Nick Combemale

Nick Combemale has been the Head of School since the founding of The Montessori Schools. He brings an impressive track record in private education to his role that includes the stewardship of premiere academic institutions; the development of a leading-edge online global platform of preparatory and testing tools; and the creation of cultural initiatives designed to inculcate a love of the arts in young minds. From 2006-2008 Mr. Combemale served as COO and Board Member of the Ross Institute for Advanced Study and Innovation in Education in East Hampton, New York, where he managed the growth of the Ross Institute member schools, the launch of Ross Global Academy Public Charter School, the launch of the Ross Institute as an international accrediting body and the launch of the Ross Institute Academy as a provider of teacher professional development based on the Ross Model. He led the design and launch of the “@Ross” programs including the summer concert series featuring artists such as Billy Joel, Prince, Tom Petty and Dave Mathews; and the unique Ross summer camp program.

Mr. Combemale also negotiated an historic agreement with the City of Stockholm to oversee the academic restructuring of Tensta Gymnasium, a public school in Stockholm. From 2001-2006, he served as a Trustee and as COO at Morriss Center School (MCS) in Bridgehampton, New York where he led the successful merger of MCS with Ross School. During his tenure at MCS, he designed and launched a new cultural program, “Morriss Center Dance” in partnership with noted choreographer, Benjamin Millepied, that made leading dancers and dance projects accessible to students at MCS and members of the wider community.

In 2009, recognizing the critical need for early preparation in the U.S. university admissions process, Mr. Combemale founded Access America Prep (AAP), developing proprietary content tailored specifically for international students. AAP designed assessments used by Admissions offices at leading schools and regional accrediting bodies, delivered through a proprietary, biometrically secured digital platform. AAP has partnerships in China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and India.

Prior to his involvement in education, Mr. Combemale worked in a variety of capacities in finance and investment, including a five-year role as the Chairman and CEO of Alper Holdings USA, Inc., a diversified holding company with over $1.3 billion in assets. Under his stewardship, Alper Holdings invested more than $700,000,000 of capital in various manufacturing and real estate entities.

Mr. Combemale also co-founded and served as a managing director at VMI Securities, Inc., a boutique investment banking and securities firm specializing in cross border M&A. Prior to that, he was in the investment banking division at Nomura Securities International, where he was a co-founder of the Latin America emerging markets group.

Mr. Combemale is the father of three children, Olivia, Ian, and Cecilia. He is a native of New York City, and is a graduate of Hamilton College.