Our Team

Lakshmi Shekhar

Lakshmi Shekhar is the Trainer for Primary courses at the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis. She is AMI certified at both primary and elementary environments and has more than 18 years of classroom experience in private and charter schools. Lakshmi is the founding guide of the Children's House at the Montessori Lab School at Grand Center. She holds a Master's degree in English Literature.

Sharlyn Smith

Sharlyn Smith is the Trainer for Assistants to Infancy courses at Montessori Training Center of St. Louis. She holds AMI diplomas at both the 0-3 and 3-6 levels and has more than 25 years of classroom experience, with additional experience serving as a Head of School. She earned B.A. degrees in Japanese Language and Literature, and International Affairs from the University of Colorado and holds a M.Ed. in Montessori Education from Loyola University. Sharlyn enjoys spending time outside; hiking with her dogs, scuba diving and snowboarding. She spends her free time traveling with her family.

Jessica Taylor

Jessica Taylor is the Executive Director of the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis and the Montessori Lab School at Grand Center. Jess has worked in non-profit leadership roles for over twenty years and also served as a warranted contracting officer (Captain) in the United States Air Force. She has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan and an M.P.A. in Public Administration from Georgia College and State University.  She has lived in Luxembourg, Switzerland, and in seven different states as well as the District of Columbia.