Board of Directors
Longmeadow Montessori’s Board of Directors is made up of dedicated parents whose children attend or previously attended our school.
The Board provides leadership in support of LMI’s mission by helping to set policies for the school and provide guidance with finances, legalities, fundraising, and special events.
2026-2027 Board of Directors
Leah Peterson, President & Director, resides in Longmeadow with her husband, Erik, together they have a current LMI student and an alumnus. Leah leads Corporate Responsibility for Voya Financial, additionally she is the program lead for the company’s Steering Committee for Responsible Business Practices and Advisor to the Women’s Employee-Led Council. Prior to assuming her current roles, Leah served as an internal strategic consultant, developing strategies and executing multimillion-dollar programs. With over 15 years of experience in leading teams, she has a strong knowledge of execution excellence in customer experience, finance, human resources, risk, sustainability, and technology. Leah has transferred her skills across various industries, both domestic and international, additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Science from Wentworth Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Bay Path University.
Forrest Spatcher, Treasurer & Director, is an audit professional focused on control effectiveness and risk mitigation. He currently works at MassMutual as a Director of Internal Audit. Prior to MassMutual, he was an Audit Manager with Deloitte. Forrest received a BBA in Accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. He also serves on the Board of Trustees at Berkshire Hills Music Academy. Forrest and his wife Molly live in Longmeadow with their two children, the oldest is an LMI alum and his youngest is a current student.
Leila Trutanich, Secretary & Director, has two children, including one LMI alum, and one current student. She is an attorney, running her solo practice, Leila Law, from her home in Longmeadow. Leila joined the board to offer her expertise in nonprofit governance and best practices, as she has devoted her career to providing legal services to all types of charities and other philanthropic endeavors. Leila graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science in Television and Radio Production and minors in Legal Studies and Speech Communication. She then went on to graduate Cum Laude from Western State University College of Law where she earned her Juris Doctor Degree, obtained a Certificate in Business Law Studies with Distinction, and was awarded The Dean Maryann Jones Achievement and Leadership award upon graduation for her commitment to public service during law school. After living in Southern California for almost 15 years, in 2021, she and her family moved to Western Mass where she grew up.
Julianne Diamond is a technical solution engineer at Salesforce.com, with expertise in life sciences. Julianne started her career with Salesforce as a research analyst for an educational non-profit, following roles as a middle school math teacher, assistant administrator, and math curriculum designer. She holds two degrees from Boston College: a BA in Elementary Education and Computer Science, and an M.Ed in Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation. She and her husband Greg live in Longmeadow along with their three boys, who are all proud LMI alumni.
Stephanie Gomes-Ganhao is a mom of two, including one current LMI student, and resides in Longmeadow with her family. Having grown up in western Massachusetts, she is always seeking opportunities to give back to her community. Stephanie graduated magna cum laude from Mount Holyoke College with a B.A. in International Relations. She later graduated summa cum laude from Quinnipiac University School of Law. She is an attorney at Day Pitney LLP in Hartford, Connecticut.
Brent Rasmussen resides in Longmeadow with his wife, Paige, and their daughters, Adrienne, a current student at LMI, and Tate. Brent earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, with minors in Business and Computing Technology & Applications, from the University of Alabama. He also received both a Master of Science in Accounting and an MBA from the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University. Brent currently serves as a Manager in Deloitte’s Audit & Assurance practice. Prior to his career in professional services, he gained valuable experience in the hospitality industry, holding roles in operations and revenue management at The Ritz-Carlton and The Westin Copley Place hotels in Boston. As a parent of an LMI student, Brent is excited for the opportunity to give back to the school community, support its continued success, and leverage his professional and leadership experience to help advance meaningful initiatives that benefit students, families, and faculty.
Valia Santaniello serves as Vice President of Strategy & Risk Management at Aspen Square Management. In her role, she leads initiatives related to corporate strategy, risk management, insurance and financial planning, drawing on more than 15 years of experience in finance, accounting, and real estate. Valia graduated summa cum laude from Bentley University with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Accounting. Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles focused on financial stewardship, operational effectiveness, and long-term organizational planning. A Longmeadow resident, Valia lives with her husband, a Longmeadow native, and their two daughters. Her older daughter is an LMI alumna, and her younger daughter is beginning her first year at LMI. As both a parent and board member, Valia is passionate about supporting the school's mission and helping ensure its continued strength and sustainability for future generations of students and families.