Beth Brock grew up in Atlanta, GA and has enjoyed vacationing along the Emerald Coast her entire life. She attended Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, where she graduated on the Dean’s List with a BS in Early Childhood Education.  She obtained her Montessori Director/Administrator Credential through AMS at Houston Montessori Center in December of 2012.

Always one for adventure, she was a White Water River Guide in college and has enjoyed extensive worldwide travel. After graduation, she was the Assistant Teacher in the Infant and Primary classrooms at a Montessori School in Breckenridge, Colorado. Beth enjoys fishing, live music, and spending time on the beautiful emerald coast beaches.  Beth holds the title of Head of School/Principal, and is the main point of contact for the school.  Beth joined SWMA in 2008.

Emily is a Florida native who was born and raised in Panama City. She began her journey in childcare working in traditional preschools, but felt drawn to look for other methods of education. She was introduced to Montessori in 2018 and instantly fell in love with the philosophy.

Emily Started off as a substitute teacher at SWMA, spending a majority of that time in the Toddler, Primary, and Lower Elementary classrooms before accepting a full-time position in Lower El. She spent the next four years assisting and being mentored by Catherine Beall and began her Elementary 1 Montessori training with CGMS in 2022, completing her residency that summer. Emily is now the Certified Lead Teacher in the Lower Elementary classroom.

Emily also completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2020 and is certified in Trauma Informed Yoga. 

Ms. Emily is also the proud Mom of 2 beautiful young girls.  

Ms. Jules Beiza grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, but has spent every summer vacationing along the beautiful Emerald Coast, making this area feel like a second home.  She has always had a passion for working with children and finds great joy in helping them learn, grow, and build confidence.

Since 2020, Jules has worked as an attendant at Baytowne Adventure Zone, where she supervised children on attractions including the ropes course, zipline, and bungee trampoline while helping create a fun, safe, and memorable experience for families.  She has also coached youth soccer camps, babysat for local families, and volunteered in her church’s children’s ministry.  In the fall of 2026, she will begin working toward her Teacher’s Aide Certification.

Jules played soccer throughout her childhood and was a member of her high school’s varsity soccer team.  These experiences taught her the importance of teamwork, perseverance, leadership, and kindness.

Outside of work, Jules enjoys spending time with friends, attending concerts, relaxing on the beautiful beaches of the Emerald Coast, and being a proud dog mom.  She looks forward to building meaningful relationships with the students and families at South Walton Montessori Academy and helping create a nurturing environment where every child feels valued, supported, and inspired to learn.

Audrey, a Georgia native, spent much of her childhood vacationing along 30A—a place that has since become a second home. Her passion for working with children emerged early and led her to begin her career as a full-time nanny in 2018.

In 2022, Audrey transitioned into a formal early childhood setting, serving as an Assistant Infant/Toddler Teacher in a daycare and preschool environment. It was during this time that she was introduced to the Montessori philosophy through a colleague, an experience that profoundly influenced her approach to teaching.

Motivated by what she learned, Audrey began thoughtfully incorporating Montessori principles into her classroom—nurturing independence, encouraging self-confidence, and cultivating respectful communication among her students.  As her understanding deepened, so did her desire to work within an authentic Montessori environment.

Audrey joined the SWMA team in 2025 and looks forward to continuing her journey as a Montessori educator.

Outside the classroom, she enjoys exploring thrift shops with her husband and spending time on hiking trails with her family.

Maria’s passion is to teach kids to acquire the Spanish language in a fun and interactive way.  She started teaching in 2014 in Porta Languages in California where she taught Spanish to kindergartens, middle schoolers, and high schoolers. In 2023, Maria taught Spanish to high schoolers at Hilton Head Christian Academy where she also took on private tutoring lessons with the students. Maria is a native speaker, born and raised in the city of Mexico City. Her love for the language and the culture is an extension of her love for teaching it to her students. Maria uses a natural approach to teach Spanish through the use of music, games, and everyday activities. In addition to teaching Spanish, Ms. Maria is also the PE teacher, and assists in the Upper Elementary classroom. Maria joined the SWMA team in 2024.

Catherine founded the school in 2004 and held the title Head of School as well as Lower Elementary Teacher from 2004 until the Spring of 2023.  She retired from teaching but remains on staff as the Director of Finance for the school.

She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Technology.

Catherine completed the academic phase of the AMS Lower Elementary credential at the Houston Montessori Center summer of 2004 and received her credential upon successful completion in the summer of 2005. Catherine received her Masters of Education in Montessori Integrative Learning through the Houston Montessori Center and Endicott University in Boston in May 2006, with a thesis titled, “Montessori Elementary Education: Nurturing a Universe of Responsible Humans.”