Brian Mays '11

Brian Mays, class of 2011, credits MMS with giving him a “real jumpstart on technology.” He vividly remembers the moment they “switched methods of education, from hands-on lessons and books to using technology alone” in the paperless 4th-grade classroom. He reflects on this as having given him a “true mix of learning styles,” that he carried with him, and that the immersive technology program made it so the “kids knew how to use computers just as well as our parents did at the time.” We argue that most of our students know how to use technology better than their parents do, and we know they have far more skills and experience than most of their peers across the country!

Kassi Tiedjens '13

Kassi moved to Pittsburgh in August of 2021 to begin a career in professional dance after having just graduated cum laude from Butler University with a double major in dance and psychology. She says she could have sought a position in a ballet company directly after high school as many talented young dancers do, but she wanted to “further her education,” and she is glad she did.

Desiree Roffers '98

Desiree Roffers of MMS class ’98 is quick-footed in both the classroom and the ballroom! This French-speaking swing dance extraordinaire graduated from MMS in 1998 and currently resides in Chicago. For the past 12 years, Desiree has taught elementary French at the Gallistel Language Academy. Recently, she transitioned into the position of World Language Specialist for Chicago Public Schools. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys international swing dance and mentoring new teachers in the public school system, AND working on her Ph.D. in Instructional Technology!

Shelby Lyles '12

Shelby says she learned a strong work and service ethic at MMS, and in high school she volunteered for Relay for Life all four years, serving on the executive board for three of those years. Shelby also has the distinction of raising the 2nd highest amount in the school’s history! In her free time, she was an English and writing tutor for middle school students, where she found she loves working with people.

William Gebauer '13

William Gebauer, currently living in Salt Lake City, UT, is training with the US Speed Skating National Team and recently placed 5th in the 1,000 m Olympic Trials and placed 3rd in the 500 m at the US National Championships! During his time at MMS, he was known for his interest in all things sports-related. Keep up the hard work, William!

Colleen Kubiak '10

“I really credit my time at MMS for so much of my entrepreneurial spirit, problem-solving skills, and ability to think outside of the box to solve problems for both myself and my clients.”

Colleen, a 2010 MMS graduate, began her own photography business in high school. Through workshops, mentorships, and investing in her passion, Colleen has grown her business into an official photography and social media management company. Colleen and her team specialize in providing small businesses with authentic promotional content. If you are looking for a professional photographer for personal or business sessions, reach out to colleen@colleenkubiak.com

JoLynn Henke '03

JoLynn Henke graduated from MMS in 2003 and marked the end of the Henke sibling legacy throughout the MMS halls. Fun fact: JoLynn is sister to Gordon and Elizabeth Henke – you can check out their own featured stories on our social media!

JoLynn graduated from Pius XI in 2007 and went on to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she obtained a double major in Sociology and Gender & Women’s Studies. With a drive for more higher education, JoLynn earned a Masters of Public Health from Boston University. Promptly after BU, JoLynn began working at a medical education start up in Boston. She stayed with that company for over five years and managed a team of Client Success Managers in the acute care space.

In 2018, JoLynn's mother was diagnosed with the progressive neurological disease ALS, causing JoLynn to reevaluate her career path. JoLynn resigned from her job in Boston and dedicated her next professional chapter to building a personal care brand called Protéger, inspired by assisting her mother with her self care rituals, particularly as her mother’s condition progressed.

“Although my mom is no longer physically with us, she will always be at the heart of all that we do.“

The self-made business Protéger has earned several accolades from Vanity Fair, British Vogue, Beauty Independent, and more!

In her free time, JoLynn enjoys traveling and live music as well as being active with barre classes, yoga, and long walks with her dog Biscuit and partner Justen. We are so proud of this inspired and creative MMS alum! Check out Protéger products on their website www.protegerdaily.com and social media @protegerdaily.

George Ubell '20

George Ubell, a 2020 graduate, just began his sophomore year at Marquette High School. George was awarded merit scholarships for his academic excellence and continues to pursue his interests in history, geopolitics, debate, and world languages. George states that these unique passions were developed in Junior High “entirely due to Mr. Riggs’ influence”.

In just his first year at Marquette, George successfully completed an AP and Honors class, participated on the First-Year Volleyball team, competed in Alpine Ski Racing, was a quarterfinalist in the Wisconsin State Debate Tournament, and competed on the Marquette Debate team at the national level.



Olivia Eis '15

Olivia Eis, a 2015 MMS graduate, is currently a junior at UW-Madison studying Fine Arts with a focus on printmaking. According to Olivia, Milwaukee Montessori School “encouraged her to pursue the arts” and developed her “interest in both visual arts and music”. We love seeing our talented alumni create such fascinating works of art!

See Some of Olivia's Artwork!

Brittany Mays '05

Brittany Mays graduated from MMS in 2005 and went on to Divine Savior Holy Angels. Post high school, Brittany earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from Xavier University (’13) and her MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2017. Brittany recently completed her 3-year Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency in Miami and is currently completing a 1-year Headache Medicine fellowship with Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital to become a Headache Specialist.

