Gilda Brower is founder and Director of Montessori Children's House of Auburn, NY. A presenter at AMS seminars, she has been involved in teacher education since 1978. She has a B.F.A. in education (Montclair State Teachers College) and an AMS Early Childhood credential (Michigan).

Molly Clement taught Reading Readiness, first and second grades in Detroit, MI, before moving East. Molly returned to graduate school (Fairleigh Dickinson Univ.) to study psychology and take Montessori training. She taught 3-6 year classes and music for 18 years before opening The Montessori House in Tenafly, NJ, with a group of fellow teachers, and has developed and taught many Behavior Management and Montessori classes for parents. She has been the Director of The Montessori House since it opened in 1993 and is also a field consultant for CMTE/NY programs. Molly holds a B.A. in English (Marygrove College).

Marifrances Cooney has been involved in Montessori education since 1994. She has been with Great Beginnings Montessori School in CT since its inception in 1996, where she is a primary teacher. Marifrances is a faculty member of CMTE/NY and is Practical Life Presenter of the Pennsylvania Early Childhood satellite program. Marifrances holds an AMS Early Childhood credential (CMTE/NY).

Joan Daly, SSJ has been involved with Montessori since 1970. She holds a B.S. in education (Chestnut Hill College), an M.Ed. with Montessori concentration (Xavier Univ.), and an AMI 6-12 credential (Washington, DC). She is currently a CMTE/NY faculty member.Joan enjoys doing school consultations as well as workshops on many topics.

Michael Duffy, PR Elem. Practicum Phase Coordinator, is a member of the CMTE/NY Elementary faculty, school consultant and media education specialist. He was a cofounder of Blackstock Montessori School in Villa Rica, GA, and has experience teaching 6-9 and 9-12, as well as running the school media center. Before Montessori, Michael was a journalist for 21 years with the Associated Press and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He holds a B.A. in philosophy, an M.A. in theology, an M.Ed. in media education and an AMS 6-12 credential. Michael has presented at local, national and international conferences, and he is co-author of Children of the Universe: Cosmic Education in the Montessori Elementary Curriculum.

Kathleen Duval began her adventure in Montessori education in 1967 with Nancy McCormick Rambusch’s Montessori Teacher Education Program at FDU, where she received AMS Early Childhood certification. Kathleen established Maple Knoll Child Center in Cincinnati in 1977 and was Director and teacher for 28 years. Kathleen has a B.A. in sociology (Marquette Univ.), graduate work in Human Development and is currently working in Montessori Infant Toddler programs.

Angela Grille is currently the principal of the Midland Elementary School in Rye, NY. She is also an adjunct professor at Pace University. Previously, she has served as a site director, special education program coordinator, assistant principal, staff trainer, program developer, teacher, and public relations director. Angela has a B.A in psychology (Hunter College), M.S. in special education and P.D. in administration and supervision (College of New Rochelle), and a Ph.D. (Teachers College, Columbia Univ.). Angela was inducted into the CNR Alumnae Hall of Fame and awarded membership in Kappa Delta Pi, Columbia. She is a member of several advisory boards and early childhood coalitions.

Michelle Hartye holds an AMS credential at the Early Childhood level and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Supervision. She is Head of School of Penn-Mont Academy, a position that she has had since 1987. She taught in an Early Childhood classroom for seven years before becoming Head of School. Michelle is an active participant in the AMS accreditation process, serving as past chair of the AMS Commission of Accreditation and on numerous visiting teams. She has presented workshops for AMS and other Montessori organizations and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the PA Assoc. of Independent Schools.

Lisa Lubin has been in involved in Montessori education since 1992 and has been with CMTE since 2000. She is a field consultant and mentor and also co-presents Language at CMTE/NY. Lisa holds a certificate in Educational Resources and Special Needs (Niagara College), a B.A. in English Education and a M.S. in Education (Foundations & Teaching) from Niagara University, where she now works part time as an adjunct professor. She has AMS 3-6 and 6-9 credentials (CMTE/NY). She currently works in an Elementary classroom at Wheatley School of Montessori Education in St. Catharines, Ontario Canada.

Annalea Matthews has been involved in Montessori education since 1986 and is a Montessori directress at Wheatley School of Montessori Education in St. Catharines. She holds a certificate in Early Childhood Education (Niagara College) as well as AMI Early Childhood credentials. Annalea joined the CMTE/NY faculty in 2003 and is currently a co-presenter for Math at CMTE/NY. Annalea works as a field consultant and mentor for the Early Childhood program.

