Summer Program

Our Teaching and Administrative Staff - Summer 2026

Abigail Willmington joined the Central Park Montessori School in 2023.  Abigail has more than seven years of experience in early childhood education with experience working with both toddlers and early childhood children. She is earning a Bachelor of Arts in Family and Child Development, is completing her infant toddler Montessori credential, and has recently obtained a Child Development Associate Certification (CDA). She enjoys spending time in nature and being creative and loves cultivating these values within her students.

Alicia Shanahan joined Central Park Montessori School in the fall of 2025. She has worked with infants and toddlers for over ten years. She has a bachelor's in Psychology and has worked in early intervention for the past two years. Currently, she is pursuing a master’s degree, and is excited to be part of the team at Twin Parks Montessori Schools.

Alondra Mata joined Riverside Montessori in Fall 2023. She is an experienced child educator and caregiver.  Alondra has a Bachelor’s Degree in sociology, with a minor in Early Childhood Education from Lehman College.  She has an AMS Infant Toddler credential. Alondra is also an amazing baker who makes beautiful cakes. 

Amelia Rodriguez joined the Central Park community in 2016. A Montessori student herself, Amelia has a deep understanding of the philosophy. She completed her B.S. in Hospitality Management from St. John’s University in 2015. At St. John’s, she served as the Student Programming Board Vice President and was a member of the College of Professional Studies Honor Society. Amelia taught at the Lamplighter Montessori School in Memphis, Tennessee. She has experience working in both toddler and early childhood classrooms in addition to the afterschool program. Amelia completed her Montessori Early Childhood Credential in 2025. Amelia has experience teaching in our Early Childhood Extended Day program as well as our Art enrichment class. In her free time, Amelia enjoys watching sports, spending time outdoors, reading, and hanging with her family.

Ami Utaminingsih joined Riverside Montessori School in 2013. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from City College and is a certified AMS Infant/Toddler Montessori Teacher. Her experiences include teaching in an early childhood weekend program and volunteer work as a Team Leader in a non-profit organization, Rice Grains Inc., with the Youth program (10-19 yrs old), distributing food and care packages to those in need. 

Anany Johnson 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 a head teacher as well as an intern supervisor. She has also worked with our Early Childhood students.  Anany has one daughter who is a Park West graduate. She enjoys spending time with her family.

Angelica Goff (Assistant Teacher 9:45-6pm) is a truly passionate educator with a heart full of love for learning, which all started in the beautiful Philippines. She believes in the amazing, life-changing power of education and feels a strong calling to spark curiosity, inspire growth, and help her students unlock their full potential. With a firm belief in the unique strengths of each learner, Angelica graduated from Lyceum Northwestern University with a BA in Elementary Education, and was honored to be named the Best Practice Teacher of 2018. This recognition opened the door for her to a wonderful role at Creative Montessori School, where she spent three years nurturing and guiding young minds.

Arakinatou Bagayoko has been an early childhood educator since 2021, specializing in infants and toddlers.  She has worked at Goddard, Manhattan Schoolhouse, and Bright Horizons before coming to Twin Parks. Arakinatou has an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education.  She is happy to be part of the Twin Parks community. 

Ariana Giraldo has been an infant/toddler teacher at Twin Parks Montessori since 2013. Ariana works as the Infant/Toddler coordinator at Park West. She has a Master of Science degree in Early Childhood from the Bank Street College of Education, a bachelor's in Psychology from Hunter College, and a Child Development Associate Certificate (CDA) from CUNY.   She also has her AMS Infant Toddler credential.  Before joining Twin Parks, Ariana worked with infants through five-year-olds for over five years at the Bellevue Child Care Center. She is the proud mom of her son, Henry, and her daughter, Abigail, former Twin Parks students.

