Meet the Board

A resident of the Bluffton community for nearly 20 years, Catherine Donaldson is honored to serve as a newly elected member of the MRM board. A local realtor and mother of four, Catherine enrolled her youngest child, aged six at the time, at MRM following the sudden loss of her husband in 2016. The nurturing environment at such a crucial and pivotal moment in a young child’s life was vital, and the four years spent there will never be forgotten.

Catherine is well known in the community for her commitment to giving back. She was awarded the Champions for Public Education award in 2021 by the South Carolina School Board Association for her Kindles for Kids campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to her career in real estate, Catherine served as a grant writer for the University of Mississippi and looks forward to being a creative asset and valuable addition to the MRM board.

In her spare time, you can often find Catherine on her boat, cruising the estuaries of the Lowcountry with her children.

I was born and raised in Spartanburg, SC, and graduated from Winthrop College in 1973 with a degree in Interior Design. I married Charles Golson in 1977 and moved to Bluffton in 1980. Together, we started Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte Restaurant in December 1983. Our son Palmer was born in 1980 and our daughter Margaret in 1982. They attended May River Academy, which was absorbed into Sea Pines Academy when Margaret was three.

My friend Mary Vaux and I set about starting a Montessori school in Bluffton. In our first year, there were 15 students, and from that time I have dedicated my time and talents to slowly growing and improving the school over the years.

I owned a business, Eggs’N’Tricities, on Calhoun Street for more than 30 years, while also playing a supporting role in Charlie’s restaurant. Now retired, I have been honored to be asked to return and serve in whatever way I can as a lifetime member.

Jessi has lived in the Bluffton area for over 17 years with her husband and their four children. She practices pediatric speech-language pathology and is the founder and owner of Lowcountry Therapy (established in 2010), which provides speech, occupational, feeding, and physical therapy for children in Beaufort County and beyond.

All four of her biological children have attended MRM, as well as children who were fostered in their home. At one point, Jessi had a child in every classroom at MRM. While a parent at MRM, Jessi participated in the Parent Association, led or assisted with multiple fundraising initiatives, and volunteered as needed—especially with Farmer B’s gardening program during its early stages.

She is a new member of MRM’s Board of Trustees and hopes to provide stability through her passion not only for the Montessori method but also for employee satisfaction, training, and culture. Jessi strongly believes that MRM holds a very special place in the Bluffton community and pledges to do her best to maintain the school’s integrity and mission for the families who entrust their children’s education to MRM.

Born and raised in Bluffton SC, I have seen first-hand the evolution of our community, and along with it the evolution of May River Montessori. When my mother Nancy Golson founded MRM, it was out of pure necessity. There were no options for early childhood learning. From the one room, two teacher program I was among the first to graduate from MRM. 

I join the board with a desire to carry on the legacy of the school. The need today has changed. Now more than ever, our children demand a space to find their foundation in the world. For my family, our years at MRM were magical. My girls established core values of community while acquiring the building blocks of language and math. I hope that many more families find MRM the perfect place for their families to thrive. 

As a lifelong restauranteur, I understand the concept of continuing to stay relevant, while adapting to change. I hope to contribute valuable community and parental insight to the board. MRM holds a very special place in my heart.

Chris and his wife, Emily, have four children who have all attended May River Montessori. Chris’s mother-in-law, Mary Vaux, co-founded the school in 1987, and Chris is currently serving his third term on the Board.

Chris has a passion for supporting children and teens to help them have the best start in life possible. He co-manages an orphanage built from the ground up with family and friends in Tanzania—the Valentine Home—where they care for up to 70 boys and girls, ages 5 through 18. Chris also serves on the Palmetto Board for Folds of Honor and helps raise funds for educational scholarships.

He graduated from The College of Charleston with a B.S. in Economics and is the President of J. Banks, a 40-year-old family company based in Hilton Head. Chris and his family attend City Hope Church.

