Campuses

Park West

Campuses

Park West

Park West Montessori is located just across the street from Central Park at 103rd Street and is accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS), the Middle States Commission on Elementary Schools (MSCES), is a member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), the Independent School Admission Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY), and the Parents League, as well as an affiliate school of Columbia University. All of our lead teachers are Montessori certified and have training in early childhood education.

Admissions

The Columbia University Affiliated Child Care Centers offer an optional early notification of their admissions decision to the applicant families who are current and prospective faculty, staff and students of Columbia University. If interested, parents should contact the Admissions Director (pwadmissions@twinparks.org) to learn more about early notification.

Park West Montessori School partners with the Department of Education’s PreK for All program and offers 20 places in our Early Childhood program. Placement in this program is determined by the Department of Education. For more information please visit their website here.

What Parents Think

We are so happy we are a Twin Parks Family, and are looking forward to another great year next year as we transition into the Orange Room.

Park West Montessori School Parent

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for hiring such fabulous, dedicated and caring teachers to take such amazing care of our little boy. He has grown so much because of his experience in Green Room A. We are so happy we are a Twin Parks Family, and are looking forward to another great year next year as we transition into the Orange Room.

Park West Montessori School Parent

We are impressed with the implementation of the Montessori method at Park West. The daily schedule allowed time for children to come together as a community for circle time, snacks and lunches while also allowing time for children to focus on self-directed and small group activities during work cycles and daily trips to the playgrounds in Central Park. The children’s interests guided the activities and projects that took place throughout the year.

Park West Montessori School Parent

One of the defining aspects of an excellent school is a teaching staff that interacts with the children and guides their learning each and every day. The experience, commitment, caring and compassion demonstrated by all of these teachers created a nurturing and positive environment where all the children in the Blue Room could develop and thrive and truly be themselves.

Park West Montessori School Parent

There was a tremendous sense of community fostered at Park West. Park West was a wonderfully positive, fulfilling and nurturing experience for our son. We offer our sincere thanks and gratitude to all of the dedicated staff of Park West.

Park West Montessori School Parent

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Our Teachers

Infant Teaching Teams

Mariana has been with Park West since 2006, working with Early Childhood students and toddlers. She received her Infant/Toddler Montessori Certification at CMTE/NY. She is originally from Romania where she worked with preschool children in traditional and summer camp programs. Mariana also worked with foreign students visiting Romania in the Exchange Experience Program.

Leah moved back to New Jersey from North Carolina in the fall of 2016 and joined the Park West community shortly after that. She is a certified Montessori toddler teacher (CMTE/NC, 2009). She has 15 years of experience working in a Montessori toddler environment. Leah earned a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Philippines. She is a mom to three adult children and enjoys visiting new places, taking pictures and reading.

Fatjona joined Park West in 2019 as a substitute teacher. She has six years of experience working with infants, toddlers and preschool aged children. Fatjona earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education in her native Albania.

Gabriela joined Park West Montessori in 2006 and has been working with young children since 1989. Gabriela worked for five years in another Montessori environment with children aged 18 months through 3 years. She is originally from Mexico and received her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from the Universidad Nacionale Autonoma de Mexico and her Montessori Certification from CMTE/NY. Gabriela has also been a preschool through elementary Spanish teacher. She will be teaching our Spanish Enrichment class this year. Gabriela is a mother of twins, both Park West graduates.

Marielena has been working at Park West Montessori since 2016. She has worked in various childcare environments with young children, from infants to toddlers. Prior to that, she received her early childhood training and certification through courses at City College. She is from the Dominican Republic where she started her education. Marielena is enthusiastically pursuing her goals as a lifelong learner and teacher at Park West Montessori School. She is a loving mother to her 4 year old son, Isaiah.

Kassandra is very excited to start her third year at Park West. She has always worked with infants at our program. Kassandra is from Brooklyn and is working on her Associate’s degree in Psychology at Borough of Manhattan Community College. She is a 3rd generation Park West teacher—her mother and grandmother both worked at Park West!

Toddler Teaching Teams

Anany has been at Park West Montessori since 2000 and received her Infant/Toddler Montessori Certification from CMTE/NY. She received her Child Development Associate Credential from Touro College. She has worked with the Toddler community as an intern supervisor as well as a head teacher. Anany has one daughter who is a Park West graduate. She enjoys spending time with her family.

Genny joined Park West in 2007 and received her bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education from Boricua College as well as completed her master’s degree in TESOL from Boricua College in June 2015. She received her AMS Infant/Toddler credential at the Center for Montessori Education/NY (CMTE). Genny 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 proud to be an educator.