Aura Sapera M.Ed. joined Park West in February 2022. Prior to that, she was a teacher with the Montessori Family School of Manhattan for 11 years, and was a teacher with NYS DOE. She is a multilingual teacher (Romanian, English, Spanish and French) who likes to include language and cultural studies in her classroom. Aura has a Master of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from the College of New Rochelle and a Masters in Cultural Studies from Romania.  She is Montessori credentialed in Early Childhood and has her NYS certification in Early Childhood.  Before her work in early childhood education, Aura was a teacher in Romania in elementary and middle schools. Aura has two children, who were educated in Montessori environments. She loves art and poetry, and has published two poetry books in Aromanian, her native language.

Belkis Juliao joined the Park West team in 2021. Belkis has worked as an assistant teacher for many years, nine of them at the Lycee Francais of New York in the Kindergarten program. She also worked as a tutor and is experienced in caring for young children. Belkis has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University with a concentration in Child Psychology. She loves to expand her knowledge and is currently working towards her master’s degree.

Brianna Dennis worked at the Queens Botanical Garden as an Assistant Camp Counselor and shortly after she became a Forest Explorers Instructor.  As a Forest Explorers Instructor, she organized outdoor guided exploration for toddlers and preschoolers.  Brianna holds an Associate of Science in Digital Art and Design. Brianna is a credentialed Montessori infant toddler teacher.  Presently, she is continuing her studies at Hunter College and pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art. During Brianna’s free time, she loves to create illustrations, paintings and simple arts and crafts. 

Carolina Baena is happy to be part of the Central Park Community. She was born in Zaragoza, Spain. Carol has been very communicative since her childhood, which led her to study journalism at the University Complutense of Madrid. Carol moved to San Francisco with his husband to enjoy a new professional and personal experience working as a Spanish teacher in the Montessori de Terra Linda School. She earned an AMI Montessori certification for children aged 2.5-6 years, held by Montessori Northwest in Milpitas. She has two children and recently relocated her family to New York.  In her free time, Carol loves to travel and discover the United States with her family, practice yoga, and cook gluten-free recipes.

Caroline Patterson joined Twin Parks in 2025. Caroline served for 14 years as the founder and director of Bitty City Players, providing hands-on learning experiences to young children, with a focus on the arts, STEAM, and social-emotional learning. She has designed and taught enrichment classes, after-school programming, and in-school field trips in public and private schools all over New York City. She holds a B.A. from Duke University and plans to begin her Master’s in Education in 2026. Outside of school, she loves going to the theater, traveling, improving her crochet skills, and being an auntie to seven wonderful kids.

Carynne Haye-Martin is a native New Yorker and has recently discovered her passion for teaching while teaching English abroad. Upon moving back to New York, she has had the amazing opportunity to work at Park West in the late care program. She is excited to be teaching and to use her creativity, energy and passion to provide a wonderful learning experience for the new learners. Carynne has her Bachelor's in Psychology from SUNY Oneonta and a Master's in Health Administration from Ashford University. She is a credentialed Montessori Infant Toddler Teacher.  She loves to read, take her dogs to the park, and visit local museums. 

Cen Chen joins Twin Parks from Guidepost Montessori where she was a lead teacher for the past three years.  Prior to her Montessori experience, Cen worked as an assistant teacher for 5 years.  She has her Montessori certification and a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. 

Cesarina Oliviero joined Park West Montessori in September 2021. She is a dedicated childcare professional with 19+ years of experience in working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers. She worked at Bright Beginnings before coming to Park West. Cesarina is certified with her Infant/Toddler Montessori certification.

Chiara LaPietra joined the Spruce Room in 2026 as an early childhood educator with an international background in language and education. Chiara has worked in classroom support and language-immersion environments, supporting children’s learning through language and cultural acquisition programs. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Languages, has earned her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, and is currently completing Montessori training. Chiara is especially interested in literacy, multilingual development, and creating inclusive, nurturing environments that support each child’s growth and independence. Originally from Italy, Chiara recently relocated to New York and is excited to be part of the Twin Parks Montessori community.

