
Marsha Enright
Council Oak Montessori SchoolCOMS Founder, 1990
Chairman of the Board
President of the School Corporation
Administrative Consultant
Parent Class of 1995 and 2000
B.A. Biology, Northwestern University, M.A. Psychology, The New School for Social Research
President, Council Oak Montessori School, 1990-Present
Executive Director, COMS, 1990-1998, 2000-2005
President, the Reason, Freedom Institute, 2005-Present
Director, The Fountainhead Institute
Curriculum Developer and Teacher, Camp Indecon
Writer, research articles on psychology and neuropsychology, Objectivity and Journal of Ayn Rand Studies
Magazine and news writer for The Early Years and The New Individualist, The Daily Caller, RealClearPolitics
Speaker, FreeMinds, the Atlas Society, Freedomfest and various venues
Psycho-therapist, private practice
Personnel Research, Chase Manhattan Bank and Harris Bank, 1977-81

Karen Brienzo
Council Oak Montessori SchoolCOMS Founder, 1990
Board Member
Physical Education Coordinator, 1990-2009
Parent Class 1995 and 1999
Professional Information
B.A. Applied Life Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Formerly, Physical Education Teacher, Jackson, MI
President, Millepora Corp, Jack Denst Designs, Mail Managers

Doris Cox
Council Oak Montessori SchoolCOMS Founder, 1990
Board Member and Corporate Secretary
Middle School Directress, 1994-Present
Parent Class 1999
Professional Information:
B.A. Elementary Education, University of Illinois at Chicago
Illinois State Certified Elementary Teacher, South Suburban School District, 1974-77
Attended courses at Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center, Evanston, IL
Middle School Directress, 1994-Present

Doris Cox
Council Oak Montessori SchoolDoris Cox was introduced to Montessori – not in her university education classes – but as she visited a neighborhood Children’s House when her first child was two years old. Her observations and research led her to embrace the goals and methods of Montessori for her own child and for all children. She came to regard the idea of children going through the process of constructing themselves as future self-actualized adults and citizens of the world as a much more profound and crucial purpose than scholastic success in the traditional terms of achieving good grades.
Upon graduation from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Doris earned her K through 12 certification. She taught in traditional public schools in the south suburbs of Chicago. When she enrolled her two-year-old son at Beverly Montessori Preschool her experience assisting as a parent volunteer at the language table gave her the opportunity to witness firsthand the awesome development of children as they worked to master themselves. This prepared the way for her later involvement in co-founding Council Oak Montessori School (1990), taking elementary training at Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center, co-teaching upper elementary classes, and eventually launching the adolescent (Middle School) program at Council Oak (1993). She continues to serve as the coordinator and classroom guide of the Middle School program. This is the plane of development that she is most passionate about – providing an environment that empowers these often self-critical individuals striving to discover who they are and their place in the world.
Doris and her husband, Patrick, have enjoyed their involvement with the Council Oak family for 27 years and have appreciated watching their sons, Ryan and Rory, grow into adulthood as the self-fulfilled individuals that their Montessori experience has encouraged.