Marifrances Cooney has been involved in Montessori education since 1994 and has been a CMTE/NY staff member since 2002. She is the Practical Life presenter, as well as field consultant, for CMTE/NY. Currently she is an early childhood teacher at Hudson Country Montessori School in Danbury, CT. She was a founding member of Great Beginnings Montessori School in Fairfield, CT, where she was a primary teacher through 2009. Marifrances holds a B.A. in psychology and child studies (Charter Oak State College) and 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 University), 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.

R. D’Neil Duffy is a Faculty Member and School Consultant for CMTE/NY. She was a cofounder of Blackstock Montessori School in Villa Rica, GA, and has experience teaching 3-6, 6-9, and 9-12, as well as being a Head of School. Before Montessori, D’Neil was a traditional school teacher working in public and parochial schools for 12 years. She holds a B.A. in elementary education, an M.Ed. in counseling and guidance, and state certificates in elementary education, counseling, and administration and supervision. She has an AMI 3-7 credential and an AMS 6-12 credential. D’Neil is an AMS consultant and former Board Member, and has presented at local, national and international conferences. She is co-author of Children of the Universe: Cosmic Education in the Montessori Elementary Curriculum and Love of Learning: Supporting Intrinsic Motivation in Montessori Students.

Michael Duffy 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 the author of Math Works: Montessori Math and the Developing Brain and is the co-author of Children of the Universe: Cosmic Education in the Montessori Elementary Classroom and Love of Learning: Supporting Intrinsic Motivation in Montessori Students. 

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 University).  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.

Ingrid Hill is an Early Childhood Curriculum Presenter and a Field Consultant for CMTE/NY programs. Ingrid holds an AMS Early Childhood credential (CMTE/NY) and has taught at the 3-6 level since 1988. She also has a B.A. in Psychology from Empire State University. When not involved with Montessori, Ingrid works as a 4-H Program Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Blair Jennings is a writer, public speaker and mom. Blair is an AMS-certified Montessori Early Child Educator who has shared her passion for Montessori with children and adults in a variety of settings, including Montessori schools, teacher in-service trainings and workshops, corporate day care centers, child advocacy agencies and more. She joined the CMTE Faculty in 2008.

In 2011, K.T. Korngold joined us as CEO.  She brings with her a lifetime of dedication to authentic Montessori principles and practices and a long connection with the programs of CME|NY.   K.T. was instrumental in the original design of the Montessori Children’s Center.  She has worked at CME|NY in various capacities, most notably in developing many of the promotional materials, handbooks, and written documents.  K.T. is a trained CMTE|NY Infant and Toddler specialist and wrote a column for Tomorrow's Child magazine, entitled "Bringing Montessori Home". Her articles have appeared in the book The Montessori Way, as well as in Infants and Toddlers Journal and Montessori Life magazine. K.T. helped in the design of the initial Infant room at the Whitby School and in the design for the first Middle School for The Montessori School in Wilton, CT. She will be receiving her AMS CMSM credential in July, 2013.  As a child, K.T. was part of the model classroom of the first Montessori education program for Head Start teachers in the United States, a training that Carole initiated in Albany, NY in 1967.  Both of K.T.’s daughters have attended Montessori schools, including MCC. She had a Master's degree from Columbia University and a B.A. from Wesleyan University, Middletown CT. She has received an award from the Academy of American Poets.

Lisa Lubin has been involved in Montessori education since 1992 and has been with CMTE/NY since 2000. She is the Language presenter for CMTE/NY. She is a field consultant and mentor. 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.