Gage Frink grew up in Los Angeles and has a bachelor’s degree from Bard College, where he studied Art History. With teaching experience at Brooklyn’s Saint Ann’s School and an English language camp in Japan, he loves working with kids and helping them discover their passions. In his free time, he enjoys writing, reading, and playing soccer.

Dian Sitepu joined Riverside Montessori School in October 2015. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economic Management from Trisakti University in Indonesia.  She has her infant-toddler credential and loves being part of the Twin Parks community. 

Dile Sina joined the Park West community in 2021. She studied at University of History and Philology in Tirana, Albania, and has a master’s degree in Education. She worked as a history teacher in Albania before coming to the U.S. Before coming to Park West, Dile worked at Magnolia Day Care and as an after-school teacher for children who have autism.  She loves nature and walking in the park.  She also likes cooking and eating healthy! Dile has been working on her Montessori certification.

Fella Zitouni joined Central Park Montessori in 2024. Originally from the south of France, she moved to NYC as an au pair. During this time she developed a passion for education and working with children. With over seven years of experience with kids of different ages, she decided to pursue a career as a teacher. She is fluent in French and English and can hold conversations in Spanish. In her free time, she practices her passion for cooking and loves trying out new activities, from ice skating and self-defense classes to karaoke, painting, and cooking workshops. Fella has her Montessori certification and is pursuing a Montessori Inclusion credential in the fall. 

Fenny Igirisa had been a dedicated and loyal babysitter/nanny for over a decade before joining Park West Montessori School. This will be her second year working in the Green Room. She was born in a small village, Cimahi, Indonesia and came to the United States in 1988. Fenny is fluent in both English and Indonesian —she eagerly teaches her own children to speak Indonesian with her. In addition, she passionately cooks Indonesian cuisine in her spare time. Fenny graduated from Plaza College with an associate degree in Business Administration. She is passionate about working with young children and is amazed by their growth and development.

Fitri Salampessy is a dedicated educator having received her bachelor's in biology from Hunter College while teaching children for over 8 years. Fitri enjoys contributing to a supportive and engaging Montessori classroom environment. Fitri is fluent in both Bahasa Indonesia and English. 

Gemma Conanan  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 over 30 years. 

Giusmeri Cleeve Quinn joined Central Park Montessori in the fall of 2025.   Prior to coming to Twin Parks, Guismeri worked as an assistant teacher at the Bilingual Nest, a Spanish/English program in NYC.  Originally from Venezuela, Guismeri enjoys being a part of the infant toddler team.

Hannah Matte is a passionate educator who grew up in the Bronx. Her teaching journey began with a degree in Speech Pathology & Audiology, and a minor in Early Childhood Education from Lehman College. During that time, Hannah also spent ten years working for the First Tee, a non-profit organization teaching children life skills and golf skills. In 2019, Hannah’s passion for teaching led her to South Korea, where she taught English to middle schoolers for four years. While there, she also assisted students with debate skills and TOEFL. In addition to being passionate about teaching, Hannah also enjoys photography, learning new languages, traveling, and is so excited to become a part of the team!

Ilirjana (Jana) Zogu ( 9:45-6pm) joined Riverside Montessori School in September 2022.  She is a certified Montessori (AMS) Infant Toddler Teacher.  Jana is originally from Albania and worked as an assistant teacher at the Family School in NYC for four years before joining Riverside.

January Guerrero joined the Park West Montessori community in September 2015. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from St. Paul’s College of Manila in the Philippines. January has an AMS infant-toddler credential,  and is enrolled in a Master of Science program in Early Childhood Education and Special Education (Birth-2nd Grade) at Touro University. January is very patient, giving and gentle, and loves working with the toddler community.

Jackie Samuels joined the team at Riverside Montessori School in September 2024. Originally from Montreal, she graduated from Bates College in Maine with a B.A. in Psychology and Education in the Spring of 2024. Throughout her four years at Bates, she acted as a student-teacher in the Lewiston Public School system, collaborating with teachers to provide additional support to students. Jackie is currently in the process of obtaining her Montessori certification at the Early Childhood level. Jackie is currently pursuing her Montessori certification.

