Our Team
Twin Parks Montessori Schools
Dr. Kathy Roemer, Executive Director
Park West Montessori Faculty
Infant and Toddler Classrooms
Green Room
Orange Room
Aqua Room
Rainbow Room
Tangerine Room
Turquoise Room
Early Childhood Classrooms
Red Room
Blue Room
Purple Room
Yellow Room
Magenta Room
Park West Montessori Staff
Stephanie Whalen, Education DirectorJessica Anub, Admissions Director
Judith Kineke, Administrative Coordinator
Kiri the Bunny
Park West Montessori
Park West Montessori is located just across the street from Central Park at 103rd and is accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS) and the Middle States Commission on Elementary Schools (MSCES) and is an affiliate school of Columbia University. All our lead teachers are Montessori certified and have training in early childhood education.
Infant And Toddler Teaching Teams
Green Room
Gabriela joined Park West Montessori in 2006 and has been working with young children since 1989. She is originally from Mexico and received her Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the Universidad Nacionale Autonoma de Mexico and received her Montessori certification from CMTE. Gabriela is a mother of twins, both Park West graduates.
Maria joined Park West Montessori in 2000. Maria has three children, six grandchildren, and is studying Early Childhood Education at Brooklyn College. She received her Child Development Associate degree from Touro College.
Maria P. has been with Park West since 2006 working with Early Childhood students and toddlers and received her Infant/Toddler Montessori certification at CMTE. She is originally from Romania where she worked with preschool children in traditional and summer camp programs. Maria also worked with foreign students visiting Romania in the Exchange Experience Program.
Mirella has been working at Park West Montessori since 1998 with both infants and toddlers. As a proud mother and grandmother, she especially enjoys working with our infants (with whom attachment comes quickly and mutually). Mirella has an Associate of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and plans to continue her studies in Early Childhood Education.
Yolanda has been at Park West since 1994 and has always taught in the Green Room. She has watched many of her former students graduate our program and is often the first stop when alumni come back to visit Park West. Yolanda earned her Montessori Certification through CMTE, and is CDA trained and has been working with young children since 1991. She is the very proud mother of two sons, Ta-ron and Michael.
Orange Room
Antonia came to Park West Montessori in 2002 and previously worked with young children at New York’s River School. She completed her Montessori Infant/Toddler certification at CMTE. Antonia received her Child Development Associate credential from Touro College. She is a licensed practical nurse and worked for four years in the intensive care unit of a clinic. Antonia has been a foster parent and has four children.
Mindy came to Park West in 2008. She is currently pursuing her degree from John Jay College in Criminal Justice. Mindy has worked at the New York Public Library, has been a nanny, and enjoys reading in her spare time.
Yesenia joined Park West in 2007. She has much experience working with young children as she is the proud mother of three! Her mother, Maria, has worked at Park West for many years.
Aqua Room
Anany, at Park West Montessori since 2000, received her Infant/Toddler Montessori certification from CMTE/NY. She received her Child Development Associate credential from Touro College. Anany has one daughter who is a Park West graduate.
Trudian came to Park West in 2007. She attended Caliber Training Institute where she took courses in childcare. She previously worked at other Manhattan nursery schools with children ages 6 months-5 years. Trudian has also been a volunteer with different centers and plans to continue her studies in Early Childhood Education as well as Social Work.
Rainbow Room
Mariana joined Park West Montessori in 2004. She holds her Montessori Infant and Toddler certification from Princeton Center for Teacher Education. From her native country, Romania, she holds BS and MA degrees in Economics, and has also earned a teacher certificate. Prior to joining Park West Montessori she worked for three years in Manhattan as an associate Montessori directress in a toddler program. She is the mother of two beautiful daughters, one who is a current Park West student and one a Park West graduate.
Valerie came to Park West in 2008. She graduated from John Jay College with a BA in Criminal Justice. Previously, Valerie volunteered with a peer mentoring group where she assisted students with problem-solving and aided students with homework assignments. In high school, Valerie won numerous awards in the ROTC. In her free time, Valerie enjoys being an aunt to her three young nieces and her nephew.
