The Faculty

Bainbridge-Solon Montessori School takes pride in boasting a culturally diverse faculty of directresses who observe and cherish the educational principles of Dr. Maria Montessori.  In addition to being certified under the State Board of Education of Ohio, these directresses have been uniquely trained under the vision and tutelage of Mrs. Mildred Gunawardena and her daughter Nelunika Gunawardena Rajapakse.

Mrs. G, needless to say - our founding principal - and a pioneer pedagogue in the field of Montessori, having been privileged to receive training under the late Dr. Maria Montessori in 1943, was a 'Great Mother of Mothers' to the children and parents of the world for 68 years.  Mrs. G continued her life's dream as the teaching principal of our school until the dawn of the new millennium.

Mrs. Nelunika Gunawardena Rajapakse, the principal and head directress, having lived her life from birth the Montessori way, continues to follow the footsteps of her mother in her authentic vision, with a profound sense of love and devotion.

Mrs. Rajapakse's background in Montessori, through the different phases of her life -- from being a child observer to a teacher/ directress/ and Montessori administrator in practice, is unique by all means.

Mrs. Rajapakse attributes her appreciation for life, and success as a directress for children, parents and teachers, to her life-long training under her mother's tutelage.  Her subsequent formal training, under the world renowned Mr. A. M. Jooston and Miss Margaret Stephenson also attest to her Montessori heritage.  (The former having been the personal representative to Dr. Maria Montessori, who had been privileged to be in the company of Dr. Montessori from his childhood through adulthood, and the latter, a contemporary of Mrs. G, who studied Montessori with her in 1957.)