2011-2012 Faculty

Christopher Ackerman, , Elementary/Middle School Director: 2010 – present. Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Goddard College.  He is AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) trained and certified at the Primary, Elementary and Middle School levels, having attended Washington Montessori Institute (Primary training), Fondazione Centro Internazionale Studi Montessoriani in Bergamo, Italy (Elementary training) and NAMTA (North American Montessori Teacher Association)  in Cleveland, Ohio (Adolescent training). He has taught at every level, founded a Montessori school in Vermont and held a number of administrative positions, including Middle School Director at the Ruffing Montessori School in Ohio, Principal of a Montessori Charter School in Key West, FL and Middle School Designer/Curriculum Coordinator at River Valley Charter School in Newburyport, MA.

Shahida Ahmed, Children’s House Teacher: 2010 – present. Certified Nursing Assistance has been working with the elderly. OCCS certified,Lead Teacher, Pre-School Teacher,and Director 1. Graduated in Bachelors of Science in Home Economics. Certified Montessori Primary (Early Childhood) teacher since 1979. Worked at Winchester Montessori School, Montessori Edcure in Boston, Melrose Montessori School and her own facility for
23 years in Stoneham MA. Enjoys Arts and Crafts, Embroidery, Designing and
Continuing Education.

Evelyn Baratham, Children’s House Teacher: 2005 – present. Evelyn graduated from the Royal Music School in Great Britain and attended McMaster University in Canada. She has her Early Childhood Montessori certification. Evelyn was a Children’s House teacher at Oak Meadow Montessori School and Cambridge Montessori School. In addition, Evelyn has been a music teacher in Malaysia and Canada. She enjoys classical music, dancing, meditation and reading.

Susan Burns, Children’s House Director and Learning Services Coordinator: 1998-present. Sue is certified as a Montessori Infant Toddler and Early Childhood teacher and taught in ASM’s Children’s House for 5 years. She has a B.A. in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Human Development from Lesley University. Prior to coming to ASM, Sue taught at the Rockingham County Montessori School and was an owner of the Casa Dei Bambini Montessori School. Her interests include yoga, gardening and spending quality time with friends and family.

Jennifer Byam, Lower Elementary Teacher: 2007-present. Jennifer holds a B.S. and an M.A.T. in Early Childhood Education from Gordon College. She is currently enrolled in the Montessori Certification program. Jennifer has been a teaching assistant in the Hamilton-Wenham School District. She enjoys reading, listening to music and walking in nature.

Stephanie Caron, Upper Elementary Teacher: 2002-present. Stephanie holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and is currently working on her M.A. She has Montessori Certifications in Lower and Upper Elementary. Stephanie has worked at the Hill View Montessori Charter Public School and for five years in Early Intervention. Stephanie’s son attends ASM. She enjoys sports, fitness and nutrition.

Shirley Connelly, Children's House Teacher: 2010 – present. Shirley holds B.M. (Boston Conservatory of Music) and M.M.E. (University of Kansas) degrees and received her Montessori certification through Northeast Montessori. She has been a teacher in public and private schools, eighteen of those years as a teacher in the Montessori environment. 

Terry Cook, Physical Education Teacher: 2007 – present. Terry holds a B.S. in Health Science from the University of Utah and has been a CPT (Certified Personal Trrainer) with American College of Sport Medicine since 2004. She has been a summer camp program director at Brooks School, has held Athletic director/teacher positions at Hammonasset High School and Staples Elementary School in CT and has worked in an in-patient school program at Yale Psychiatric Institute.

Andrea Costa, Children's House Teacher: 2008 – present. Andrea holds a B.S. in Physical Education from the University of Paraiba(UFPB) Brazil. She received her Montessori 3-6 certification at the New England Montessori Education Center. Her interests include reading, traveling and snowboarding.

Christopher Dellea, Middle School Teacher: 2002 - present. Chris holds a B.A. in American Studies from Bradford College and is a Master’s candidate for Education and American Studies from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He completed the North American Montessori Teachers Association Adolescent training program in Ohio. Chris has worked in the Haverhill Public Schools. He is an avid reader and a collector and student of American vernacular music. His grandson graduated from ASM.

Susan Devine, Library Media Specialist: 2001-present. Suzie holds an M.S. in Library and Information Science: an M.A. and B.A. in French. She holds Massachusetts professional teaching certifications in: Library all levels, elementary teaching (K-8), (K-6), middle school (6-9) and Graduate Certificate in Media Literacy. Suzie has 30 hours of professional development in Montessori Children’s House methodology. She has taught in the Holliston, MA public schools.

Jolie Drury, Middle School Teacher: 2004-present. Jolie has a B.S. in Human Development/Family Studies from Lesley University. She taught in the Dover Public Schools in Dover, MA prior to becoming a member of the ASM community. In 2004, she joined Chris Dellea in the Middle School for five years before accepting a position in the Upper Elementary with Ardian Mici. In June of 2011, Jolie completed the Upper Elementary Montessori Teacher Training Program through the North American Montessori Center. This year, she has returned to teach in the Middle School. Jolie believes wholeheartedly in life-long learning and enjoys sharing this with her students, as well as with her own children.