Claudette joined Park West in 2007. Affectionately known at Park West as “Cookie”, she has worked with infants to school age children since 2000. As the mother of three boys, Cookie is quite busy outside of school. She enjoys sports, reading, and puzzles.
Tangerine Room
Eve, who has been at Park West Montessori since 2001, has worked with infant, toddler, and pre-school children. She received her Infant and Toddler Montessori credential through CMTE. She is currently pursuing her Infant and Toddler Montessori credential through CMTE. She is working on her degree in Education and Social Work at Hunter College. Eve is a devoted mother to two boys.
Maria joined Park West in 2007 and received her B.A. in Childhood Education from Boricua College. She completed her classroom training for her Infant/Toddler Montessori Certification at CMTE. Maria worked with preschool children at Bloomingdale’s Head Start program before coming to Park West. During this time, she was also a member of a team that cared for young infants. She is the proud mother of one daughter.
Julie joined Park West in 2011. She earned her BA in Anthropology and Applied Ethics in Education from Dartmouth College. After spending a year teaching in a ski program for children ages two to five, Julie moved to New York from New Hampshire to continue in the field of early childhood education. Julie is excited to join the Twin Parks Montessori community. She is conversant in French and describes herself as positive and patient with a sense of humor.
Turquoise Room
Astrid is Park West’s Infant/Toddler Coordinator and has been at Park West since 1995. In addition to being certified as an Infant/Toddler Montessori Teacher by CMTE/NY, Astrid has a degree in Early Childhood Education. Before moving to the United States from Colombia, she earned a degree in Social Work. Astrid was the Child Care Inc. 2005 Golden Heart Awardee at the Champions for Children Awards.
Alyssa is new to the Park West Montessori team. Having received her B.A. in Early Childhood Education from the College of Staten Island, she is also certified by the State of New York to teach in an Early Childhood Environment (Birth- 2nd grade). Alyssa is from Staten Island with 6 years of experience as an assistant teacher in a Montessori school. She enjoys camping and cooking in her spare time.
Early Childhood Teaching Teams
Red Room
Beatrice a mother and grandmother, has worked with children for many years. Before joining Park West Montessori, she worked for Head Start and with the American Red Cross. She also completed the Introduction to Montessori course at CMTE/NY. Since 1997, Beatrice has worked in many of the different classrooms, and with all age groups.
Mariel joined Park West Montessori in 2001. She has her B.A. in Early Childhood Education from City College and her Early Childhood Montessori certification from West Side Montessori School Teacher Education Program. In addition, she has received her Certificate of Childcare from NYU and has an Associate of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Borough of Manhattan Community College. Originally from Argentina, Mariel lives in New York City with her family. Her pastimes are gardening and painting.
Lucinda began her work at Park West Montessori as a substitute teacher, and joined our staff full-time as a teacher in 2005. Additionally, she has three years of teaching experience from preschools in England, where she obtained her Montessori International Diploma in 1998. Lucinda teaches the ever-popular cooking class in our After-School Enrichment program. Lucinda also serves as the Early Childhood After-School Coordinator. Lucinda is currently pursuing her Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education.
Blue Room
Ellen S joined Park West in 2010. She earned her B.S. degree from State University of New York, College at Oneonta in Elementary Education with a concentration in General Science. Ellen is New York State Certified to teach children from birth to 2nd grade. She is from Long Island, New York and she enjoys boating, gardening and she loves to sing.
Gladys started at Park West in 2007. She earned her Associate of Science degree in Elementary Education and additional credits in bilingual education. She was previously a family day care provider here in New York City as well as an assistant teacher in an elementary school in Puerto Rico.
Jean came to Park West Montessori in 2006 and is in New York while her husband serves as a UN Diplomat. She received her Montessori training in Kenya where she introduced children to the Montessori methodology and completed her classroom training for her Montessori certification through CMTE/NY. Jean sought out a Montessori school upon arriving in New York and we are so fortunate that she found Park West Montessori.