Nancy Mehalic has been involved with Montessori aeducation since 1985. She has worked with assistant training, intern supervision, consulting, and teacher training. She has also given workshop classes at PAEYC conventions and AMS conferences to explain the Montessori Method to teachers in traditional preschool settings as well as Montessori educators. Nancy has taught in several schools in the Pittsburgh area. In September 2007, Nancy opened her own school, Montessori Schools for Creative Learning in Moon Township, PA. She is presently owner and directress of the school. Nancy has a B.S. in elementary education (Penn State Univ.) and holds an AMS Early Childhood credential (CMTE/NY).

Joanne Misha started her Montessori career in 1994 as a 3-6 teacher at The Village School for Children in Waldwick, NJ, before moving up to the 6-9 program. She has been a Field Supervisor in both the 3-6 and 6-9 programs and has been on the support staff for both NY and NJ programs. Joanne currently teaches Observation and Record Keeping and Classroom Management for the NJ program. She has a B.A. in dramatic arts (William Paterson Univ.), M.A. in learning disabilities (Fairleigh Dickenson Univ.), AMS 3-6 and 6-9 certifications, and is NJ State certified Nursery School, Elementary School and Teacher of the Handicapped.

Lisa Mosca is the presenter for Practical Life and Sensorial classes in the NJ Early Childhood program, as well as being a Field Consultant. She is the Program Director for the Toddler and Primary classes and a teacher in an Early Childhood classroom (3-6 years) classes at the Village School for Children in Waldwick, NJ. Lisa has a B.A. in education (William Paterson University), an AMS Early Childhood credential (CMTE/NY) and is NJ state licensed in elementary teaching.

Mark Powell has taught for 14 years, most recently in an upper elementary classroom at Berkeley Montessori School in Berkeley, CA. Before moving to the Bay area, he directed 6-9 classrooms for ten years at Lexington Mont. School as well as Keystone Mont. School, where he also started an upper elementary program. Mark took 6-12 training at CMTE/NY after coming to the U.S. from Australia in 1994, and had the first on-site wedding in 1996! He is K-6 certified by the state of MA and holds a M. Ed. with a specialty in Conflict Resolution and Peaceable Schools (Lesley Univ.). In his previous life, Mark obtained degrees in economics and history, and anthropology and sociology, and worked as a radio journalist producing programs for Australian public radio. He sings and plays keyboard and bass guitar in an AfroCuban group, and enjoys woodworking. He contributes regularly to Montessori Life, and wrote a chapter on recess play for the book Where Do the Children Play? edited by Elizabeth Goodenough for Wayne University Press.

Lydie Raschka or CMTE/NY and teaches on staff in the summer. She is also a freelance writer. Lydie was a 6-9 teacher in Yonkers for six years. Prior to that, she taught 3-6 year olds and started the 6-9 elementary program at the Michelle Norris Montessori School in Ann Arbor, MI. She has a B.S. in special education (Eastern Michigan Univ.), an M.S. in education (Bank Street College), and an AMS Elementary 6-9 credential (CMTE/NY).

Sheila Reed has been on staff since 1976 at the Chemung Valley Montessori School in Big Flats, NY. She currently co-teaches the upper elementary class and is curriculum coordinator for the 9-12 and middle school levels. She has a B.A. in German (Wilson College), a M.S.Ed. with a concentration in reading (Elmira College), an AMI 3-6 credential (Minnesota), and an AMS 6-12 credential (CMTE/NY).

Carol Schwab, a reading specialist and veteran Montessori teacher of children ages three through junior high, currently works as a mentor, lecturer, and consultant. Carol has an M.Ed. (Xavier Univ.), an Education Specialist in Administration (Univ. of Dayton), an AMS Early Childhood credential (Xavier Univ.), an AMS Elementary 6-12 credential (CMTE/NY), and an AMS Research credential.

Pamela Serra has been involved in Montessori education since 1979, as director of a 3-6 classroom, Math Presenter in the CMTE/NY NY, NJ, Canada and AK programs, Field Consultant, and Intern Supervisor. Pamela was also the Director of the Montessori Children's Center at Burke (White Plains, NY) for eleven years and is currently working as a lead teacher in the 3-6 environment. She has a B.S. in elementary and early childhood education and an AMS Early Childhood credential (Ithaca).

Beverly Smith, Assistant to CMSM Coordinators, has been a middle school educator since 1985. She has worked at the Washington Mont. School (New Preston, CT), since 1992, where she has created and implemented the Life Skills curriculum for the 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Beverly also supports the WMS staff by mentoring classroom management skills and is currently the Specials' coordinator and Programs coordinator. Beverly holds a B.S. in education (Central CT State Univ.), M.A. in counseling (St. Joseph's College) and AMS middle school credential (School of the Woods in Houston). She has been working as the assistant to the coordinators of the CMSM program since 2001.