Jessenia Cedeno joined Twin Parks Montessori in 2018. She is an Infant-Toddler Montessori certified teacher with over 25 years of experience. She develops the Montessori environment  through many activities and includes teaching young children movement (dancing) and Spanish language. She believes these activities help create an environment that supports and encourages a love for learning from a young age.

Jocelyn Cruz joined Central Park Montessori School in the fall of 2025. She began her career in education in 2015 and became an Early Childhood Educator in 2016. She began teaching in a Montessori environment in 2019 and has been engaged with the pedagogy ever since. She has taught at Preschool of America, The Learning Experience, Little Thinkers Montessori, and Luria Academy, and is thrilled to be joining the Twin Parks team. In addition to being an Early Childhood Educator, Jocelyn has taught classes in music, drama, yoga, and leadership to children of all ages. She will be receiving her AMS credential as an Infant-Toddler guide in 2026. Jocelyn is also a Somatic Wellness professional, Ayurvedic Health Counselor, 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher, Thai Yoga Massage and Bodywork Practitioner, Sound Healer, and a classically trained singer and musician.

Kairis Reinoso (Assistant Teacher 9:45-6pm) joined Riverside Park Montessori in 2025. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and brings over six years of experience working with children, combined with a strong background in leadership and international event management. With a Law Degree, a Master’s in International Business, and experience facilitating educational workshops in NYC, Kairis is passionate about fostering respect, creativity, and confidence in every child.

Kassandra Torres is the lead teacher in the Green B classroom. She joined our school community in 2018 where she has been working in the infant room. She completed her Montessori training in 2024, and has an infant toddler credential. Kassandra is from Brooklyn and is a third-generation Park West teacher—her mother and grandmother both worked at Park West

Khali Nix has been a part of the Twin Parks community since 2022.  Khali worked both in the classroom with children of all ages, as an after school teacher, as well as a family child care provider. Khali loves all areas of learning, but especially art, and Khali’s art can be seen around the school and classroom. Her creativity enhances the environment.  Khali has a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts in Fabric Styling from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and has an Infant toddler Montessori credential. 

Laura Torres joined Park West in 2025 as a part time teacher. Prior to joining our team, Laura worked with children at a Head Start program since 2007. She loves working with young children and looks forward to her continued work here in the Twin Parks community. 

Leah Perkel graduated from Skidmore College in May 2024 with a BA in Psychology and a minor in French Language Studies. During her time in college, she was an assistant teacher at Greenberg Daycare and Early Childhood Center. Leah worked as a camp counselor and village coordinator at Frost Valley YMCA in 2019, 2022, and 2023, where she supervised counselors and a cabin of 9-12-year-olds, and planned weekly activities. In the spring of 2023, she studied abroad in Montpellier, France, interning at a local middle school and assisted in teaching English to students. While there, she also volunteered at a café and play center for young children, teaching English. After graduating in 2024, she worked at the Charlton School in Upstate New York. She spent the last year working full-time as a teaching assistant. Her hobbies include French, singing, reading, and running.

Leksi Bunnell joined Central Park Montessori School in 2021. She is an AMS infant-toddler credentialed teacher.  She is originally from a small town in Pennsylvania, and moved to New York after high school to pursue culinary arts, which led her to win Food Network’s “Chopped” cooking competition! While being a chef, she led a full career as a nanny for 9 years. When not cooking or caring for family, she loves to spend her free time camping and hiking, swimming, and vacationing. Leksi has a daughter, Scarlett, who attends Central Park Montessori.

