Founder & Executive Director, NuTech Montessori

Craig Kitson is an accomplished early childhood education leader with over 15 years of experience in urban education, most recently serving in a district-wide leadership role with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. His work has consistently focused on improving instructional quality, expanding access, and driving measurable outcomes for students and families.

Craig began his career as a third-grade teacher, where he quickly distinguished himself by shifting from traditional whole-group instruction to a highly structured small-group, data-driven model. This approach led to exceptional student outcomes, including 98% proficiency in mathamatics on the Ohio Achievement Test in just his second year of teaching. His early success established a foundation in instructional design, formative assessment, and differentiated learning that continues to inform his leadership today.

Over the course of his career, Craig has led and supported transformative initiatives across multiple roles, including:

• Driving school-wide academic growth as an administrator, contributing to performance gains from failing to near-B ratings on state report cards
  
  

• Leading a districtwide fully remote learning program during the COVID-19 pandemic, serving over 1,000 students and helping establish a sustainable virtual school model
  
  

• Designing and facilitating family engagement initiatives that strengthened connections between schools and communities
  
  

In early childhood education, Craig’s impact has been especially significant. During the 2023–2024 school year, he played a central leadership role in preparing 41 preschool sites for Ohio’s Step Up to Quality evaluation under a newly revised system. Despite operating with a limited team, Craig developed and executed a comprehensive support structure that resulted in 40 sites earning the highest 5-Star rating and one earning 4-Stars, contributing to the district’s designation as a fully Gold-rated early childhood system—the highest possible standard for quality and funding eligibility.

That same year, Craig partnered with Karla Foster-Koonce to lead preschool enrollment efforts, achieving record-breaking results with 98% districtwide capacity and extensive waitlists, particularly in Montessori programs. He also led the design and implementation of professional development systems that achieved 4.8/5 satisfaction ratings, significantly exceeding prior benchmarks by leveraging teacher-led training and targeted instructional support.

Craig’s work has contributed to Cleveland becoming one of the highest-performing urban preschool systems in Ohio, with outcomes that rank competitively among top programs statewide.

Now, as the district undergoes structural changes through the Building Brighter Futures initiative—resulting in school closures and reduced access to preschool—Craig is launching NuTech Montessori to address emerging gaps in high-quality early childhood education.

NuTech Montessori is designed as a high-fidelity, specialized program that integrates:

• An authentic, uninterrupted three-hour Montessori work cycle
  
  

• Hands-on STEM and technology-based learning
  
  

• A focus on independence, critical thinking, and long-term academic success
  
  

The program is built on a simple but critical understanding:

Early childhood is the most important period of brain development. Research shows that by age five, a child’s brain has developed approximately 90% of its adult structure, with neural connections forming at a rate of over 1 million synapses per second in early years. High-quality early learning experiences during this period have a lasting impact on cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Craig’s vision for NuTech Montessori is to create a model that not only restores access to high-quality preschool in Cleveland, but also sets a new standard for what early childhood education can be—combining proven instructional practices with forward-thinking innovation.

Working alongside a leadership team that includes Dr. Terri Lyles, Kristie Fleischhacker, and Karla Foster-Koonce, Craig is building a program grounded in expertise, authenticity, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children and families.

NuTech Montessori is not simply a new school—it is a strategic response to a critical need, and a model designed to shape the future of early childhood education in Cleveland.

Craig Kitson, M.ED., Educational Leadership

Executive Director of STEM and Innovation

Dr. Terri Wade-Lyles, Ed.D. is a nationally recognized science education leader, scholar-practitioner, and systems builder with more than three decades of experience advancing equitable, high-quality learning for young learners. She currently serves as Curriculum and Instruction Program Manager for PreK–8 Science Education with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, where she leads districtwide efforts to strengthen instructional coherence, professional learning, and cross-sector partnerships in early childhood and elementary STEM education.

Dr. Wade-Lyles is widely respected for her expertise in place-based education, educator capacity-building, and community-centered instructional design. Her work bridges formal and informal learning environments, connecting schools with cultural institutions, universities, and environmental organizations to expand access to meaningful, developmentally appropriate STEM experiences.

A former classroom teacher and university supervisor, Dr. Wade-Lyles has served as a trusted advisor, presenter, and evaluator at the local, state, and national levels. She holds a Doctorate in Education in Administration Leadership for Teaching and Learning, and her research focuses on the integration of place-based approaches in science education, with an emphasis on equity, relevance, and sustainability.

Dr. Wade-Lyles brings a deep commitment to early childhood education, grounded in the belief that curiosity, connection to the natural world, and joyful learning are essential foundations for lifelong success. She now actively supports innovative early childhood models that integrate STEM, technology, and real-world learning experiences—aligning directly with the mission and vision of NuTech Montessori.

Dr. Terri Lyles, ED. D.

Founding Advisor & Montessori Program Consultant

Kristie Fleischhacker brings over 23 years of dedicated experience in Montessori education and is widely recognized for her deep commitment to authentic Montessori practice. Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, she will serve as a Founding Advisor and Montessori Program Consultant for NuTech Montessori, guiding the development and implementation of a high-fidelity Montessori model.

Kristie’s connection to Montessori education is both professional and personal. Raised in a Montessori family, with both parents serving as Montessori educators, she attended Montessori school from kindergarten through eighth grade. After completing her college education, she returned to the field as a Montessori teacher and has since devoted her career to early childhood Montessori instruction.

She currently serves as the Site Administrator at Stonebrook Montessori, a highly regarded program recognized for its quality and alignment to Montessori principles. In this role, Kristie leads program implementation, supports teachers in maintaining compliance and instructional excellence, and ensures that classrooms operate with fidelity to the Montessori method. Her leadership has contributed to Stonebrook’s strong reputation as a high-quality early childhood program.

At NuTech Montessori, Kristie will focus specifically on designing and supporting the authentic three-hour Montessori work cycle, ensuring that the program maintains integrity in its instructional approach while delivering the highest possible outcomes for young learners.

Kristie’s lifelong immersion in Montessori education, combined with her extensive classroom and leadership experience, positions her as a critical voice in shaping a program that prioritizes authenticity, quality, and child-centered learning.

Karla Foster-Koonce

Executive Director of Finance

Karla Foster-Koonce brings over 30 years of experience in accounting, financial management, and business operations to NuTech Montessori. She is the owner of a successful tax and financial services business and has spent the past decade playing a key role in preschool enrollment operations within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

Karla has extensive expertise in early childhood funding systems, including eligibility and compliance requirements for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Grant and Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC). Her work has helped ensure that families, particularly those most in need, are able to access high-quality, tuition-free preschool opportunities.

In collaboration with Craig Kitson, Karla helped lead a record-breaking enrollment effort during the 2023–2024 school year, achieving the highest preschool enrollment in district history. Her ability to navigate complex systems while maintaining accuracy and compliance has made her an invaluable leader in expanding access to early childhood education.

Karla is currently pursuing long-term academic interests in psychology, further strengthening her commitment to understanding and supporting child development and family needs.