Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of The Portland Montessori School works with the school administration, the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) and other school stakeholders to ensure the school fulfills its mission and purpose. The following individuals currently serve on our Board of Directors:

Ms. Kim brings business development and project management expertise to the school’s board. Her non-profit experience includes working with the American Cancer Society, the Southern California Special Olympics and the Southcentral LA Youth Opportunities Program. Ms. Kim has two daughters attending the school: one in our elementary program and one in our primary program.

Ms. MacLaren is an attorney who specializes in land use and real estate and serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Oregon School of Law. Her legal background is invaluable to the board. Her non-profit experience ranges from working with the Oregon Primary Care Association to the Multnomah County Food Policy Council and 1000 Friends of Oregon. Ms. MacLaren is a native Oregonian who is passionate about the environment.

Mr. Fredericks manages the Washington County Child Abuse Hotline for the State of Oregon Child Welfare Division. He has a child in her third year of our primary program.

Trish Nimelman is the chief finance officer for the integrated dental insurance and care delivery organization at Kaiser Permanente NW. She has held finance executive roles in a variety of industries, recently served on the board of the Beverly Cleary School PTA and is excited to bring her financial management expertise to the PMS board as its Treasurer. Trish's son is currently a third year student in the elementary school program.

Mr. Smejtek leads a product development engineering team for TE Connectivity (formerly Tyco Electronics). Mr. Smejtek is the father of a student in her third year of our elementary program.

Dr. Rushmer is managing partner of NXT Consulting Group, specializing in non-profit planning and organizational development. A neuroscientist by training, he has had a varied career, as a research scientist and administrator, academic administrator in higher education and administration of clinical programs for children with developmental disabilities. He has served on a number of non-profit boards over the years and has two grandchildren enrolled in a Montessori program in Bellingham, Washington.