May River Montessori welcomes Lynn Thurlow to the board. Lynn is a strong advocate and proponent of Montessori education. She is an American Montessori Society-certified teacher with years of classroom experience. She has served in South Carolina as a Lead Teacher and Director of a private Montessori preschool, as well as the Principal of a public Montessori charter school serving grades 1–8. 

Lynn is married to her husband, David, and they have four Montessori-educated children: one serving as a paramedic, one commissioned and serving in the Navy, one in her final year of nursing at the University of South Carolina, and their youngest, a senior at Bluffton High School. 

Lynn is a graduate of Auburn University and the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. She works as an attorney with the Jolley Law Group and is deeply committed to the Bluffton community—her family has lived on the May River for over a century.

My wife Krissy and I have 2 children, Julian (10) and Benjamin (3). We discovered Montessori after we moved to Hilton Head in August, 2020. Julian experienced two wonderful years at Sea Pines Montessori before enrolling at Hilton Head Christian when our family moved to Bluffton. Benjamin is in his second year at May River Montessori having greatly enjoyed the Cottage, now the Sunflower Room, and always Farmer B. 

We previously lived in Santa Monica, CA and are both originally from Harrisburg, PA. I studied economics at Penn State and have a law degree from George Washington in addition to completing a Fulbright in Cologne, Germany. I have practiced corporate law, been a partner in an internet marketing company and now manage a real estate fund. 

I have previously served on the board of Lancaster Mennonite HS and Penn State where I was a trustee for 6 years. I continue to serve as member of the endowment oversight committee at PSU. 

We have found our "home" in Bluffton and are delighted to be part of this wonderful community.

Mr. Vaux attended schools in Beaufort County and the Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut, followed by the University of South Carolina School of Business Administration (1968) and then the School of Law (1972). He was the Assistant Director for the 1st Heritage Golf Classic (1969). He worked for a small local law firm before opening Vaux Law Firm in 1973. The firm became Vaux & Marscher in 1992. 

Mr. Vaux has been active in local affairs, having served as Chairman of the County Emergency Medical Services Commission, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Broad River Health Care, Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation, Town of Bluffton Beautification Committee, Town of Bluffton Development Corporation, co-founder Hilton Head Island Bar Association, Assistant Solicitor 14th Judicial Circuit, Vestry St. Lukes Church, and Church of the Cross. 

He is married to the former Mary A. Bolen, one of May River Montessori’s founders and has four children.

Alison Howard is a long-time resident of Bluffton and a passionate advocate for the Lowcountry lifestyle. Originally from Alpharetta, Georgia, Alison and her husband relocated to Bluffton in 2003, along with their two daughters, Bayleigh and Molly.

Upon moving to Bluffton, Alison and her husband sought to provide their children with an intimate and meaningful education—one that would not only support their academic growth but also instill a lifelong love of learning and a commitment to giving back. They found that at Cross Schools. Alison became deeply involved in the school community, volunteering extensively. Her dedication and leadership were soon recognized, and she was invited to take on a formal role, which evolved into a 12-year tenure as Director of Admissions.

During her time as Director of Admissions, Alison played a pivotal role in shaping the school’s early educational environment. She not only oversaw admissions but also developed and implemented teacher training programs to ensure that staff met continuing education requirements. Her efforts helped foster a culture of excellence and growth among both students and educators.

Alison’s passion for early education is deeply rooted in her family’s history. Her parents established the first private early childhood education center in Alpharetta, running it successfully for over 30 years and positively impacting the lives of countless families. Having witnessed the transformative power of a nurturing and supportive educational environment—both as a child and as a parent—Alison is thrilled to bring her expertise and enthusiasm to May River Montessori.

She is honored to serve the May River Montessori community and is committed to contributing to an environment that supports not only students but their families as well. Alison looks forward to continuing her lifelong mission of fostering meaningful educational experiences that inspire a love of learning and a strong sense of community.