Linda Edmands, Extended Day Teacher: 1987 – present. Linda holds a B.A. in Psychology from Keuka College. She received her Montessori 3-6 certification at the Northeast Montessori Institute. Linda leads the ASM Children’s House Summer Program. Her interests include gardening, nature, being with friends and reading.

Joan Ellis, Art Teacher: 1998-present. New England School of Design and Northeastern University, Joan specialized in Advertising Design and Marketing, holding a variety of positions including draftsman, Raytheon Co.: staff artist for an advertising agency: and packaging art director, Sweetheart Plastics. Her graphics design business, Bullfrog Studio, specialized in marketing campaigns, logo design and illustrations. She was an Artist-in-Residence in Andover schools, and a founder of The Mother Connection. Joan shares her unique interests and love of nature with ASM children in grades K-8. She loves traveling to unusual places, good food, solo camping, whitewater rafting, and her little red kayak.

Janice Goldstein, Ph.D., Psychologist: 2004 – present. Janice holds a Ph.D. from Boston College. She has a private practice in North Andover. At ASM, Janice consults with staff and parents about the learning needs of children.

Suzanne George Gonsalves, Music Teacher: 2007-present. Susanne holds a B.A. in Music from the New England conservatory and an M.A. in Music from the University of Southern California. She has taught music in Searsport, ME, Worcester and Cambridge. Susanne is a frequent lecturer at Tanglewood on Friday mornings during the summer. She has written lesson plans and content for the Boston Symphony Education Department’s web site. She lives in Taunton with her husband.

Yvonne Howard, Admissions Director: 1988 – present. Originally from England, Yvonne joined the staff as a Teaching Assistant and went on to be the ASM Receptionist and Administrative Assistant. She has been in admissions since 2004. Both of Yvonne’s sons are ASM alumni.

Susan Igoe, Special Services Tutor: 2008 to present. Susan holds a B.A. in Psychology/Sociology with a minor in Elementary Education from Merrimack College. She is also Wilson Reading certified. Before coming to ASM, Susan taught in the Andover Public schools and the Tewksbury Public Schools. Her interests include gardening and skiing, She and her husband have four children and many pets.

Eileen Jimenez, Spanish Teacher: 2011- present. Senora Jimenez, as her students know her, was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Massachusetts in 2009.  She has a B.A. in Psychology from Ramapo College of New Jersey and she will graduate in May 2012 with  a Master’s degree in Education at Framingham State University , specializing in English as a Second Language. She is passionate about languages and is fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian.

Elaine Keenan, Assistant Finance Director: 2007- present. Elaine has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Westfield State College. Her experience includes accounting, bookkeeping and auditing positions. Elaine enjoys tennis, family vacations and volunteering for events at her children’s schools in Andover.

Nancy Keenan, Lower Elementary Teacher: 2006 -present. She taught in Children's House One until joining the Lower Elementary team in 2010. She earned her Early Childhood
Teaching Credential through New England Montessori Teachers Education Center in Goffstown, NH. She is currently working toward her Lower Elementary certification.

Susan Kluver, Interim Head of School:  From 1993-2005, she was Head of Fayerweather Street School in Cambridge, MA. In the intervening years since leaving Fayerweather Street School ,she has specialized in helping schools going through leadership transitions by serving as an Interim leader. Her most recent Interim position was as Dean of the School for Children at Bank Street College of Education in NYC.  Dr. Kluver began her career in education as an ESL teacher in the Cambridge Public Schools, Follow Through Program.  She holds a B.A. with honors from Simmons College and an Ed.M and Ed.D. from the Graduate School of Education, Harvard University.

Anna Kritselis, Information Technology: 2008 - present. Ms. Kritselis worked in the private sector for 20 years in a variety of systems-related and management level positions. She graduated from West Chester University with a B.S. in Music Education and then from Northeastern University with a M.S. in Information Systems. She also provides IT consulting to various other Montessori schools, including Oak Meadow Montessori, Keystone, Pincushion Hill and Shrewsbury Montessori School.

Bill Knight, Custodian: 2009 - present.

Mary Litster, Support Services Tutor: 2005 - present. Mary holds a B.A. in Education form University of Massachusetts, Amherst, an M.Ed. in Special Needs from Lesley University and is Wilson certified. She has taught in the Needham and Hanover Public Schools.

Kelley Meade, Over noon Teacher: 2010 - present.

Ardian Mici, Upper Elementary Teacher: 2005 - present. Ardian holds a B.A. in Sociology, University of Trento, Italy, and a BEd in Italian, University of Tirana, Albania. He has an Elementary Diploma from TMI (6-12) and Early Childhood (3-6) and Specials Needs (6-12) Certificates. Ardian has also taught at Kingsley and Thacher Montessori Schools. His goal is to bring new energy to the workplace and be a valuable part of the team. As a sociologist, he is interested in what is happening in the world. As a Montessorian, he tries to follow and meet the needs of the child.

