the Maria Montessori Training Organisation (now the Maria Montessori Institute) where she worked both in the school and assisted on the training courses. 1n 1990, Ruby started and ran her own school for 15 years. She holds AMI diplomas at the 0-3, 3-6 and 6-12 age levels and has just completed the 12-18 AMI Diploma course. Ruby is a senior member of the AMI faculty in China, helping to establish training institutes and training local trainers. She served as a member of the Scientific and Pedagogical Committee at AMI for 8 years.

Ruby served as Fundraiser and then Chair, for the Montessori Society AMI UK, and is currently the Chair of the Malaysian Society for Montessori Education, both which promote an awareness of Montessori education to a wider public and support teachers and parents. Now she brings her multi-layered experience to mentor and support the training staff, the students of AMI courses and teachers in schools in many parts of Asia, particularly China, India, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Ruby presented the Reconnect workshop in 2025 for SMTC.

Ellen Lebitz

Ellen Lebitz is an AMI 6-12 trainer as well as mentor and support to schools and teachers throughout the US and the world. Ellen has earned AMI 3-6 and 6-12 diplomas and has worked at both levels.  She has over 18 years of classroom experience as well as 17 years administrative experience as education director at two schools. Ellen has served on the boards of schools, training centers, as well as several community nonprofit organizations. She has lectured on training courses in South Africa, France, China, Taiwan, and the US. 

She holds a BA in Fine Art and an MA in Studio Art from the University at Albany (NY) and has many years experience teaching art and handwork.  Ellen enjoys exploring the arts and human creativity, especially in regards to handcrafts and cookery. She lives with her family in rural northwest Washington State. 

Ellen has presented several workshops for SMTC, including a workshop for new materials in 2025.