Lena Everke is thrilled to join the Central Park Montessori staff this summer as a substitute and assistant teacher. In the past, Lena has worked as a teaching assistant at the Brick Church School and as a Camp Counselor at Marymount School and has volunteered at Harlem Academy. Currently, Lena is an honors student at Bard College studying Spanish and Written Arts. Additionally, she works as a Content Creator for the Bard College Admissions team and co-hosts a radio show. In her free time, she loves playing the guitar, reading, and writing poetry. Lena hopes to eventually be an occupational therapist, interpreter, editor, or teacher. 

Leydy Patino joined the infant teaching community in 2024.  She also has experience babysitting and volunteering at The New Jewish Home. Leydy is excited to join the infant Extended Day team again this year!

Margarita Gutierrez was born in New Jersey and raised in Mexico. Growing up she found herself always helping her mom and family with their children. It was from this early age she developed a love and interest for childcare. Throughout her high school years, she has cultivated a deep interest in child development, art, music, and different cultural backgrounds. Margarita did some community work at her church working with infants and toddlers from all different backgrounds. She feels that this experience has not only enhanced her academic skills and given her some tools to work with children, but also instilled in her a strong work ethic, determination, and a commitment to excellence. She is very happy to be a member of the Twin Parks Montessori community.

Mariana Poenaru has been with Park West Montessori since 2006, working with Early Childhood, Toddler and Infant students. 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.

Maki Rodriguez has been part of our school community since 2016. She has worked both with the Early Childhood children at our Central Park Campus, and for the past three years as a late day teacher at our Park West Campus. Maki is also a paraprofessional at PS6 in NYC. Maki has a bachelor's degree from Hunter College.

Meghan Wilmott, M.A. (she/her) is thrilled to be joining the Central Park Twin Parks campus this summer. She sings and plays acoustic guitar, and enjoys songwriting. Meghan speaks both English and Spanish and values multilingual musical experiences in the classroom. Meghan has a bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Music Studies from Berklee College of Music (online) and a Master's in Early Childhood Education from Teacher's College, Columbia University. She has worked in several early childhood programs and is excited to be teaching music to our children.  She also volunteers with Broadway Hearts, providing musical experiences for children in hospitals through singing and guitar, and hopes to foster a lifelong love of both music and learning in her students.

Migela Cara was born in Albania. She graduated from the University of Tirana, with a master's degree in teaching, and will finish her Infant Toddler Montessori credential in June 2026. Migela spent 10 years as a primary school teacher. During this period, she earned her teaching license and enjoyed ongoing training. Migela’s little boy, Brian, will be joining our toddler community! She likes to spend her free time with her family and enjoys reading, going for walks and listening to music. She is excited to welcome each child with love, and will offer them her best. Working with children has always been a great pleasure for Migela. 

Miosotty Hernandez joined Riverside in March 2022. She has a passion for working with children and helping them become independent and loves learning.  Miosotty is bilingual in English and Spanish. She has a daughter who attends Riverside. 

Mirsada Myftija joined Central Park Montessori School in 2022. She is originally from Albania where she worked for more than ten years, primarily as a lower elementary lead teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education with a focus on psychology.  Mirsada also has a Montessori credential as an Infant Toddler teacher.  Additionally, she was a nanny for young children for over two years.  During her free time, she enjoys visiting museums and taking walks with her husband and two children.

Nayely Molina joined Central Park Montessori school in 2026 as a substitute teacher. She is currently a junior at Lehman College majoring in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Sciences. She is enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with children in a Montessori setting. In her free time, she enjoys reading, journaling, dancing, and creating new recipes.

Ora Caperton joined Twin Parks in 2026. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Pomona College. She was a Jumpstart Team Leader and Corps Member for all four years of college and has worked in elementary school classrooms for five years. In her spare time, she enjoys running, reading, and spending time outside.

Paola Castillo has been a part of the Twin Parks community since 2004.  She has worked with children 3 months to five years old. She attended Lehman College for two years and holds her Infant/Toddler Montessori certification from the American Montessori Society. She is also fluent in English and Spanish. Paola enjoys sharing her passion for music and art with the children, especially her children, Zoe, Chloe, and Lukas (Central Park graduates)!

