TWIN PARKS MONTESSORI SCHOOLS

Dr. Kathy Roemer, Executive Director


RIVERSIDE MONTESSORI FACULTY

Infant and Toddler Classrooms
Yellow Room
Green Room
Brown Room
Orange Room
Purple Room
Blue Room

Early Childhood Classrooms
Red Room
Rainbow Room
Aqua Room
Gold Room

RIVERSIDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL STAFF

Karyn Ficalora, Administrative Coordinator
Candace La Douceur, Admissions Director, Educational Director
Katie Braswell, Receptionist

RIVERSIDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Riverside Montessori is located at 93rd Street and Riverside Drive, a stone's throw from Riverside Park. The school is accredited by both 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

Yellow Room

Reina is a graduate of the Borough of Manhattan Community College early childhood provider program and has been at Riverside Montessori School since 2000. She is a certified AMS infant and toddler teacher. Before becoming the Yellow Room's lead teacher, Reina worked with children ranging from 3 months to two years. Although Reina previously taught three- to five-year olds at a Head Start program, her primary child-based experience was raising her own four children. Reina is originally from the Dominican Republic, and has been living in the United States since 1990.

Annie Mai is originally from Ireland; she came to the United States in 1988. Before joining Riverside Montessori in 1999, Annie Mai taught children ranging from toddlers to preschoolers. She brings a quiet and caring demeanor to the Yellow classroom.

Melissa was a substitute teacher here for two years prior to joining the Yellow Room in September 2007. She has worked with children 3 months to 5 years of age. Prior to joining us at Riverside she was a childcare provider for a family in New York and Texas. She has a 3 year old daughter which she enjoys spending all her free time with.

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Green Room

Tracey has been in the educational field since 1988, and has worked with children ranging in age from infancy to two years old. After completing her Associate's degree at Sullivan County Community College, she received her Bachelor's in psychology from the State University of New York at Old Westbury. In August 2007 she became a certified AMS infant and toddler teacher.

Joanna is a Montessori certified teacher in Infant and Toddler from CMTE Center for Montessori Teacher Education/NY. She has 4 years experience teaching children 18 mths to 6 years of age.

Jeannie attended Virginia Union University and is in the process of completing her Child Development Associate Program through American League for Children and Families. She has six years experience with children 12 mths to 5 years of age.

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Brown Room

Veronica is an LPN and a Montessori Certified Infant/ Toddler Teacher. Her husband is an officer in the army, and Veronica and he have five children. Our toddlers are very grateful for her ability to nurture and teach a group of young learners so effortlessly.

Vicki started working at Riverside Montessori in 2000. Throughout her career as an assistant teacher, she has worked with children ranging in age from three months to 24 months. She is in the process of continuing her education at Medgar Evers College.

Jenny has completed three years at Grodno State University at Belarus. During a summer internship at a preschool in Belarus she found it very rewarding. She also taught English as a second language. She is currently completing her Montessori training at CMTE Center for Montessori Teacher Education/NY in the Infant/Toddler program.

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Orange Room

Mary has an M.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education birth through second grade from Touro College and a B.S. degree in Sociology from Hunter College with a minor in Psychology. Mary has nine years of experience as a toddler teacher before coming to Riverside Montessori.

Lisa has worked with children for the past 14 years before joining Riverside Montessori in 2003 where she has worked in our infant and toddler classrooms. Lisa attended Bronx Community College in the early childhood program. In June 2007 she became a certified AMS infant and toddler teacher. She has two grown sons and two granddaughters.

Fran has worked with infants and preschool children prior to joining Riverside in 2006. Her first year at Riverside, she joined the infant teaching team and last year a toddler team. Fran is in the process of completing her CDA Degree from Touro College.

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Purple Room

Jenna has a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Psychology from Rutgers University. Her M.S. is from Bank Street College and is in Early Childhood Education birth to second grade. Jenna is currently completing her Montessori training at the Infant/Toddler level. She is an avid camper, hiker, and loves all sports.

Myriam has worked with toddlers in Montessori environments since 1997, and worked in the public school system for four years. She received her infant/toddler Montessori certification at CMTE/NY. Myriam received her Child Development Associate credential from Touro College.