Holly Stoehr has been involved in Montessori education since 1982. She holds both her AMS Early Childhood and Elementary I teaching credentials, enjoys her work as a teacher and CMTE/NY teacher trainer. In addition, upon completion of her M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction, Holly pursued her interest in creating harmonious environments for children and adults, receiving her certification in Interior Alignment and Instinctive Feng Shui. She currently teaches at the Cambridge Montessori School and has a private Feng Shui practice, both in Massachusetts.

Martha Torrence has been a Montessori educator since 1977, serving as a classroom teacher, Head of School, and teacher educator. She is currently Director of the Toddler and Primary programs at Cambridge Montessori School in MA. Martha served on the AMS Board of Directors for 11 years, Teachers’ Section Chair for 9 years, Executive Committee for 3 years and was President for 1 year. For 3 years she served as Principal and Head Teacher in the Pre-primary classroom at the Xavier Univ. Lab School. A Teacher’s Research Network participant, Martha has written award-winning articles on her research topic, play. Martha holds a Liberal Arts B.A. and an M.Ed. in early childhood education (Penn State Univ.); and an AMS Early Childhood credential (Ithaca).

Mary Velasquez has been teaching at the Cambridge Montessori School since 1993...first as a toddler teacher, now in the upper elementary class. She joined the CMTE/NY staff in 2002 and teaches both in NY and at the MA programs. She has a B.A. in English (Harvard Univ.) and AMS Infant/Toddler and Elementary 6-12 credentials.

Joel Wilkinson is the Curriculum Coordinator for the Wyoming Valley Montessori School in Kingston, PA. He has 16 years teaching experience both there and at Penn-Mont Academy, Pennsylvania’s first Montessori school. Prior to becoming a Montessori teacher, Joel ran environmental education and camp programs for the National Wildlife Federation, NJ School of Conservation, and the Princeton-Blairstown Center. In addition to his enduring love of nature and the outdoor pursuits, he also has a passion for music and choral singing. An avid theater patron and public radio supporter, Joel enjoys guiding weekend trips into NYC to explore the museums and see the sights. He has been involved with a web site project and serves as a technology consultant. He holds an M.A. in environmental education (Montclair State Univ./NJ), a B.S. in recreation (Pennsylvania State Univ.) and an AMS 6-12 credential (CMTE/NY).

Lyn Yanuck is the former Executive Director of The Children's Center of Greater White Plains and Education Specialist for Region II, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start programs. Lyn currently consults on the Reggio Emilia approach to Early Education in several Westchester Public Schools. Her current emphasis is on Infant/Toddler development as a member of the CMTE/NY staff. She has a M.A. from Columbia University Teachers College and Bank Street College.

Jennifer Young holds a B.S. in education (Univ. of Cincinnati), a 6-12 credential (CMTE/NY), and has taken Montessori school management (CMSM) training (CMTE/NY). She has taught in a 9-12 classroom for over 10 years and has served as the Elementary Curriculum Coordinator at her school. In addition, she has developed and taught educational programs for children and adults at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, FL, and owns a video production company dedicated to promoting awareness of and education about the natural world. Jennifer lives in Tampa Bay, FL.

Mary Zajac has been with Penn-Mont Academy since 1989 where she has taught at the toddler and 3-6 levels and is currently the Education Coordinator. Mary teaches Science and Peace Education for CMTE/NY at the PA, NJ and NY sites, as well as Observation and Record Keeping for PA. She holds a B.S. in elementary and special education (Penn State), a Masters in curriculum and supervision (Univ. of Pittsburgh) and an AMS Early Childhood credential (CMTE/NY).

Additional Faculty Members and Workshop Presenters Include

Laurel Ackles, Aime Augsburg, Maureen Bauer, Lisa Blackford, Damaris Cianci, Sue Clark, Sheila Coad-Bernard, Pat Coffey, Lois Denliker, Marta Donahoe, Martine Ferris, Sue Galeros, Kalpana Garg, Matilda Giampietro, Doris Guerin, Rosemary Jones, Lori Karmazin, Shaina La Flamme, Jane Lemon, Vetta Lawrence, Ph.D., Lillian Moncada-Davidson, Ph.D., Kim McMaken-Marsh, Linda Miller, Kathy Morris, Lillian Mullane Patricia Pinciotti, Kari Schein, Connie Selby, Peggy Stutzman, Benay Umrichin, Laura Uzzi, Katy Watson, Dotty Weaber, Pat Werner, Kristin Whitlock, Diane Wick, Dave Wilkins, Zuzanna Zachar, Kristin Zarro

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