Paola Leon joined Twin Parks for the 2024 summer camp program.  Originally from Puerto Rico, she has always had a passion for working with children, especially those with neurodevelopmental disorders. She holds a Montessori Certification, a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a minor in Special Education, along with two Masters Degrees—one in Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders and another in School Psychology. 

Paula Urrego Manjarres (Co-Lead 7:45-3:45) was born and raised in Colombia. She holds a B.A. in Philology and Languages from the National University of Colombia. Since 2016, she has worked with young children in different educational institutions, including a German kindergarten and a Montessori-inspired school in her country. Paula moved to NYC in 2022 joined Riverside in September 2023, completing her Early Childhood Montessori certification in Spring 2025.

Paula Ortiz began working at Twin Parks in 2022, first as a substitute and then full time as an assistant.  She is nurturing and loving to our infants! Paula has worked with young children for 21 years. Paula enjoys art, reading, and nature. She loves learning about children’s development and participates in workshops whenever possible. Paula’s sister Yesenia is also a TPMS assistant teacher. 

Pricila Jimenez Joined the Park West Team in 2025 as a part time late day teacher. She loves supporting the infants in the Orange room. She is working on her degree in Health Information Technology. 

Ruth Gonzalez joined Central Park Montessori in 2023. Ruth has spent many years taking care of young children and especially enjoys caring for infants. Ruth has two daughters and her youngest is enrolled at Central Park!

Sakinah Mahri joined Park West in 2021 as an assistant in the Infant program.. Prior to that she was an assistant teacher for 10 years, both in the classroom at the El-Behr Islamic School and at the Hikmah Saturday School in Long Island City, NY. She studied at the Akademi Bahasa Asing (Academy of Foreign Languages) in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Sandy Servedio joined Riverside Montessori in 2007. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Kutztown University, Pennsylvania and NYS Certification. She is currently working on completing her Master’s degree in Early Childhood education.  Sandy is a certified Montessori (AMS) Infant Toddler teacher.  Sandy has worked in all age groups at Riverside Montessori School.  She is an avid runner and has completed several marathons. 

Sonia Hoyos was at Park West for the past two years before moving to the Central Park campus in fall 2025.  Sonia holds an infant toddler Montessori credential.  Before moving to the United States from Colombia, South America, she obtained a bachelor's degree in the area of health, and a master's degree in safety and quality of care. She enjoys working with infants and loves teaching Spanish to children under 2 years of age. She spent time as a Spanish teacher to young children, working one-on-one and in small groups. She loves art, nature and caring for the environment.

Tania Aristizabal is currently pursuing her AMS Infant/Toddler Montessori teacher certification. With over six years of experience working with children, she is passionate about fostering young children’s growth and development. She is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish, and enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking and river visits. She also loves expressing creativity through art, which she brings into her work with children.

Tiffany Lewis joined Central Park in 2018. She has a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science from Mercy College. Tiffany also has a master’s from Mercy and will be certified to teach Pre-k through 2nd grade. She has been working with children for more than eight years. Tiffany enjoys exercising, discovering new places in the city, and spending time with her family. Her daughter is a Twin Parks graduate!

Tina Scales joined Riverside Montessori School for the 2024-25 school year! Tina has over 20 years of experience caring for and teaching young children, and has completed training specific to early childhood and infants. Tina is finishing her Infant Toddler Montessori credential this June.  A native New Yorker with a profound respect for the child-centered approach that Montessori education embodies, she is eager to contribute her expertise in creating a nurturing environment where children are encouraged to follow their natural curiosity and develop a lifelong love for learning.

Ueda Mesi Ueda (way-da) started at Park West in 2025. Prior to coming to Park West, Ueda was a toddler teacher at a family daycare in Brooklyn. Ueda studied Albanian literature at Luigj Gurakugu University in Shkoder, Albania. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, or going to the park with her children. 

