Woodinville Montessori School announces new leadership

As of July 1, Sunita Pailoor is the new Head of Woodinville Montessori School, only the second head in the school’s 35-year history. Previously the Associate Head of School and Secondary Program Director, Pailoor follows Mary Schneider, WMS co-founder and head of school since 1983.

Schneider retired as WMS head on June 30. Pailoor, who is also a past parent at WMS, has a long association with the school, and is uniquely qualified to take the reins at a time of growth and expansion.

“Sunita’s knowledge and her commitment to our school mission and vision is a major element in my decision to do this,” Schneider said when announcing her retirement. “Her understanding of what it takes to create and support quality, authentic, full-age-spectrum Montessori programs is rare. It gives me comfort and confidence that the work we have started will continue in the same direction.”

Pailoor completed American Montessori Society (AMS) administrators training at the Houston Montessori Center with a Secondary emphasis, and the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) Pathway to Leadership training. As a certified Montessori elementary teacher she taught at all elementary levels, helped start a public school Upper Elementary Montessori program in Maltby and is both a faculty member and a board member of the Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest (MEIPN). She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Psychology and Economics from Bangalore University; a Bachelor of Science in Economics and General Studies from Portland State University; and a Master of Education from Plymouth State University.

“I am honored to be entrusted with Mary’s legacy and look forward to leading the school into the future,” Pailoor said. “I believe that Montessori education ignites student passion for learning and prepares them to be confident problem solvers. It is the pathway of the future.”

Schneider will not go far away in retirement, as she continues to build on her accomplishments in Montessori education and education leadership with MEIPN.

Carter McCoy replaces Pailoor as Woodinville Montessori High School Director of Secondary Programs.

The state’s only American Montessori Society-accredited high school, WMHS graduated its first two senior classes in 2017 and 2018. McCoy brings rare Montessori secondary credentials and experience in beginning and growing a Montessori secondary program.

He helped establish and grow the Alsion Montessori Middle and High School in California, and earned a Montessori teaching credential for ages 12-18 and a Master of Education in Montessori Integrative Learning from Endicott College. He also holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and in history from the College of Charleston, and a Master of International Relations and Asian Politics from the University of Queensland.

“I am thrilled to be joining WMS at such an exciting time for the secondary program,” McCoy said. “Having just graduated the second class of seniors, the program is already very successful and poised for growth. I am excited to help the school achieve new heights by building on the existing program and supporting the excellent faculty we have here at WMS.”

WMS educates toddlers through 12th-graders at its Bothell campus, and the original Woodinville campus provides additional preschool and kindergarten classes. About 400 students have enrolled for the 2018-2019 school year.