Caroline Jorgenson '01

Caroline Jorgenson graduated from Milwaukee Montessori School in 2001 before attending Pius XI High School (’05) followed by Lawrence University in Wisconsin. In 2009, Caroline graduated from Lawrence University with a major in Art History.

With a hunger for even more education, Caroline went on to receive her Master’s in Library Science from UCLA in 2019.

Currently, Caroline works for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as an archivist in the Margaret Herrick Library. Yes! You read that correctly! Caroline works for THE Academy, best known for their annual presentation of The Academy Awards/Oscars!

Caroline equally divides her time between Los Angeles and Washington DC – for any alum in these areas, feel free to say hello!

Kyra Swanson '12

You may recognize Kyra Swanson, a 2012 MMS graduate, from her several lead roles in MMS plays. During her time at MMS, Kyra was known for her breathtaking vocal performances and her passion for acting. More recently, Kyra has studied at the British American Drama Academy in Oxford and has performed in several different shows!

Hajira Fuad '13

Hajira Fuad graduated from Milwaukee Montessori School in 2013 and went on to the University School of Milwaukee where she graduated in 2017. From there, Hajira studied at Wellesley College and obtained her degree with honors in Political Science and German Studies in 2021.

Humble and diligent, Hajira’s hard work has earned her several rewards including the Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar award and the Barnette-Miller Foundation Prize for Best Essay in International Relations.

Gordon Henke '00

Gordon Henke, a 2000 MMS graduate, went to Marquette University High School followed by Marquette University and received a double major in Real Estate and Finance. Gordon currently owns his own real estate investment company in Naples, FL named H&H Property Management, which specializes in the acquisition and renovation of distressed residential and commercial properties. Fun fact: Gordon is a part of a Henke lineage at MMS which includes himself, his older sister Elizabeth and his younger sister Jolynn!

William Mizer '15

William Mizer, a 2015 MMS graduate, is currently attending the University of Michigan to study Law and Policy. On top of his studies, Will actively commissions graphic design pieces for the Center of Finances within the University of Michigan.

Last summer in 2021, Will stayed busy by interning at Impact Studio, a program associated with the University of Michigan which offers local small businesses with marketing tools and business strategies. William helped several business owners by suggesting innovative financial tools and business models. William also produced a piece of art that was chosen to be published in the Antithesis Journal and an exhibit sponsored by the University of Melbourne.

Sophia Valenti '14

Sophia Valenti graduated from Milwaukee Montessori School in 2014 and went on to Pius XI Catholic High School followed by Cardinal Stritch University. Sophia is currently completing the final semester of her undergraduate degree at CSU with a BS in Biology and a minor in Chemistry.

With grace and ease, Sophia has maintained a 4.0 GPA for her whole collegiate career and was recently accepted into the MD program at the Medical College of Wisconsin. On top of her rigorous studies, Sophia works as a Certified Nursing Assistant at a senior living facility and as a Medical Scribe and Intern at the Open Arms Free Clinic in Elkhorn,  which is “the first and only free medical and supportive care clinic in Walworth County serving low-income and uninsured residents with primary medical, dental, vision, and behavioral” needs. In addition to work and school, Sophia has acted as the President of Cardinal Stritch’s Pre-Professional Group – a club for students dedicated to pursuing graduate degrees in medicine – since her junior year.

Zoe Ashley '13

Zoe graduated from UW-Madison with a BA in Political Science and Spanish in the Spring of 2021. During her undergrad career, she studied abroad in Madrid and is now near fluent in Spanish. According to Zoe, MMS’ rigorous language arts education cultivated her interest in Spanish at a young age. Recently, Zoe finished a policy internship with the Child Welfare League of America and accepted a job as a paralegal in New York City!

Noel Hincha '11

Noel Hincha, a 2011 MMS alum, has recently been working as an archaeologist in Wisconsin and Guam. With a drive for more education, Noel began graduate school at Durham University in England last year.



Rebecca Messnick '12

Throughout her time at MMS, Rebecca was involved in a variety of activities – from the state-winning robotics team to all things singing and music. Rebecca Messnick graduated from MMS in 2012 and went on to Pius XI where she graduated in 2016. From there, Rebecca earned her undergraduate degree from Hope College with a double major in Psychology and Spanish in a speedy 3.5 years! And she just finished up a Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Mount Mary University in August of 2022.

Elizabeth Henke '97

Elizabeth Henke graduated from Milwaukee Montessori School in 1997. After attending Pius XI for high school, Elizabeth received a triple major in Peace and Peacemaking, Studio Art, and Education from St. Olaf College. Additionally, Elizabeth obtained her Masters in Peace Education from the U.N. mandated University for Peace as well as several different certificates in educational leadership, arts education, and Montessori teaching.

In 2011, Elizabeth co-founded the Montessori Institute for the Science of Peace, a non-profit that provides support to Montessori adolescent programs both locally and globally.



