FaculTY

Luckshi Adikari

Children's House Head Teacher
ladhikari@summitmontessori.org
English Teachers College, Sri Lanka, B Ed
American International College M. Ed.
Woodlands Montessori Center, Sri Lanka
AMI Training

Summit is a big step from Luckshi's traditional Sri Lankan education but her middle school language teacher Mrs. Wijesinghe inspired Luckshi and along with Maria Montessori's The Absorbent Mind convinced her to join the profession. The tactile Montessori math materials continue to be her favorite teaching tool. An avid badminton player and amazing cook, Luckshi values family and enjoys her trips to see her mother and father in Sri Lanka.

Jean Anderson

Lower Elementary Head Teacher
janderson@summitmontessori.org
University of Bridgeport, BA
University of New Mexico, MA

Northeast Montessori Insititute,

Center for Montessori Teacher Education
AMS Training

Jean Anderson may hold the record for most time spent in the classroom outside of school hours. She is dedicated to bringing best practices into the Montessori curriculum. The clarity and logic of the math materials stand out in Jean's mind as a symbol of just how effective Montessori learning can be. Jean weaves her skills and love of gardening, reading and writing stories into works and lessons. Her students follow by example to seek the unique, she has been known to use a whoopee cushion to during a presentation on the earth's creation. A regular yoga practice helps her balance classroom and individual student priorities. Two important influences in her teaching life were her junior high school English teacher and Paula Polk Lillard author of Montessori: A Modern Approach.

Jesse Cohen

Music Teacher

jcohen@summitmontessori.org

Berklee College of Music, BA

Kimberly Hand

Upper Elementary Head Teacher
khand@summitmontessori.org
University of Rhode Island, BA
AMS Training

Kim Hand came to Montessori education after deciding to make a career change following the births of her two daughters (now ages 15 and 17). She returned to college and received her state certification to teach grades 1 through 6. Deciding to specialize in Montessori education, Kim went on to achieve teacher certification for ages 6 through 12 from the American Montessori Society. She has been a Montessori teacher for 11 years, the last 3 as the Upper Elementary teacher at Summit. She continues to be impressed by the enthusiasm Summit children demonstrate for learning and by the supportive, caring, friendly Summit community.

Charlene Harper
Physical Education Teacher
charper@summitmontessori.org

BA Wellesley College

Certified Master-Level Personal Trainer
NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer

NASM-Certified Personal Trainer
AFAA Group Exercise Certification
EMT-Basic

CPR/AED Certified

Tammy Katzeff

Spanish Teacher

tkatzeff@summitmontessori.org

Clark University, BA

University of Madrid

Stefanie Landgren
Director, Children's House

Literacy Program
slandgren@summitmontessori.org
Bryant University, BS
Salem State, M. Ed

National Center for Montessori Training New England,
AMS Training

A trained Montessori teacher for eight years, Stefanie joined the Summit team in August of 2006. Before coming to Summit, Stefanie taught at Harborlight Montessori School in Beverly, MA for four years, where she is now a current member of the Board of Trustees. Stefanie is the Director of the Children's House program at Summit, as well as a Lead Teacher in Children's House One, and the Coordinator of the Kinderarten Literacy Program. Stefanie is a firm believer in the Montessori philosophy of education and learning. The hands-on materials, approach to teaching, and respect for each individual child's learning style are what helps to make Montessori such a wonderful way to learn. Stefanie's oldest child Joseph is a current student in Children's House Two, and her daughter Julia will be joining her brother in a few short years!

Edith Loring-Thomas

Art Teacher

eloringthomas@summitmontessori.org
Tufts University, BS
Boston Museum School
Fine Arts, Florence Italy

Elise Mostello

Upper Elementary Teacher

emostello@summitmontessori.org

Stonehill College, BA

Elise’s high school teacher Mr. Cleary made learning fun and history interesting, turning her into an avid lover of what became her college major. Taking that passion and spirit into the classroom, she once dressed up as Abraham Lincoln on his birthday! When she is not impersonating the 16th President, Elise enjoys photography, and movies (Pride and Prejudice is her favorite movie and book). Since she was thirteen, Elise has been descending into the ocean depths and holds five different SCUBA certifications. She and her dad have provided lobster for the family table from scuba adventures off the Massachusetts coast. When on the ascent, Elise has scaled summits in New England, as well as, the Blue Hills of Australia.