Purple Room
Gabrielle first joined Park West in 2002. She received her International Baccalaureate Degree from the Overseas Children School in Colombo, Sri-Lanka and her Montessori certification through CMTE. Gabrielle has a natural gift with children and feels it a special privilege to observe our youngest of students as they discover so much about their new world and their place in it.
Hulda joined Park West in 2009. She received her diploma in Elementary Education from Sam Sharpe Teachers College in Montego Bay, Jamaica, a B.A. in Psychology from City College, and completed her Montessori training at CMTE. She is currently enrolled in John Jay College pursuing her graduate degree in Mental Health Hygiene and Counseling. Hulda wishes to pursue a doctorate in developmental psychology.
Yellow Room
Cherrel has worked in all of our programs at Park West since 1999. She is originally from England and has two children who are alumni of Park West. Cherrel is in the process of completing her degree at Teachers College.
Gemma joined Park West in 2007. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and her Montessori certification in the Philippines. She worked in Montessori classrooms in both the Philippines and California and taught and worked in administration for a Montessori school here in Manhattan for twelve years before coming to Park West. After completing her Master’s degree in Special Education, she taught Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education at ABC Cassidy’s Place.
Joseph joined Park West in 2007 after conducting his student teacher practicum at Brooklyn Heights Montessori School in an early childhood classroom. He received his BA in History from Lehman College and has finished his classroom training for his Montessori Certification from CMTE. Before becoming a Montessori teacher, Joseph taught history for the New York City Public Schools.
Magenta Room
Alicia joined Park West in 2008. She received her BA in Music and MA in Education from Goucher College. Alicia earned her AMS Early Childhood Certification from the Center for Montessori Studies in Maryland. Before coming to Park West, she taught for 6 years at a Montessori school in Maryland.
Matthew joined Park West in January of 2011. The son of two Montessori educators, Matthew has grown up surrounded by the philosophy. He attended a Montessori school for most of his education. Matthew has an Associate’s degree and is currently working on his Bachelor’s degree. He has a great sense of humor and loves working with children.
Administrative Team
Stephanie, education director, joined Park West Montessori School in 2010. Stephanie comes to us with 30 years of educational experience, most of those as the head of Staten Island Montessori School. She earned a B.A. in Psychology/Sociology and an M.S. in Elementary Education at CUNY and has done post-graduate work in administration and supervision at St. John’s University. Stephanie received her Early Childhood Montessori Certification in 1981 from Project CHAMP and is NYS certified. She has also served in a long list of roles including workshop coordinator, education consultant, chairperson for early educator workshop programs, adjunct instructor at NYU and West Side Montessori School’s teacher education program, parent/teacher association vice president, executive committee member, co-chair for a school leadership team, newsletter editor, and federation delegate to name but a few- and all of this while raising three children! We are extremely fortunate to have Stephanie as part of the Park West Montessori team.
Jessica, admissions director, began working at Park West Montessori School in 2001. Prior to joining the Administrative team as education director, Jessica taught for six years in an early childhood classroom at Park West. She earned her undergraduate degree from Marymount Manhattan College and her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Hunter College. Jessica holds her permanent NYS certification (birth- 6 years) and the AMS early childhood certification. She completed the Course for School Management through CMTE/NY. Prior to her career in education Jessica danced professionally for the New York Theatre Ballet. She is the proud mother of her daughter, Charlotte, born in March of 2007.
Judith has been Park West Montessori’s administrative coordinator since 2002. She feels privileged to be part of Park West Montessori’s community of lifelong learners and enjoys working with the families and staff. Before Park West Montessori, Judith worked in Finance. She received a BA in Music from Oberlin College and has sung with various choral groups throughout the city. She is also the caretaker of the school’s mascot, “Kiri the Bunny”.
Kiri the Bunny is originally from upstate New York. She was adopted because of her superior skills in diplomacy and linguistics. Her previous experience in a family of 28 has given her invaluable insights into classroom psychology. Kiri is a vegetarian and team player. She works in Admissions and enjoys being held by new recruits.