Elizabeth takes pride in her Montessori-filled life and continues to advocate for “peace work inherent in Montessori classrooms” to prepare adolescents for “positive participation in society”. Elizabeth is now a proud mother of three Montessori children and is celebrating life in Washington DC.

Kyle Hartman '01

Kyle Hartman of 2001 is a proud Milwaukee Montessori School alum who actually attended MMS when the school was still located on State Street! Even during his time at Marquette University High School, Kyle came back to MMS every summer to work as a counselor. For college, Kyle traveled all the way down south to major in Economics at the University of Texas at Austin. After a successful undergraduate career, Kyle entered the world of finance and advertising and worked for several large companies including Walmart, Oracle, Amazon, and Magnite. Kyle officially retired at 34 and enjoys spending time with his daughter and pursuing his own businesses focused on Non-Profit Organizations and microlending.

Kyle is one of MMS’ most enthusiastic alums – we were so honored to have him as our speaker at our 2022 Open House!

Sydney Busch '15

Sydney Busch graduated from MMS in 2015 and went on to Pius XI High School where she graduated in 2019. After Pius, Sydney attended the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design for a semester and then transferred to the Savannah College of Art and Design where she was awarded a scholarship. Currently, Sydney is pursuing a double major in Fine Art Photography and Business of Beauty and Fragrance along with a minor in Equestrian Studies. On top of all of this, Sydney is also working toward a Masters in Art History!

When reflecting on her time at MMS, Sydney appreciates the freedom she had as a young artist to creatively engage with her interests. Sydney states that during MMS art classes, “we got to experience so many different mediums from a young age” and that experimental nature propelled Sydney forward in her media and craft.



“100% of my art background began at Milwaukee Montessori - that’s when I realized I enjoyed creating and that it could be taken seriously." Now as a mature artist, Sydney says she understands the importance of being able to create in various disciplines and credits her open-minded approach to her MMS fundamentals.

Hannah Davis '14

Hannah Davis graduated from Milwaukee Montessori School in 2014 and continued on to Pius XI High School where she graduated in 2018. Currently, Hannah is earning her BFA in New Studio Practice with a minor in Digital Media Production at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. It is no surprise to us that on top of her studies, Hannah has maintained a spot on the honor roll for every semester of her collegiate career!

Last summer, Hannah had an exciting opportunity through her internship led by her MIAD advisor Brad Bernard. Hannah, along with a select team of interns, MIAD instructors, and community volunteers, created three different murals which will be revealed in three different locations throughout the Milwaukee area.

Fred Jones-Rosa '05

Fred Jones-Rosa graduated from MMS in 2005 and went on to Marquette University High School followed by UW-Madison where he earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology (’13). With a drive for more education, Fred attended the Medical College of Wisconsin to earn his Medical Doctorate in 2017. After completing a three-year residency in Psychiatry at the University of Miami, Fred added a one-year fellowship in Forensic Psychology at the Northwestern University College of Medicine.



Dr. Fred Jones-Rosa is passionate about utilizing the field of psychiatry to empower and aid individuals on the margins of our community. Specifically, Dr. Jones-Rosa is motivated to provide our court systems with accurate psychological evaluations. Fred credits his vocational drive to represent overlooked voices to MMS’ classroom which “opened his eyes to social justice problems and the importance of environmental issues” through “important cultural and creative experiences”.

Daisia Golombowski '19

MMS graduate Daisia is currently a rising senior at Nicolet High School. Although she has a busy schedule full of multiple accelerated courses, Daisia feels beyond prepared because “MMS set [her] up with the time management skills necessary to do well in high school”.

In the future, Daisia aspires to practice as an anesthesiologist.

And in the summer of 2021, Daisia was invited to join the National Society of High School Scholars and was awarded two scholarships for summer Pre-Med Programs at John Hopkins University and UCLA!

Adonia Barbiere '14

Adonia spent the summer of 2021 as an Integrated Brand Intern at Edelman, the largest global public relations firm. Currently, Adonia is on the 5-Year Track to obtain her Masters in Global Strategic Communication from Loyola Chicago. She is also pursuing a double major in Public Relations and Political Science.

Adonia was inducted into the Maroon and Gold Society at Loyola! This elite group recognizes 25 handpicked seniors for their commitment to leadership, academic excellence, and service to others.

In March of 2020, Adonia was selected as a member of Loyola’s Student Leadership Delegation to travel to Israel and Palestine. The trip’s goal was to bring together students from across the university to learn more about the complexities of the conflict in the Middle East. Adonia shared several breathtaking pictures from her trip.

Emily Krusche-Bruck '10

Emily graduated from American University with a double major in Psychology and Musical Theatre. Currently, Emily is living it up in Los Angeles as an actor!

Our successful actor recently signed with a new agent, is being featured in various commercials and shorts, and just premiered in her first feature film – available on Amazon!



”I credit so much of who I am as a person and artist to my 10 years at MMS. I am unbelievably grateful for the person it shaped me into and the forever friends it put into my life.”