Nina joined Park West and the Rainbow Room in 2020 as an assistant teacher. She previously was a student teacher at schools in Lewiston, Maine, where she was a student at Bates College, receiving at B.A. in East Asian studies with a minor in Education and Japanese. Nina also worked as a Summer Camp Counselor at the Prospect Park Zoo. She is excited to be working with our toddlers at Park West!

Astrid is Park West’s Infant/Toddler Coordinator and has been at Park West since 1994. 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, Astrid earned a degree in Social Work. Astrid was also awarded the ‘2005 Golden Heart’ from Child Care Inc. at the Champions for Children Awards.

Eve has been at Park West Montessori since 2001 and has worked with infant, toddler, and pre-school children in the Park West community. She received her Infant and Toddler Montessori Credential through CMTE/NY. Eve continues to work on her degree in Education and Social Work at Hunter College. She is a devoted mother of two boys.

Ariana has been with Park West Montessori since September 2013. Ariana has a degree in Psychology from Hunter College and a Child Development Associate Certificate (CDA) from CUNY. She is presently working on her Montessori master’s degree at Concordia College. Before joining Park West, Ariana worked with infants through five year-olds for over five years at the Bellevue Child Care Center. Ariana is gentle, caring and patient with children. She is the proud mom of her son, Henry, and her daughter, Abigail.

Early Childhood Teaching Teams

Mariel joined Park West in 2001. She earned her Montessori Early Childhood teaching credentials from West Side Montessori School Teacher Education Program, (WSMS- TEP). She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences from CCNY, her associate eegree in Early Childhood Education from BMCC, and her Childcare Certification from NYU. Mariel has a Master’s degree in Spanish Literature from City College. She is the frequently works as a field consultant for WSMS-TEP. Originally from Argentina, her pastimes include gardening, cooking, and painting.

January joined the Park West Montessori community in September 2015. She received her Bachelors Degree in Psychology from St. Paul’s College of Manila in 2000 and has begun her Masters of Arts degree in Special Education. January is a ‘Montessori’ child and graduated from Southernside Montessori High School. January is very patient, giving and gentle, and loves working with the toddler community.

Cherrel has worked with the different age groupings in our programs at Park West Montessori 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. She is gentle and soft spoken and has a delightful sense of humor.

Gemma joined Park West in 2007. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines and her Montessori Teacher Certificate from O.B. Montessori Center, also in the Philippines. She has a Master’s Degree in Special Education from The City College of New York and holds a New York State Teacher Certificate in Special Education. Gemma has taught and held other administrative positions in Montessori and Special Education for the last 30 years.

Alicia joined Park West in 2008 and is a seasoned Montessori teacher. Prior to coming to Park West, Alicia was a teacher at The Montessori School in Lutherville, Maryland, and was an Assistant Volleyball coach. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and a Master of Education degree specializing in Montessori studies from Goucher College in Maryland. She received her AMS Early Childhood credential in 2004. Alicia has three children who also attend Park West!

Joe 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/NY. Before becoming a Montessori teacher, Joe taught history for the New York City Public Schools. Joe has been our Movement/Sports enrichment teacher for many years.

Laura joined Twin Parks in 2015. This will be her third year at Park West. Laura began her Montessori journey at the Montessori School of Manhattan. In 2014 she received her BA from John Jay College of Criminal Justice with Honors. Laura completed the combined Concordia Master’s program and WSMS TEP Montessori certification in Early Childhood education. She has taught in both Toddler and Early Childhood classrooms at Park West Montessori and is excited to have her daughter join the Infant community in the Fall. Laura is bilingual in Spanish and English and enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering in the community.

Brittany joined Park West in 2021. Her prior experience includes five years as an assistant and lead teacher in preschool programs in New York. Brittany has also been a camp counselor and after school teacher. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Queens College and a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Queens College.

Elizabeth joined Twin Parks in 2012 with three years of experience from the International Montessori School and ten years at the English Montessori School, both programs in Madrid, Spain. She worked in the toddler program at our sister school, Central Park Montessori, and joined the Park West faculty in 2017. Prior to joining Twin Parks, Elizabeth also worked in the NYC public schools. She has her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Education from City College. Elizabeth has also done postgraduate work in Developmental Psychology at La Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain, and in Education from the University of Sunderland, in England.

Location

Park West Montessori is located just across the street from Central Park at 103rd Street.