Our Team

Our Dedicated & Passionate Team

What we all have in common is a dedication to the classroom, to the vitality of the school, and to the Montessori philosophy.

Melanie Accinno

Teacher, Owner and Director

American Montessori Society Certified Teacher

New England Montessori Teacher Education Center

While studying Education in college in Vermont, I observed in a Montessori classroom for a class project and immediately fell in love with the method.  I hold an early childhood teaching credential and administrative credential in the state of NC. Before buying Julia Street Montessori, I worked as a lead teacher for over seventeen years and in administration for three years in both the profit and nonprofit Montessori sector.

Working over the years with many different Montessorians, families, and children have brought so much joy to my life.  These experiences have offered me a solid foundation and continued to foster my love for the Montessori method. I bring this knowledge and passion to Julia Street Montessori school.

I have a passion for nurturing and guiding each child, helping to foster a love of learning, and preparing a beautiful enriching environment. With a special interest in fostering a sense of community within the classroom helping assist in the child’s full development. 

I am dedicated to organizing local and international service-learning opportunities for children and families to participate in and experience firsthand.

I have come full circle and feel like I’m living a dream come true in owning and operating Julia Street Montessori school, it is where my oldest son Noah attended as a four-year-old and was my first teaching job in Asheville over 20 years ago.

I live in Black Mountain with my husband and have two children, one graduated in 2020 from NC State University and one who graduated in 2020 from Owen High. In my free time, I enjoy mountain biking and gardening.  I am also an avid hockey fan especially favoring the Washington Capitals.

Lily Rountree

Lead Teacher

I am so happy to be here for my third year at Julia Street Montessori! I started my Montessori teacher certification program in Atlanta and look forward to being a lead teacher at Julia Street next year. Being a part of this school community and getting to play a role in the growth and learning of the children means so much to me, and I can’t wait to further my knowledge in this role!

I have loved the mountains of North Carolina my whole life growing up an hour outside of Asheville in Burnsville. Since moving to Asheville several years ago after I graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from Earlham College, I have had so much fun getting to know the city of Asheville more intimately and building a community here that feels like home.

Outside of school I love to create art, cook, garden, go on outdoor adventures, and spend time with family and friends! I strive to find ways to share my passion for art making and gardening with students and am looking forward to doing some fun craft projects this year, as well as continuing to involve the students in our new raised garden bed we installed in front of the school last year!

I am so grateful to be here for another year of growth, learning, and memory making at Julia Street Montessori.

Courtney Reagan

Assistant Teacher

I am delighted to be joining Julia Street Montessori. I have spent much of life caring for and working with children. I have spent time as a Lead Toddler Teacher and Preschool Teacher. I have also worked in ABA Therapy as a Registered Behavior Technician. I find Early Childhood Education to be very rewarding. I am passionate about guiding children and supporting their growth as they reach important developmental milestones.

I grew up in East Tennessee and graduated with my Associate of Applied Science degree from Northeast State Community College. I was introduced to the Montessori Method in 2022. I was immediately impressed by its positive impact on children’s learning. I love how Montessori education focuses on self-motivated growth in all areas of development.

Outside of teaching, I enjoy cooking and spending time with my husband and our three dogs. We enjoy hiking and outdoor adventures. I love the WNC mountains and I am proud to call Asheville my home.

I look forward to the new school year at Julia Street Montessori. I am thankful for this opportunity to learn and grow in the Montessori environment. I am excited to support each child’s unique journey and to be part of the Julia Street Community.

Chloe Bloemendaal

Assistant Teacher

I am so excited to be joining the team as an assistant guide at Julia St. Montessori! I am a passionate and experienced early childhood educator and I especially love working in a Montessori environment as a previous Montessori kid myself! Working with young children and their families has been a life long calling and I can’t wait to see what exciting things this school year has in store.

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I have been working with young children since the age of 13, when I enrolled myself in an American Red Cross babysitting course and began babysitting for families in my community. I have taught in traditional and Montessori school environments in Houston, Texas and Portland, Oregon. My most recent teaching experience was providing English tutoring in Seville, Spain. My husband and I moved to North Carolina this spring, following our wedding in May, and I am so excited to begin a new chapter here, in Asheville.

Outside of school I love crafting, reading, enjoying the outdoors, traveling, and spending time with my new husband! I am excited to work with the Julia Street Montessori School team to bring some of these interests into the classroom, including incorporating some Spanish language and songs that I picked up from my time in Seville.

I love teaching I am so grateful to be a part of this community at Julia Street Montessori!