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.

Teo joined the Summit Montessori School community in July of 2018. Prior to joining Summit she was a Sales Support Administrator with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. There she managed all office administration tasks for residential and some commercial transactions, handled data entry, designed and distributed marketing materials, and juggled the needs of over 50 realtors. Prior to her time at Coldwell Banker Teo worked as a Professional Development Training Assistant at the Walker Home and School in Needham. There, in addition to doing general administrative tasks, she also organized professional development and orientation sessions for staff. Teo has served as a legal assistant for a Real Estate Law Firm and as a finance administrative assistant for a software company. She loves technology and the variety that working in a school setting provides.

Nancy has been teaching Montessori Elementary students for 23 years in Colorado and Massachusetts. She is drawn to Montessori because it encourages children to learn through their curiosity of the world around them. She has also worked as a Montessori consultant. Before becoming a Montessori teacher she worked as an Outdoor Educator in experiential education. She earned her B.S. degree in Outdoor Education from Ithaca College and her AMS 6-12 Elementary credential from CMTE/NY. Nancy is a parent of two Montessori children.

Brandon started his career in the performing arts. He has performed in circuses, in theaters big and small, fairs, festivals, cruise ships, and hospitals. Eager to bring his energy and creativity into elementary classrooms, he pursued his degree in education and his Massachusetts teaching credential. After teaching third grade in a public school, he was eager to find a more engaging and creative environment for learners.  He discovered the Montessori philosophy, and immediately began the certification training with the METTC program in Lexington, MA. He is thrilled to have joined the Summit community in 2018, as it is a perfect fit for his teaching philosophy and talents.

When he is not teaching, Brandon enjoys playing his upright bass in the local bluegrass community. He can also be found walking on stilts greeting the fans at Fenway Park during the baseball season.
 

Tammy Katzeff graduated from Clark University with her B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature. She has been teaching Spanish to children for 22 years, both at independent schools and privately. She created the Spanish program at three independent schools in Massachusetts. Her passion is teaching and instilling a love for learning new languages.  Tammy also has a pet sitting business in which she cares for all types of animals, including chickens, horses, and any other animal you might have as a pet. She feels lucky to be working with children and animals every day.  Tammy was a Spanish teacher at Summit in the past, and she is very excited to be back!

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.    

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".

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.