Valeriia Alexeeva is credentialed as a Montessori teacher for children 0-3 years old.  She has a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics and is currently enrolled in an Early Childhood Master's program at College of Mount St. Vincent. Prior to her work at Guidepost, Valeriia was a teacher in an Early Childhood program in Guangdong, China, and worked as a tutor in Moscow. 

Vida Myftiu is an assistant toddler teacher and is originally from Albania. Vitorina has a bachelor's and master's degree in Counseling Psychology, and will begin her Montessori teacher education in the fall.  She came to the US in 2019, and has been working with children for the past 5 years. She loves working with children and is excited to be spending the summer at Central Park! 

Wendolyn Anderson is an AMS Infant-Toddler certified Montessori teacher and has worked at all three locations of the Twin Parks network, beginning in 2007. Wendolyn has also held a lead teacher position at Williamsburg Montessori School. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Ashworth College. In her free time, Wendolyn enjoys spin class.

Yesenia Ortiz joined Park West in 2007. She has an Associate Degree from Boricua College. She has many years of experience working with young children and is the proud mother of three.  Her mother, Maria, worked at Park West for fifteen years. Yesenia enjoys music---especially jazz and Spanish music.

Yoko Akashi worked as a PreK teacher at Stuyvesant High Montessori for 2 years prior to coming to Twin Parks.  She was also a theater teacher, and has a bachelor’s degree in theater and sociology.

Zongqin (Zun-chin) Yang joined Central Park in 2011. She graduated from Beijing Normal University majoring in Early Childhood Education in 2000. Since then, she has been a teacher in China, Indiana, Texas and New York. She received her Early Childhood Montessori certification from Dallas Montessori Academy in 2011.  Zongqin earned her Master’s in Early Childhood Education and Special Education at Concordia College and holds her New York State Certification in Early Childhood and Special Education.  Zongqin has experience teaching art and movement activities in our Enrichment Program.  In her free time, Zongqin enjoys traveling, gardening and spending time with her family.

Our Administrative Staff

Dr. Susan Kambrich, Executive Director, has been a Montessori educator since 1989. Prior to coming to Twin Parks Montessori Schools, she was Head of School at Woodland Hill Montessori School in Rensselaer, NY for 20 years.

Susan began her career as a teacher. She taught in the Lower Elementary program as Head Teacher at the Montessori School of Albany from 1995-2000.  While at MSA, Susan also served as Elementary Education Coordinator and Teacher Board Representative. Susan also taught as an Upper Elementary teacher at Hudson Montessori School in Hudson, Ohio, and as a Primary teacher at Woodland Montessori School in Madison, Wisconsin. She has taught public school kindergarten and a toddler program, and taught at a Montessori summer program at Fairbanks Montessori in Alaska. Susan has a Master of Education degree in Early Childhood Education from Kent State University, a certificate of advanced studies as School Building Leader from the College of Saint Rose, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership from Sage Colleges. Susan trained to be a Montessori teacher at Washington Montessori Institute in Washington, DC. She is AMI Montessori certified to teach ages 6-12 and AMS certified as a Montessori Administrator.

Susan has served on several boards including NYSAIS, American Montessori Society, the HVCC Teacher Education Advisory, and the Albany Institute of History and Art. She has presented at regional and national Montessori conferences and serves on Accreditation Teams for Middle States of Colleges and Schools, NYSAIS, and AMS. Susan has also been on the faculty for CME|NY’s Administrator Course. Susan and her husband Jim have two grandsons, and their daughters Caroline and Katie were Montessori students through middle school.

Candace La Douceur joined Riverside in 2006 as Educational Director and oversees admissions and exmissions. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from SUNY and a Master’s Degree from St. John’s University and holds NYS N-6 Permanent Certification. Candace is also Montessori Certified and taught for over ten years in a NYC Montessori school. Her experience also includes teaching for a Montessori Teacher Education Program and various other educational administrative roles.

