Rebecca Crawford has served in the education non-profit sector for over 15 years as a teacher, administrator, and fundraiser. She first joined the Summit community in 2013 as a parent and later served on the Board of Trustees as Secretary and on the Development Committee. This work has inspired her tenure here and she enjoys watching her children flourish in a Montessori environment as well as inspiring families, friends, and alumni of the school to support Summit’s mission. Rebecca has worked at the USS Constitution Museum as the Manager of Academic and Family Programs, at First Parish in Framingham Unitarian Universalist as the Director of Religious Education, and at Citizen School as an Americorps Teaching Fellow and Campus Director. 

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.

Jean Anderson joined Summit in 2002. After teaching a 3-year cycle with children ages 3-6, she moved to the Lower Elementary classroom and has found a perfect match. She believes that the Montessori fundamentals that she taught in Children’s House have given her teaching the breadth and foundation for children’s transition into the more demanding curriculum of Lower Elementary. The clarity and logic of the math materials, in particular, 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. She believes that children and nature are intertwined and works to foster that link both inside and outside the classroom. Jean seeks out and celebrates the unique in the world and her individual students and inspires children to do the same. Yoga helps Jean balance the elements of her busy classroom and individual student priorities.

Janice fell in love with Montessori education while casually observing in an elementary class over 25 years ago. She was delighted at the independence of the students, and how they relished learning. She realized that the Montessori approach reflected her passion for global understanding and world travel, her commitment to the earth, and her vast curiosity about how the world works. Nurturing a child’s spirit, stretching their academic capacities and helping them become valued and responsive friends are all part of her work with children. She believes that laughter should be part of every day, along with making mistakes, having opportunities to get messy, and challenging yourself to go farther than you ever thought possible. She has been a Montessori presenter in the Claremont Center for Advanced Studies and the Seacoast Teacher Center. Outside of school, Janice pursues her interest in choral singing, camping, folkdancing, kayaking, writing and travel.

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.

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.

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.

Tyra managed a local children’s museum prior to pursuing a career as a Montessori teacher. She has over twenty years of experience working with children, seventeen of those in Montessori. Tyra is delighted to work with Summit’s dedicated, caring faculty and staff and truly believes that you learn something new every day. Tyra also believes strongly in volunteerism. She works with organizations that provide services and companionship to isolated elders, trains and socializes homeless dogs to help them become more adoptable at the MSPCA and visits with veterans. These experiences help Tyra “fill a bucket.”

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.    

Karen began her art studies at a young age, following through as art major/minor at Skidmore College. Armed with an education degree, Karen has been a classroom teacher for the past thirty-one years in New Jersey, England, and Massachusetts. She held summer positions as an art instructor for many years in a variety of settings, including a boarding school in Switzerland, at Shady Hill School in Cambridge, and nine years at the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln. Karen is thrilled to combine her strengths as a classroom teacher and art instructor at Summit Montessori. Her passions outside of the art room include calligraphy, weaving, teaching reading, and spending time with her family.

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".

 Jenn is a “Performer-Composer-Educator” who holds degrees in music (jazz studies and trumpet performance) from Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory.  She particularly focuses on ensembles in her teaching, and has led and developed ensembles at Beaver Country Day School, Natick Public Schools, and the Dedham School of Music, among others.  Jenn brings enthusiasm and great talent and energy with her into this position!