Andrea Pellegrino

Children's House Teacher
apellegrino@summitmontessori.org

Salve Regina University, BA
New England Montessori Teacher Education Center, Newton, MA, AMS Training

Nancy Schlussel

Lower Elementary Teacher
nschlussel@summitmontessori.org

Ithaca College, BS

Center for Montessori Teacher Education,

New Rochelle NY, AMS Training

Nancy has AMS certification in Upper and Lower Elementary education from the Center for Montessori Teacher Education and over 10 years of experience in Upper and Lower Elementary classrooms. Nancy joined the Summit faculty in August 2009 following her family's relocation from Colorado. When not working in the classroom with her young students, Nancy continues to serve as an instructor to future Montessori teachers at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies where she has been on staff for 6 years. She believes deeply that giving a child a lesson with love and enthusiasm truly allows them to follow their curiosity, ultimately helping them learn the concepts and philosophy behind the lesson. When a child learns independently in a Montessori classroom they develop the discipline and self-directed nature needed to succeed in their academic career and in life after school.

Marian Wallace

Children's House Head Teacher
mwallace@summitmontessori.org
Connecticut College, BA

Endicott College, M Ed

Northeast Montessori Institute,
AMS Training

If you ask Marian for the most influential book on education she would recommend Montessori Today by Paula Polk Lillard. It reveals the genius behind Montessori and why it just makes sense. A fan of the classics, music, movies and classic rock, Marian has watched Notorious more than a few times. Her favorite Montessori material, the Bank Game makes math operations so understandable. Marian's highest summit: having three boys within 3.5 years.

Administration

Richard Eyster

Head of School

reyster@summitmontessori.org

University of Michigan, BA

Teachers College — Columbia University,

Masters of Education Administration

Richard H. Eyster, Head of School, began his

educational career when he turned 16 - signing on as an
Assistant in a Head Start program. A graduate of the

   University of Michigan Honors College with a Masters in
   Educational Administration from Teachers College,
   Columbia University, as well as a veteran of Montessori
   Leadership training at CMTE, Richard spent 36 years

working in leading independent schools in New York
City. In addition to his teaching (Lower School self-
contained classroom, English, Computer, and Mathematics), he served as Middle School Principal, Trustee, Director of Admissions, Department Chair, and Director of two summer day camps. Beyond his work in schools, Richard has worked to prepare more than 1500 young teachers for their introduction to the classroom. His recent book, Successful Classroom Management, published by Sourcebooks in the summer of 2010, is a featured selection of the National Association of Independent Schools.

Sherri Melamut, CPA

Assistant Head for Operations and Finance
smelamut@summitmontessori.org
Franklin & Marshall College, BA
Boston College, MBA
John Hopkins University, Masters Certificate in Education

Sherri joined Summit Montessori School in 2003. Prior to Summit, she worked in public accounting but developed an interest in the field of education through her volunteer work in her children's schools. She was a member of the first cohort of the Business Leadership in Independent Schools at Johns Hopkins University and received a graduate certirficate for completion of the program. She has presented at an NAIS conference on running a small business office. Sherri will be a member of the faculty at the National Business Officer Association's Summer Institute in June, 2010.

Louise Carroll

Assistant to the Head of School
lcarroll@summitmontessori.org
University of New Hampshire, BS

Louise came to Summit in 2009 after 12 years at a parochial school where she wore several hats - collecting tuition, serving as the IT person and managing fundraising and development. Working with Summit's administration and faculty, students and families has been rewarding, challenging and always changing. New to Montessori, the creative and committed faculty and the quality of the education received by the students of Summit have made her a vocal advocate.

Siobhan Mahaney

Director of Development
smahaney@summitmontessori.org

Emmanuel College, BA

New England Montessori Teacher Education

Center- Preprimary credential

Center for Montessori Teacher Education/NY-

Elementary 1 credential

AMS Training

Siobhan joined Summit Montessori School in

   January of 2009 beginning her administrative journey
   Siobhan taught at both the Children's House and Lower
   Elementary levels from 1980-2009. She has also been

a teacher trainer, a presenter at both national and
regional AMS conferences including an upcoming one

fall where she will present a children's writing work-

shop in San Diego, CA. Siobhan is on the Board of

Trustees at the Spellman Museum of Stamps and

and Postal History, volunteers at their events and

teaches classes for both children and teachers throughout the year. She shares her love of philately here at Summit with her stamp club. She also has an Explorations program for cooking after school, alternating classes for Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary students.

Susie Schainost

Director of Admissions
sschainost@summitmontessori.org

University of Nebraska

BS Elementary Education
Wichita State University
M Ed Education Administration

Susie, a native Midwesterner, enjoys welcoming families to Summit. A mother of graduates from

independent and Montessori schools, she easily

explains the life-long educational benefits from an

insider's perspective. She has spoken at numerous

conferences and in-services on the positive correlation

between fun in learning and test scores, brain-based

education, and learning differences. She loves

teaching literature (especially Edgar Allan Poe),

dancing and cooking creatively.

Susan Ackerman
Nurse

Franklin & Marshall College, BA
Arizona State University, BSN