A new but familiar face will lead as head of school at Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy starting July 1.
Laura Piskor, who brings more than 15 years of experience in Montessori education and administration, will take on the position beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Noted as having a strong foundation in child-centered learning, leadership, and program development, Piskor also holds credentials as a graduate of the University of Michigan and Montessori Institute Northwest. In addition, she holds a master’s degree in Early Childhood Montessori Education from Loyola College.
Piskor is a 1995 graduate of Montessori, and as a former student, feels honored and humbled to be able to take over the position from Arden Wilson, who she says has been an excellent model as head of school and as a leader in the community. Piskor has been a Montessori teacher for the past 16 years and has been back in the community serving in a supportive position for the last two years.
“To be able to step into that role is really, really humbling and exciting for me,” Piskor said. “Especially as an alum of the school. This school in general really shaped who I am and helped me move into the Montessori route as an adult.”
Wilson, the long-time head of school, will be taking a job as a first and second grade teacher at Leland Public School, returning to the classroom next year, her first joy in the education field. Wilson served as a Montessori teacher for 30 years, and spent 25 of those years at Leelanau Montessori. She was a founding member of helping to integrate the once private school into the public sector in 2000. Over the years, she worked as a primary teacher, a coach, a program director, and her position later evolved into the head of school.
With Piskor already part of the support staff, the transition to head of school is the best case scenario, says Wilson.
“It feels wonderful to have somebody so familiar with the culture of our school and Leelanau county and understands what families are experiencing and connects them to their child’s education,” Wilson said.
One thing Piskor said she’s excited to work on as head of school is building up the parent community.
“I really have a passion for helping to support parents and educating and supporting their children through their development, which I think is not unique to anyone in our space, but it’s something I’m really excited about to be able to push that forward and create a really robust community for our parents to thrive as well as our students,” Piskor said.
Leelanau Montessori offers various programs for toddlers 12-36 months, primary (3-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), and an after school program for ages 3-12-year-olds. Wilson said the special role that the public charter Montessori school has played in serving kids ages 1-12 throughout its 35-year history has been a unique offering for a rural county like Leelanau, and going forward, the school would also like to continue to enroll students in its primary community, which include youth 3-6 years-old. For more information about the school and its programs, go to www.leelanaumontessori. org.
