The  Montessori Center of Nyack TEACHING STAFF Downstairs Preprimary Class (DPP) Upstairs Preprimary Class (UPP) Montessori Beginnings Other Staff
PREPRIMARY PROGRAM FOR 3-5 YEAR OLD CHILDREN DOWNSTAIRS PREPRIMARY CLASS (DPP): AZEB GRAY returns to the Center this year to work with our Downstairs Preprimary Class. We first met her when her daughter Galila, now an eighth grader at the United Nations School, was a student at the Center. Azeb completed her studies at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in Ridgewood and is a certified Montessori teacher. Fluent in French, she is also our resident computer teacher, helping our students learn about the care and handling of our classroom computer and educational programs. Her beautiful smile and gentle ways make her equally popular with children, parents, and staff. SUSAN HANS, also a certified Montessori teacher, joined our staff in September 1997, bringing with her a background in psychology from Penn State. Bilingual in Spanish and English, she provides an outstanding program of second language instruction to the children in both of our preprimary classrooms. Her tape-recorded Spanish lessons, available on a special telephone hotline, help to include parents in this learning process. Susan studied at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in Ridgewood, NJ, where she received her certification through the American Montessori Society. MARÍA McNENNEY studied sociology and psychology at Manhattan College and worked as a translator for unionized companies before joining us in 1998. While she was teaching Spanish at the River School, our affiliated elementary program, she became interested in Montessori educational philosophy. After three years of classes and a year-long practicum, María completed her preprimary certification through the American Montessori Society last year. UPSTAIRS PREPRIMARY CLASS (UPP): Winners of the 2006 Dynamic Group Award by Child Care Resources of Rockland! DHARANI G. NARASIMHAN is beginning her fifth year at the Montessori Center of Nyack. She is a graduate of Bangalore University and is an AMI certified Montessori teacher with nine years teaching experience. While she was in India, Dharani owned and managed her own school. Her mother and sister are also trained Montessori teachers, so her familiarity with the philosophy extends beyond her immediate formal experience. Dharani plans to make the United States her permanent residence and has already taken and passed the first part of the exam required to become a certified New York State teacher. Dharani brings patience, dedication, and enthusiasm to her position of directress. Her gentle dignity and respectfulness will be a wonderful model for our American children. JACQUELINE WILTON comes to the Montessori Center of Nyack from Margate, Kent, in the Southeast corner of England. She is a Montessori certified teacher as well as a National Nursery Examination Board credentialed nanny. A lover of travel, Jacqueline has spent over ten years working with children in private homes and other nursery schools, including a year teaching in Finland. She is now looking forward to her fifth year living and working in the US. Jacqueline is currently a student at Empire State College, augmenting her knowledge of early childhood with state-of- the-art education practices. NATALIE WILSON is also a National Nursery Examination Board credentialed nanny. First introduced while she worked as an au pair for one of our Montessori families, we were very impressed with the way she interacted with "her children" and delighted when she expressed interest in becoming a Montessori trained teacher. Natalie is now a fully certified Montessori teacher, and in addition, is well on her way to receiving her diploma in Montessori infant and toddler studies. This will be Natalie’s fifth year working with us. MONTESSORI BEGINNINGS: SHANAZ SHAHEEN received her teaching certification for primary aged children (2 ½ - 7 years) from the Association Montessori International in Sri Lanka, where she subsequently worked at the Crescent and the Melbourne International schools. After immigrating to the USA, Shanaz became interested in our youngest students and attended the Center for Montessori Teacher Education at New Rochelle, where she obtained comprehensive specialized training for dealing with toddlers. Now in her third year at the Montessori Center of Nyack, she is very excited about our “Montessori Beginnings” program and looks forward to a fun and productive year working with our very special toddlers. KAMANI PILLAY SULLIVAN is a native of South Africa who began working in the USA as an au pair, but then chose to obtain Montessori certification as part of her long-range career objective to work with young children. She is currently in her final year of classroom studies with the Montessori Center for Teacher Education in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Although children are her first love, Kamani has also been employed as a model and as a stewardess. This is her fourth year at the Montessori Center of Nyack. OTHER STAFF: JOYLIN ARMSTRONG is the school nurse for both the Montessori Center of Nyack and the River School. She is available for questions regarding the health and well being of our students and helps us determine school policy relating to medical issues such as our guidelines for children with allergies. Joylin makes sure our student’s medical records are complete and up-to-date and files appropriate forms to comply with state mandated regulations. EILEEN CHARLES joined us two years ago to help with the children’s lunches. A woman of many talents (you should see the children’s sweaters she knits!), we are fortunate to have Eileen assist us both as lunch monitor and classroom assistant. In addition to the years she spent studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Eileen has received training at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in White Plains. Her daughter Mackenzie is a student in the River School. BARBARA ISELIN has been teaching fitness and movement at the Montessori Center of Nyack since it was founded in 1989. Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious, both to children and staff. She is equally at home teaching square dances to the older students and obstacle courses to the younger ones. Her presentations, which emphasize fairness, politeness, and positive self-esteem, are received enthusiastically by the children. ANNETTE KISSINGER, the “Yoga Lady”, incorporates elements of several different yoga formats to help our children build strength, increase flexibility, improve concentration, create mind and body awareness, and enjoy relaxation. Our teachers were so excited about her program that we now offer an after school version for them as well. We welcome Annette and recognize the importance of learning to relax and center ourselves in the harried world of the 21st century. BARBARA PRESTEGAARD has been our school secretary for seventeen years. She supplies the friendly voice that answers the telephone and assists in billing ordering, purchasing, and other administrative duties. She shops for school supplies and snacks and knows just where we can get the most for the least! No matter what role she assumes, Barbara does it well and adds a feeling of warmth and caring that are especially her own. CHRISTINE HWALEK RENSTROM has been our music teacher since 1988. She is a graduate of Nazareth College and is currently studying for her Masters in music at Montclair State College. Christine has Orff-Kodaly training, but draws upon a variety of disciplines, including Montessori, when presenting her programs to the children. As a member of the Rockland County Guild of Music Teachers, she offers piano lessons privately and instructs many of our children. ELLEN (Cookie) WARNER joined the Montessori Center of Nyack and River School four years ago as the Director of Admissions. A teacher, drug and alcohol prevention educator, and experienced administrative coordinator, Ellen brings an enthusiasm and love for children that makes her a delightful addition. Her primary responsibilities concern the admission process, school tours, and outreach programs. Her nickname makes her very popular with the children! DOROTHY GOREN has been associated with the Montessori Center of Nyack since 1987. She is a graduate of Barnard College with a Masters from Manhattanville, and has spent many years in executive positions before selecting the field of early childhood as her primary interest. A believer that education is important for people of all ages, she recently completed her doctorate in the field of educational leadership. In April 2006, Dr. Goren was awarded the Children's Program Administrator Credential from the New York State Association for the Education of Young Children.
Home Copyright ©2008 Montessori Center of Nyack