Tasha C. Ring, Founder and Director
Ms. Ring leads the vision, systems, and culture of Meridian’s lab schools and broader community resources. A veteran educator and microschool leader with more than two decades of experience across education, she also serves as the Lead Mentor for Meridian’s mentorship programs, supporting fellow educators and founders across the country and internationally. Her earlier career in education included roles in marketing, admissions, and assessment with Kaplan, Eastern Michigan University, and Pearson Education. Her desire to create more flexible, sustainable learning communities led her to found Meridian Learning in 2008, and her work with homeschooling families helped shape the development of Meridian’s first lab school in 2009. An early and consistent advocate of a “less is more” approach to learning, she is honored to be among the first innovators of the microschool movement and is widely regarded as a thought leader in education that centers human development.
Ms. Ring completed her Master’s in Education at Xavier University through an integrated program combining Montessori graduate study across developmental stages with traditional teacher training and certification. She received an Early Childhood credential from the American Montessori Society and has extensive training in reading and language instruction, including Orton-Gillingham and Lindamood-Bell®. Her earlier background in dance and arts management continued into her education career through movement programming, and she remains a strong advocate for the arts and their value in learning and life.
Ms. Ring has written for publications and websites including The Huffington Post and BabyCenter and created an online community focused on Montessori practice in the 21st century. Most recently, she’s shared reflections on education, entrepreneurship, and the microschool movement through her Substack publication, Mindful Microschools. She is also a mother of three, a role that continues to shape her understanding of how children and adolescents learn best.
Hokyoung Kim, Meridian Montessori Guide
Ms. Kim received her Master’s in Early Childhood Education from Xavier University and early childhood credential from American Montessori Society. She has taught in a Montessori classroom for over 20 years, with much of her teaching experience at Garden Montessori School in Anderson Township. Ms. Kim grew up in South Korea and came to the United States after she graduated from college. While at Xavier to learn English, she became interested in Montessori Education. She lives in Mt. Washington where she enjoys observing nature and working with gardens. She also takes classes in Zumba and Yoga and shares these passions with the children in our classroom. She loves to see how each child grows and loves to help them as they do so.
Marie Owen, Meridian Micro School Guide
After studying elementary education at Utah State University, Ms. Owen worked with children and families in a variety of settings, including after-school programs, a licensed in-home childcare program, youth camps, and community activities. She later continued her studies in zoology through Oregon State University, and completed Montessori elementary training through IMT. Drawing from both Montessori and Waldorf traditions, she has a deep appreciation for nature and hands-on learning. In her free time, she enjoys running, strength training, coaching youth athletics, spending time outdoors, and being with her husband and five children.
Ben Charneski, Meridian Micro Farm Guide
Mr. Charneski completed his bachelor’s degree at Miami University in philosophy and sustainability and is a certified environmental educator. His academic interests centered on human nature, environmental relationships, and the ways people interact with the world. Prior to joining Meridian, Mr. Charneski worked with students in grades 5–12 in a range of learning settings, including substitute teaching and driver education. He values learning environments where students work independently, ask questions, and engage in real-world projects. Outside of work, Mr. Charneski enjoys time with his family and exploring nature. He also keeps an active painting studio and is a recording musician.
Michelle Morgan, Meridian Intern
Ms. Morgan earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Cincinnati. She joined Meridian as an intern to deepen her understanding of Montessori education and child development while supporting our learning communities. She primarily assists in Meridian Montessori and may also support elementary and adolescent programs as needed. Outside of Meridian, Ms. Morgan enjoys coaching swimming and sharing her love of the sport with young athletes.
Rob Schramm, Maintenance & Tech Support
Mr. Schramm, better known as Mr. Rob, designs and builds furniture for our lab schools, helps maintain the indoor and outdoor learning spaces, and assists with projects at Meridian Micro Farm. An accomplished principal mainframe engineer, he also contributes to our technology explorations. He believes the Montessori approach within a microschool model to be the key to success in modern society.