Our Staff

Our school and staff maintain memberships with the Oregon Montessori Association (OMA), the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), the American Montessori Society (AMS), the Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children (OAEYC), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and others. These memberships keep us in touch with current research and developments in the field through publications, conferences and workshops. We also support local training centers and colleges by hosting observers, student teachers and interns. Many of these organizations are also available to parents as great resources. If you are interested in further information, we are happy to provide it!

Stacey Edwards Russo
Head of School / Owner
Stacey Edwards Russo is originally from a small farm town just west of Chicago. She moved to Portland in the Fall of 2011 with her husband Michael. Stacey is trained as a Montessori Primary (ages 3 through 6) and Infant and Toddler guide; for the past 25 years she has served as a Guide, Educational Director, School Director and Owner, as well as a Business and Educator Consultant; and Parent and Educator Coach. She is also a Master Trainer with the State of Oregon and facilitates educator and leadership trainings.

Stacey has taught in classrooms in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York and even Poland. In 2011, she received her Master's Degree in Child Development with a specialization in Program Administration from the prestigious Erikson Institute in Chicago. Through her work with the Montessori Accreditation Council of Teacher Education (MACTE) she has assisted in the accrediting process of Montessori teacher training centers all over the United States as well as in Canada, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. For 7 years she sat as the Vice Chair on the Board of Directors of MACTE. She is a past Vice Chair and Advocacy Chair of the Oregon Montessori Association (OMA); former Vice President and Board Chair of Membership and Engagement for the Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children (ORAEYC), as well as former board member for Heart and Hand Teacher Education Program. She holds personal and school memberships with NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children), AMS (American Montessori Society), OAEYC (Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children), OSLA (Oregon State Literary Association) and CN&N (Children and Nature Network).

During the last 15 years, Stacey has put all of her efforts into serving the needs of local families in Southwest Portland by expanding CVMS from a 2-room primary center to a growing classroom community that spans 2 locations! Now as as a certified Montessori Postpartum Doula and Coach, Stacey is in her element serving parents and infants throughout the Metro area in a variety of ways! Above all, she loves finding moments to laugh with husband Michael and learn more about the world through the eyes of her 4 children ages 20, 12, 10 and 9, and most importantly, puppy Chai!

In Stacey’s own words:

Classroom Teams

CVMS is committed to hiring quality professionals. All classroom guides hold or are gaining certifications in the Montessori method of education from MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education) accredited training institutions. Classroom Assistants have education and/or rich experiences in Early Childhood Education and Child Development. Our school welcomes employees of any race, ability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identification, language, nationality and ethnicity, religion, and family constellation into our classrooms and among all programs facilitated by our school.  The school does not discriminate in its hiring and/or school-administered policies.  It is our goal that CVMS reflects the rich diversity of our community, including varied cultures, economic status, and individual or exceptional educational needs. If you are not comfortable with our commitment to a community of belonging, then this may not be the best community for your family.

All staff members are required to be registered in the Oregon Central Background Registry and have the following certifications:
First Aid and CPR
Food Handlers
Reporting and Recording Child Abuse and Neglect
Introduction to Childcare Health and Safety
Safe Sleeping
Foundations of Learning
Staff must also fulfill a minimum of 24 hours of additional professional development each year. During such a hardship in our nation’s workforce, we are proud of the dedicated individuals that choose to empower our children each day!