By: Maureen Clifford, Executive Director, NOVA Montessori Maria Montessori described human development as a series of Four Planes: Infancy: 0-6 Childhood: 6-12 Adolescence: 12-18 Maturity: 18-24 She specifically saw them as planes, identifying commonalties to each, on which children can move around on different courses as opposed to linear paths that all children experience... Continue Reading »
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Natalie earned her Montessori Credential through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies and has spent over a decade in toddler, primary and upper elementary Montessori classrooms. Natalie is a frequent contributor to Montessorium.com and has presented at the Montessori Foundation/International Montessori Council’s annual International Conference. She holds holds two Master’s Degrees, including in Curriculum and Instruction (K-6). She is a former Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa.
Elementary Intern
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Lead Teacher
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Lead Teacher
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Lead Teacher
Ms. Melissa has a bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance and after working in that field for over 11 years decided to travel around the world to live her life. While traveling she came upon a Montessori school in Australia and immediately knew where her life needed to go. She received her AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) diploma from The Washington Montessori Institute in 2013 and has a Masters in Education from Loyola University in Maryland. She was a lead teacher at The Del Ray Montessori School in Alexandria and then took time off to focus on family.
Ms. Melissa enjoys spending time with her family: Mike, Siena (5 years old) and Aiden (3 years old). She loves to contribute to her neighborhood by providing meals for families in difficult times and putting together activities- from tutoring to outdoor scavenger hunts for the many neighborhood children. In her spare time, Ms. Melissa enjoys gardening (newly found hobby since the pandemic) and relaxing on the sofa watching movies after her children go to bed.
Lead Teacher
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Lead Teacher
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Lead Teacher
Ms. Traci received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Ohio Dominican College in 1998. Prior to moving to Maryland, she taught in multiple grade levels across the country as she accompanied her husband on his military assignments. She is just finished her fourth year of teaching fourth grade at the Calverton School.
Lead Teacher
Ms. Bianca comes to us from Cardinal Montessori in Woodbridge where she has been a Lead Lower Elementary Teacher for the past 4 years but has been at Cardinal Montessori for the past 15 years. Ms. Bianca has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a focus in Education and Family Studies from the University of Mary Washington. Ms. Bianca received her Lower Elementary Certification from The Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies.
Lead Teacher
I am a passionate teacher, dedicated to the Montessori method. I received my Montessori teaching credential from the Toronto Montessori Institute in 2001 and a Master’s Degree in Montessori Education from St. Catherine University in 2018.
As a lifelong learner, I strive to continue to build on my knowledge and to grow in my abilities as a teacher. I love languages and speak French fluently, understand some Spanish and German and hope to master those in the near future. While I love all of the areas of the classroom, the language curriculum has a special place in my heart. The most special part of being a Montessori teacher for me is being able to see the unique abilities of each child and to guide their learning by tapping into their individual strengths and interests.
Lead Teacher
Ms. Sheridan joined THE SPRINGS in the fall of 2015. Before working at THE SPRINGS she spent 3 years teaching in a Children’s House classroom in Beijing, China. After seeing the Montessori method and philosophy have such a positive effect on her students, Ms. Sheridan decided to pursue an AMS (American Montessori Society) primary certification at the Etonkids Montessori Teacher Training Academy, which she completed in June 2015. Prior to working abroad, Ms. Sheridan worked primarily with children and adults with varying disabilities and mental diseases. Ms. Sheridan has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Marshall University in her beautiful home state of West Virginia and a Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate from the Boston Language Institute.
Ms. Sheridan enjoys traveling with her husband and daughter, cooking new recipes, eating new dishes, as well as reading about cooking and eating.
Lead Teacher
Ms. Mary hails from India, a country with a strong Montessori heritage and has almost 15 years of teaching experience in the US. She has been a Montessori Infant Toddler teacher for 9 years. She began her Montessori Infant Toddler career at The Boyd School. She then joined Montessori School of Chantilly where she helped start and grow their Infant Toddler program. Chantilly tapped her again to start a second Infant Toddler program upon the opening of their second school, Montessori School of Gainesville. She has a wealth of experience with the Toddler age group. Ms. Mary joined THE SPRINGS in September of 2014 to launch our new Infant Toddler Program.
Ms. Mary lives with her family in Chantilly. She completed her Montessori Infant and Toddler Certification at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in North Carolina.
Lead Teacher
Ms. Deepa has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and an American Montessori Society (AMS) Early Childhood Credential. She completed her AMS certification at the Northern Virginia Montessori Institute six years ago alongside Ms. B and Mr. Dan. Ms. Deepa began working in Montessori schools 14 years ago and has spent the last six years as a Lead Teacher, first with Dulles Montessori School and most recently with The LePort School, (formerly The Boyd School). Additionally, Ms. Deepa has extensive experience working as a behavioral therapist for children with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. Ms. Deepa also has a passion for cooking culinary dishes from around the world. She loves to read and enjoys spending time with her family.
Lead Teacher
Ms. Beth joined THE SPRINGS in September 2014. She holds an AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) diploma from the Montessori Education Center of Arizona and a bachelor’s of Science in Sociology. Ms. Beth has been teaching in the classroom since 2003. Ms. Beth was also a Montessori child who feels that Montessori is a way of life and is such a joyful way to learn.
Ms. Beth is from the eastern North Carolina area and has family in Virginia and feels as though she has come home. She moved here from Florida and is readjusting to cooler temperatures. Ms. Beth has a love of books and enjoys sharing her knowledge of books with the children.
In her spare time Ms. Beth enjoys crafting, reading, and playing tennis.
Ms. NikkiLead Teacher
Ms. Nikki joined THE SPRINGS in 2016 as an Infant House assistant. She moved into the Toddler House last year to make way for her own son, Jayce, who was a student in the Infant House last year and is now in Ms. Ashley’s class. Ms. Nikki is now embarking on a new challenge as the Infant House Lead teacher as she completes her Montessori training. She also brings the unique experience of teaching in the Infant classroom as well as having been a parent in the Infant classroom so she comes with an understanding of the unique challenges and joys of this time in your child’s life.