Sarah O’Brien, Lower Elementary Teacher: 2004-present. Sarah holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University. She has a Montessori Certification for Lower Elementary. Prior to coming to ASM, Sarah taught for three years at the Kingsley Montessori School and eight years at Pincushion Hill Montessori School. Sarah enjoys being a new mom and spending time with family and friends as well as scrapbooking.

Rebecca O’Hearn, Upper Elementary Teacher: 2001-present. Rebecca holds a B.S. in Psychology and B.S. in Elementary Education specializing in math from Almira College. She has a M.A. in Psychology from Boston University and M.S. in Reading and Special Education from Elmira College. She has Montessori Certifications in Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary. Prior to joining ASM, Rebecca was a sixth grade reading specialist /teacher/team leader in Elmira, NY. Rebecca is the mother of three daughters (two attend ASM). She enjoys nature, literature, crafts and research.

Farzana Palsetia, Children’s House Teacher: 2002-present. Farzana holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Sophia College, Mumbai India. She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Travel and Tourism.  She got her Montessori Certification in Early childhood from NCME-NE.  She can speak multiple Indian languages including Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati. Her interests include music, reading and travelling to historic destinations. 

Gloria Parsons, Children’s House Teacher: 1994-present. Gloria holds a Certification from the Katherine Gibbs School. She has Montessori Certification for Early Childhood 3-6. Gloria began her career at ASM as a parent/volunteer/substitute teacher. Her three children are ASM graduates. Gloria researched, constructed and maintains our ASM Butterfly Garden and enjoys gardening, travel, cake decorating and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

Robyn Poirier, Administrative Assistant/Front Desk: 2004-present. Robyn holds a Certification from Katherine Gibbs School. For eighteen years Robyn was the Executive Assistant to the Comptroller and Executive Vice President of ITT Communications enabling her to travel the world. Robyn enjoys traveling, skiing, movies and shopping.

Patricia Slater, Lower Elementary Teacher: 1998-present. Patti holds a B.S. degree from Slippery Rock State University and an Early Childhood/Elementary degree from St, Elizabeth College. She attended Montessori training at St. Nicholas Training Program in London. She has founded and directed two Montessori schools, one in New Jersey and one in North Carolina. She enjoys poetry, literature, art, music and photography.

Julie Schmitt, Upper Elementary Teacher: 2011- present. Julie holds a B.S. in Advertising and a minor in English from the College of Journalism, University of Florida. She has Montessori Certifications in Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary.  Prior to joining ASM, Julie taught for ten years at Oak Meadow Montessori as both a Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary teacher, and also led the UE program there for four years.  She enjoys spending time outdoors and with family and friends.

Joshua Smith, Lower Elementary Teacher: 2007-present. Josh holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Saint Joseph’s College. He has a Montessori Certification in Lower Elementary Education. Josh also taught in Upper Elementary as well as Mathematics and Technology in Middle School at ASM. In addition, Josh has been an after school and substitute teacher since 2001 in Maine and Massachusetts. He enjoys world history, astronomy, photography and baseball.

Heidi Steen-Johnsen, Finance Director: 2008-present. Heidi holds a B.S. B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. She has headed the finance off ice at two other Montessori schools, (Hill View Montessori Charter Public School and Stoneridge Children’s Montessori School) and was the Director of Finance at the Peabody Essex Museum.

Patricia Stokes, Children’s House Teacher: 2002-present. Pat holds a BS in Elementary Education from Lowell State College and a M.Ed with an Early Childhood Focus from Endicott College. Her 3 to 6 year old Montessori Certification is from Northeast Montessori Institute. During the summer of 2011, Pat earned her RCI Certification from Northeast Foundation for Children. Pat has been in the education field for over forty years. Pat is a member of the First New Hampshire Regiment, a living histroy group and one of the founding members of the Windham Garden Club. During the summer she teaches Red Cross swimming. Pat is enjoying her new role of being a grandparent.

Mary Tardif, Lower Elementary Teacher: 2003-present. Mary began teaching in Lower Elementary Three at ASM in 2003. She taught at the Newburyport Montessori School for nine years as well as in the Amesbury and Topsfield public school systems. Her Lower Elementary certification is from The Seacoast Training Center. She also holds a Massachusetts professional license for kindergarten through grade three.

Maria Tela, RN, School Nurse: 2002 – present. Maria holds a B.A. cum laude in Psychology from Boston University, and an MS in Nursing from Pace University. She has worked as a critical care nurse, critical care transport RN and teaches nursing courses at various Boston area colleges. Maria obtained National School Nurse Certification in 2005. Her two children attended ASM. Her son was a member of the first graduating class from the Middle School.

August 2011