Deana has been at Riverside since January 2007. Prior to joining us she has been teaching in the educational field for 2 years with children ranging in ages from six months to four years old. She is currently attending classes at the University of Phoenix, Axia College. She is completing her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology.

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Blue Room

Cornelia is a Montessori Certified Teacher and has completed her CDA (Child Development Associate) Degree from Touro College. She is currently enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at BMCC and had been a teacher at Riverside Montessori since the school opened in 1997.

Karen has a Bachelor' s Degree in Early Childhood from NYU. She is trilingual and fluent in Korean and English. Karen loves art and is an avid traveler. During the summer months Karen was an English teacher in Cambodia, teaching children ranging in age from three to eleven years old.

Paola is continuing her education at Lehman College seeking her Bachelor's Degree. For the last five years, she has worked as a floater in all the classrooms.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHING TEAMS

Red Room

Duna is joining us this year as a Lead Teacher and Education Administrator after teaching at West Side Montessori School. She also co-teaches the literacy component at WSMW teacher-training program. She holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in Montessori from NYU and is NYS certified (0 to 6 years).

Sarah holds a Master's Degree in Theatre Education from New York University and is currently completing her AMS Montessori Certification in Early Childhood. Her experience includes teaching theatre and creative drama classes for children ages 4- 18 years old.

Taryn graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Prior to joining us she has experience with the New York City Public Schools.

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Rainbow Room

Laura is a Certified Montessori Teacher for children ages 2 to 6. When her own children went to a Montessori school she quickly fell in love with the philosophy and was soon on her way to become a certified teacher. Laura has a Bachelor's Degree from Plattsburgh University.

Sandy she has her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. She has three years of lead teaching experience with children that are three and four years of age. She is currently working on her Master's Degree at St. John's University.

Andrea is completing her M.S. in Early Childhood Education at Brooklyn College. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Hunter College. Andrea speaks Portuguese, Spanish and English fluently and completed her ESL training at the Spanish American Institute to teach English as a second language.

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Aqua Room

Karen is a certified Montessori teacher for children ages 2-6. She has over ten years experience teaching in Montessori school as a lead teacher, program director and teacher educator. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology.

Gail has been at Riverside Montessori since 1998. She completed her MA in education from Hunter College in 2004. She is a NYS certified teacher with experience in all age groups at Riverside Montessori.

Zena has been at Riverside Montessori for seven years. She has experience with children ranging from 3 mths to 6 years of age. She completed her CDA (Child Development Associate) Degree from Touro College and is now enrolled in the Early Childhood program.

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Gold Room

Dini is currently in the process of completing her Masters Degree at City College in Early Childhood Education. Prior to joining us she has seven years experience working in Montessori schools both in Texas and New York City.

Asa relocated from Sweden to NYC in 2002. She has 14 years experience teaching in Montessori Schools and is a calm and happy presence in the classroom. She also studied fine arts and enjoys watercolor and acrylic paintings.

Lee graduated from Bard College in 2006 with a degree in The History of Science. He has been leading science and nature programs for elementary school since 2002. He speaks French, Russian, Sign Language and some Mandarin Chinese. He is currently completing his Montessori certification in Early Childhood.

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ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

Karyn Ficalora has been Riverside Montessori's administrative coordinator since 2002. Before coming to Riverside Montessori she taught infants to pre-school-aged children for eight years, and worked as assistant director and then director at Kiddie Academy on Long Island. She received her AA from SUNY at Farmingdale University in early childhood education and attended Long Island University's CW Post Campus, majoring in elementary education.

Joining us in 2006 year is Candace La Douceur as the Educational Director. She received her BS in Early Childhood Education from SUNY New Paltz and MS from St. John's University and holds NYS N-6 Permanent Certification. Candace also holds her Early Childhood Montessori Certification. She is currently an instructor teaching the language component at Westside Montessori and NYU Montessori Teacher Education Programs. She was a teacher and part of the administrative team at West Side Montessori for over 10 years. Candace is responsible for professional development and she will conduct workshops for teachers and parents at Twin Parks Montessori Schools.

Katie Braswell joined Riverside in 2007 as our receptionist. She is from Orlando, Florida. She has worked with children, infants up to ten years of age, for the past five years. She has one year of school in elementary education and will be completing her degree at Hunter College.