Ellen Wengen is passionate about Montessori and Early Childhood education in her work as an educator. Ellen was a teacher at Park West for 11 years, working with the 3-6 age group. In addition to classroom experience, Ellen also taught after school classes and was a camp supervisor. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Birth-Grade 2 Education from SUNY Oneonta, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching with a Montessori major from the College of New Rochelle. Ellen has her Montessori credential in Early Childhood and is NYS certified as a Birth- grade 2 teacher. 

Lauren Haberman joined the Twin Parks Montessori team in 2024. Previously, she has worked in the administrative office and as an assistant teacher in the Pine Room and Chestnut Room during summer sessions. She loves children and is very passionate about teaching and education. She received her bachelor's in economics from Columbia University in 2018 and her master’s in real estate from NYU in 2022. Since then, she has worked in both real estate and office administration. She is excited to be a part of the Montessori community and work with the children and families at Twin Parks. Outside of work, Lauren loves reading, exercising, and baking! 

Matti Tuuri was a beloved teacher at Central Park Montessori for nine years prior to going to West Side Montessori.  Matti rejoined Central Park Montessori in 2022 as the Education Director. Matti has an American Montessori Society credential in Early Childhood, a NY state teaching license, a master’s in education, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership.  Matti was a Montessori child herself and her mother ran a Montessori program in Michigan. Her son, Finn, attends Central Park Montessori. Matti and her husband Andrew have two other sons too- Teddy and Winston who were also Twin Parks students! 

Siri Sigge joined Central Park Montessori in 2024 as our Administrative Coordinator. Siri started her career working as a substitute teacher in her hometown in Sweden. She then earned her Bachelor degree in Science of Nursing at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Sweden in 2014. Siri has spent most of her career working within the healthcare field as a Registered Nurse in Sweden. She is very excited to be a part of Central Park's learning environment.

Natasha Gordon joined Riverside in 2022 as our Administrative Coordinator.  Natasha previously worked in the tourism industry, working as the office manager at Gray Line New York Tours.  Natasha is also active in community gardening and is working on getting her certificate in horticulture from the New York Botanical Garden. In addition to gardening, Natasha enjoys running and being outdoors.   Natasha has an Associate degree in Legal Assistant Studies from NY City College of Technology, and in Travel and Tourism from Taylor Business Institute in NYC.  Natasha is originally from Trinidad and came to NYC when she was a teenager. 

Jeanny Jorge joined the Twin Parks community in 2017 as a Lead Toddler Teacher at the Riverside campus. In 2019, she joined the Park West campus as Director of Admissions. She has her Master's in Early Childhood Special and Bilingual Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her New York State teaching license (Birth-2nd Grade) in general and special education, and her Montessori credentials at the Infant/Toddler and Early Childhood level. She has been part of the Early Childhood field for over 20 years working in various school settings in different roles in NYC. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and three children, two were Twin Parks students! 

Jim Gaines joined Central Park Montessori in 2022. He began his education as a Montessori child in Europe, where he also learned to speak French. After receiving his BA Degree from Vassar College, Jim moved to California and earned a Multiple Subject Clear Teaching Credential. Ten years in the classroom were followed by school leadership roles, including heading the Resurrection Episcopal Day School (REDS) in New York City, and the Terra Linda Montessori School in Marin County, CA. After successfully managing his family's business, Jim turned his attention to business development, communications, and marketing in schools, and for 15 years has served as the Admissions Director and Director of Marketing at schools in California and New York. He lives on Long Island’s North Shore with his wife, Terryl, and enjoys playing and listening to music, golf, movies, and travel. Jim’s most rewarding role is being a stepdad to Ian (19) and Lila (17).

Judith Kineke Judy 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, Judy worked in finance. She received a BA in Music from Oberlin College and has sung with various choral groups throughout the city. 

Typical Daily Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Summer Program