Summit’s School Nurse, Susan Ackerman, has two bachelor’s degrees. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Franklin and Marshall College with a major in psychology in 1980. She returned to school to study nursing after spending many years working with a volunteer ambulance corps. In 1992, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Arizona State University. Since graduating from nursing school, Susan has worked with people of all ages in a variety of nursing settings. She particularly enjoys working with children. In the school setting, Susan is interested in developing a strong health education program for the classrooms as well as assisting ill children. Outside of school, Susan has been a strong advocate for students with special needs and their families. She is active in the annual Greater Boston Walk for Autism Speaks. She is also an artist who enjoys working in a variety of media. Susan has built furniture and done bronze casting, but she is currently exploring the world of art quilts.

Monica Barbosa has joined Summit from Santa Monica, CA where she was the owner and director of a childcare center.  Monica provides daily lunch coverage and works in the Upstairs AfterCare program.  

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. As the voice on the phone, Louise also manages the website, edits the Monday Update, and coordinates a variety of administrative functions for Summit.

Hiral is excited to join the Summit community. She earned her AMS Early Childhood credential from NEMTEC and has worked for 12 years in the Montessori education system. “The freedom given to the child to explore a new concept using concrete materials at his/her own pace” is what attracted Hiral to the Montessori philosophy. Before earning her AMS credential she taught math and computers to students in India. She feels that a student’s joy of learning depends on how the subject is introduced to him/her. Hiral enjoys every moment spent with the young minds nurturing their curiosity and quest of learning. In her free time, she loves exploring the beauty of nature by going on hikes, taking long scenic drives, and capturing some glorious sunrises in her lens. She enjoys reading books and listening to music. “Live in the moment at the fullest” is her life motto.

Andrea has great enthusiasm for teaching and learning. In 2011, Andrea was an artist in residence at the Riverbend Montessori School. She has taught art classes at the Danforth Museum School, and the Cultural Arts Alliance in Hopkinton, where she served on the Board of Directors. She has many years of art teaching experience in the Worcester and Hudson Public Schools where she trained student teachers and was Art Dept. Facilitator. Andrea operates a summer art program and gives lessons in her home studio. Andrea is excited to be a part of the Summit Montessori learning community. She enjoys nurturing the natural curiosity in children, guiding them in exploring the art process to find their own creativity. Andrea is a professional mixed media artist.

Jackie has spent a lifetime learning, practicing, writing, teaching, and performing music. As a Berklee College of Music student and administrative staff member for over 10 years, Jackie has a genuine drive for the teaching and appreciation of music. During her first year at Summit she embraced the Montessori philosophy and is thrilled to begin her second year here. Jackie has begun the study of specific music methods such as Dalcroze, Eurhythmics, Orff, and Kodaly, in order to incorporate these important methods into her teaching style. Jackie thoroughly enjoys learning, honing, and applying her newfound materials into her lessons. In 2002, Jackie created "Minizicians", an original children's music program for the Community Music School in Leominster, MA. Jackie is a member of two children's bands, "Super Cool Beans" and "The Green Apple Kids". Jackie brings a true spirit and love for music and its importance to our chidlren in their daily lives. Jackie says "I have the best jo in the world, teaching one of the most enjoyable subjects to the most important and value members of our human race, our children".

Liz, an alumni parent, joined Summit in 2012 as an assistant teacher. In 2013 she decided to pursue her deep interest in the Montessori method and enrolled in the Northeast Montessori Institute. That year she served in Children’s House 3 as an assistant teacher/intern and worked in the After Care program. In June 2014 she completed her training and received her AMS credential. She is currently a Teacher in Children’s House 3. No stranger to Summit, Liz has been volunteering her time to coordinate the Box Tops for Education and recycling programs at Summit for over eight years. She previously worked as a Securities Law attorney at Sun Life Financial.

After working in both corporate and public accounting, Sherri pursued her interest in the field of education and joined Summit Montessori in 2003. She enjoys being active in independent school professional organizations. She has presented at a National Association of Independent Schools conference, served as a faculty member at the National Business Officer Association’s Summer Institute, and has worked as a consultant to independent schools. In 2011, Sherri was awarded the Will Hancock Unsung Hero Award which is awarded by the National Business Officers Association to top independent school business leaders based on nominations by Heads of School and Boards of Trustees.

Katrina O’Gahan joins CH1 in September 2017 as Co-Teacher after completing the major portion of the academic phase of her teacher training at Northeast Montessori Teacher Training Institute this past summer.  After working in our Children’s House and Beginner classrooms as a substitute teacher and lunch helper last year, Katrina impressed the administration and other teachers at Summit with her natural manner, her intelligent responses to children, her ability to maintain a positive and calm demeanor in a wide range of situations, and her ability to “read” the room and notice in great detail what children were doing and how their personalities were shining through. She is able to redirect children’s behaviors in a positive and productive way.

Katrina will complete her internship under the supervision of CH1 teacher Lumpoon Sungkharom. 

Katrina brings organizational skills from her years of work as an office and retail manager; she has been a personnel supervisor and has run her own costume design business. Katrina is a gymnast, an amazing artist, and a seamstress. She feels that her years as a stay-at-home mom have cultivated in her a deep love of the child and of each child’s unique gifts to the world. She wrote:

 In the Montessori Method, I see a method that appreciates diverse personalities and their unique learning trajectories, a method that supports children so that they can become confident, caring, considerate stewards of our society and planet. I believe not only in supporting the child but supporting the community that supports that child, because harmony fosters harmony.

Mary Jo Rett has taught music at the Sunrise and the Silver Spruce Montessori Schools. She has taught Pre-K through 8th grade music for 8 years at Our Lady of the Valley Regional School in Uxbridge, MA. She is an experienced accompanist and director of musical stage productions. 

Lumpoon fell in love with Montessori after observing her friend’s
Montessori-trained children. She found their way of thinking, behaving, and
their sense of self amazing. And after observing their classroom
environment, she decided to pursue a Montessori education. 

Lumpoon earned her AMS Early Childhood credentials from NEMTEC and
has worked for 14 years in the Montessori education system. 

Lumpoon enjoys spending time with children and creating environments
that help children reach their highest potential. Maria Montessori’s words
inspire Lumpoon. “This then is the first duty of an educator: to stir up life but
leave it free to develop” ~ Maria Montessori. Lumpoon believes a child’s
fullest potential is reached through emotional health, mental health, and
physical health.

In Lumpoon’s free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, learning
about different cultures, trying new things, and creating new materials to
use in her classroom.

Beth has been involved in early childhood education since 2000. Starting as an assistant teacher at a private preschool and later moving to the Goddard School. She particularly enjoys observing children in the early years when they experience such great growth in personal development and independence. She enjoys watching them move through their environment exploring, manipulating and learning by doing. Beth’s interest in the Montessori method and approach has grown in the last few years and she is excited to join the Summit community and the Beginner’s classroom.

Pam Warren joins us this year as our Orton Gillingham Reading Support Teacher.  Pam completed her OG training at the Carroll School in 2010 and has subsequently worked as a private tutor and as a language and reading support teacher/tutor in the Boston Public Schools and at Bedford High School. She is a former board member of Kingsley Montessori School, where her daughters attended through the elementary grades.  Pam is passionate about helping all children succeed, giving them the chance to build confidence and advocate for themselves.