Mary McHale

Director of Admissions

“I love that the Montessori philosophy is based on a deep respect for children and where they are in their development. It honors each individual child and the person he or she is to become. The experience of working in an environment that honors and respects all its constituents – children, parents, and staff - is deeply satisfying. My joy working at MSGH is matched only by having watched my daughter from age two through fifteen experience an authentic Montessori education in this diverse school community.”

Mary McHale has enjoyed a twenty-six year career in the field of Montessori education. She has been a part of the MSGH community for over twenty years, eight of them as an Upper Elementary Guide. She has worked in admissions for almost ten years and she currently holds the position of Director of Admissions at MSGH. Her other responsibilities include mentoring teachers, particularly at the Elementary level, and overseeing program at both the Elementary and Adolescent Program levels. Overall, she has sixteen years of Montessori teaching experience, having worked with various age groups in schools both in Europe and the United States. 

She holds a Master in Education Degree from Harvard University with a focus on language and literacy and an undergraduate degree with a concentration in Sociology from University College Cork, now part of the National University of Ireland. She received her Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) teaching diplomas in Dublin, Ireland for both the Primary (3- 6+ years) and Elementary (6-12 years) levels. She also holds a Montessori Special Education Diploma and is qualified as a Reading Specialist.

She lives in West Hartford with her husband, Billy, and daughter, Emma. Emma completed the entire program at MSGH, graduating from the Adolescent Program in 2017.

In her spare time, she enjoys walking, cycling, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family. And though she’s lived in the United States for over twenty-five years, she still likes to keep up with the Irish news.