About Us

Board of Directors

Board of Directors Biographies

Cedar River Montessori School (CRMS) is governed by a board of directors that is responsible for guiding and assessing the effective implementation of the CRMS mission:
Cedar River Montessori School fosters the innate curiosity of the child, presenting learning experiences that cultivate independent, creative thinkers who continuously build their understanding of themselves and the world around them.

The Board of Directors is responsible for the governance and fiscal stability of Cedar River Montessori School.

Tasks of the board include: engage in the strategic planning process, network within the broader community for advancement opportunities, and hire and evaluate the Head of School. The Board of Directors is made up of no fewer than five members who serve three year terms.

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  • Board Directors, 2023

    Sephy Elizai
    Originally from Texas, Sephy made his way to the Northwest by attending Seattle University after his four-year US Air Force tour of duty. He became an educator working with the Ministry of Education in Tel Aviv, Israel. Sephy has been a language teacher also in Watsonville, Aptos and Santa Cruz, California. In 2018-2019, Sephy worked as the Spanish Language Specialist at Cedar River Montessori School, and he is excited to remain connected to the school by serving on the Board. Sephy is presently a Spanish Teacher at Washington Preparatory School in Bothell.

    Carol Husmann
    Bio coming soon!

  • Board Officers, 2023

    Jill Pugh, President
    Jill lives in Newcastle with her husband, daughter, their big fluffy dog and three cats. She is an attorney and spent twenty years practicing employment law in her own private practice, representing employees and a select few small businesses.  Jill has served on several other nonprofit boards, such as the Unemployment Law Project, King County Bar Association and the the King County Chapter of the Washington Women Lawyers Association. Jill’s daughter currently attends Cedar River. CRMS’s mission and values align with Jill’s educational and professional background, serving on the Board helps feed her lifelong passion for working towards equity and anti discrimination. 

    Schuyler Reid, Vice President
    Born and raised in Alaska, Schuyler Reid (she/her/hers) sought out adventure in Shanghai and New York City before settling down in West Seattle to enjoy a quieter pace of life. While globe trotting, Schuyler realized her passion for human rights advocacy and found fulfilling work in impactful, mission-driven organizations. In her current role at an international human rights non-profit, she has the exciting privilege of building engaging and meaningful learning and development opportunities for over 500 staff in almost 50 countries. In her free time, Schuyler enjoys volunteering, exploring Washington's magnificent parks, finding little free libraries in her neighborhood, baking tasty treats, and embroidering nature scenes onto pillowcases.

    Emily Stumpf, Treasurer
    Emily is an accountant by trade. She has spent most of her career in the manufacturing industry working primarily on costing, Financial Statements, reconciliations, Strategic Reporting, and managing budgets. Emily got her Bachelors of Science in Math and Accounting from Linfield College and went on to get her CPA a few years after graduation. She is originally from Oregon, but moved to Seattle after college graduation. In her spare time, Emily enjoys spending time on the lake with her fiance and two children.

    Renae Howard, Secretary
    Renae Howard is an avid supporter of Montessori education, and is the parent of a Cedar River alumni. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Renae loves to kayak the lakes and ponds in the Seattle area. Renae's background is in bookkeeping and office management and she is grateful to have supported Cedar River Montessori in a shared role as Business Manager for several years. Renae's recent career has included supporting growing tech firms and real estate companies. Renae currently provides bookkeeping support for small and mid-sized companies. She hopes to lend her experience as an alumni parent, and a former employee, to the Cedar River Montessori board. 

Are you passionate about Montessori education and the importance of connecting to the natural world?

Are you looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity where your time and expertise will be respected and harnessed to create real, positive change in children’s lives, our communities, and in our ecosystem? If so, our board development committee would love to talk with you!
We are always interested in meeting with people who share our passions and would like to learn more about serving on our Board of Directors! Individuals from all cultures and communities are encouraged to apply. Please click below to read our Board of Directors job description (PDF), and to begin the application process by completing a brief contact form. The board development committee will be in touch with you shortly – thank you!